During your second year in the graduate program, students in good academic standing take a comprehensive exam. The comprehensive examination is a two-part oral examination and is administered by your five-member Graduate Advisory Committee.  The first part consists of an oral defense of the student's research problem and progress, and will be based upon a written Research Report submitted by the student.  The second part consists of an oral defense of an original Research Proposal submitted by the student. The Research Report and the Research Proposal must be submitted (together) prior to five weeks before the last day of classes in the semester during which the examination is to be taken (or, for a spring semester examination, by the last Friday prior to Spring Break, whichever is earlier. Expectations for these documents are found in the Guidelines for Graduate Study: https://chem.uiowa.edu/graduate

Upon passing the Oral Examination, a student can be admitted to Ph.D. candidacy if the proper paperwork and requirements are completed.