Sample Comprehensive Exam Questions
MS Educational Leadership Program
Note: These are only samples and the format of the exam may change in the future. Questions are tailored to meet individual student interests and career directions.
The exam starts off......
You have completed the core sequence of courses in the MS Educational Leadership
degree program. While the core is taught in discrete units or courses, concepts
overlap. This is your opportunity to demonstrate a synthesis of ideas from core
courses as well as other program courses you have taken and explain how you
would utilize these concepts in actual practice.
It then poses a question/scenario (which will be developed specifically
for you, perhaps even by you). Several examples follow......
Your building principal has noted your technology emphasis within the Educational
Leadership program. As such s/he has asked you to lead a building level task
force examining the Information and Technology Literacy Standards proposed by
DPI, recommending Information and Technology Literacy Standards for your District,
and organizing appropriate staff development so that all teachers will be aware
of the Standards and teach toward them. Will you accept this assignment? If
so, within this context, please tell....
OR
You have been asked to chair a task force examining all athletics offerings
in your district. Of particular concern are that all Title IX conditions are
being met, minority students are participating, handicapped student needs are
being met, etc. The task force is to identify program strengths and make specific
recommendations in areas that need addressing.
OR
One major concern at UW Oshkosh is retention of new students. Like other
System campuses, an alarming number of students do not continue at UW Oshkosh
from their freshman year through to graduation four or five years later. Why
this is occurring needs to be explored so that this trend can be stopped. As
part of your new position in the Dean of Students Office you have been asked
to revise and coordinate the Orientation Programs for incoming students. It
has been suggested that perhaps retention issues need to be explored during
Orientation. Given this information, how will you proceed? Please tell...
OR
You have been asked by your supervisor to develop a training program for your
company to meet current needs (please select a company and context that most
interests you) then submit the proposal for funding purposes to the board of
directors. Will you accept this assignment?
OR
Develop and implement a plan on how you are going to meet your ELL students’ (6)
goals (language acquisition, mastery of 2nd grade content, social and academic
needs). Will work with colleagues (kindergarten teacher, ELL/Bilingual teacher,
principal, ELL coordinator). Plan will include evaluation components and work
samples to demonstrate student learning. It will also discuss the leadership
you are offering.
OR
Develop a scope and sequence for Leadership I and II classes in OASD. Develop
then implement curriculum and assessment plan for Leadership II class. In your
assessment plan include work samples/examples to demonstrate student learning.
Discuss your leadership throughout this project (ie. Did you work with colleagues?
What was your leadership style while working with them?) Include an annotated
bibliography (APA format) of best practice in youth leadership curriculum.
Refer to a wide variety of sources and curriculum.
Demonstrate where your ideas are coming from and that you are drawing on the
work of others. Include hyperlinks to web based resources.
The next part says something like.....
If so, within this context, please tell....
* If you would involve others in developing the training program/committee/etc.?
* How you would structure committee membership if you involved others?
* What leadership you would offer?
* What the time line and format for this project might be?
Include:
* Committee/task force work, implementation, reporting
* What ideas/concepts the committee should be sure to consider
* What kinds of issues the committee/task force might discuss
* What types of concerns you might raise and with whom you would raise these
issues
Lastly, we have response criteria including....
RESPONSE CRITERIA
1. Addresses task posed in question.
2. Synthesis of concepts from core courses (and others in program you have taken)
Curriculum
Supervision or Legal or Staff Development
Org & Admin
Multicultural Education
Research
Technology
3. Documentation of knowledge, theory, and processes by research, literature,
and experience.
4. Organization, coherence, and clarity of response.
5. Comprehensiveness of response.
The exam is your opportunity to demonstrate your ability to integrate
and put into proposed action leadership skills.
Be a leader!!! Show your Stuff!!!