Comprehensive Examination

The Comprehensive Exam must be completed by all Applied Statistics students before graduation. The exam covers material from the Statistical Methods, Regression Methods, and Linear Models Courses and is given twice a year - once in the fall semester, usually in November, and once in the spring semester, usually in April (refer to right side of page for this year's exam dates).

Exam Details

• The exam covers the material taught in the Statistical Methods, Regression, and Linear Models courses.
  
• The Comprehensive Exam is given twice a year - once in the fall semester, usually in November, and once in the spring semester, usually in March or April. These dates often differ from the "comprehensive exam" dates on Villanova's academic calendar
• The exam is usually given on a Saturday morning starting at 9 AM. Students have three hours to complete the exam.
• Students should bring calculators to the exam, and statistical tables will be provided. Use of cell phones, books, notes, and other resources is not permitted.
• The exam is graded as a single exam.
• In the event of failure, one re-examination will be permitted.
• Students are encouraged to review together, to work problems from previous exams, and to consult with faculty as they prepare for the exam.  

Requirements Before Taking the Exam

• Students who wish to take the exam should notify the Graduate Director, Dr. Paul Bernhardt, and the Program Coordinator, Maria Barrett, via email. This email should be sent with the subject "Comprehensive Exam" before the application deadline (found here), and the body of the email should include (1) your full name, (2) your villanova email address, (3) your student id number, and (4) an indication as to whether the exam is a reexamination. Please attach an unofficial transcript to your email that includes current classes.
• Students must have completed 21 credits towards their degree in order to take the exam. Currently enrolled courses do not count towards the 21 credits.
• Students must have completed at least five of the six required courses and be enrolled in the sixth required course, if it has not yet been taken.
  
• Students must pass the exam within the six-year period allotted for the degree. This six-year period starts when the first course in the program is taken.

Examples of Past Exams