Reading Lists for Comprehensive Exams
Examination Format
The Master's Comprehensive Examination has nine parts, one of which further divided into subparts.
The nine parts are:
- Part 1 Analysis of Algorithms (M.A. students must take this exam)
- Part 2 Architecture
- Part 3 Artificial Intelligence
- Part 4 Database Systems
- Part 5 Management Information Systems (M.S. students must take this exam)
- Part 6 Operating Systems
- Part 7 Programming Languages
- Part 8 Telecommunications and Networking
- Part 9 Theoretical Computer Science (questions will include both computability theory and formal language theory)
The examination is three and a half hours long. You must answer three of the nine parts; you do not have to decide in advance which three parts you will answer. In the examination room, you will receive all parts of the exam, and you can make your decision at that time. However, it is strongly suggested that you plan to answer certain parts, with the option to change your mind after seeing all of the exams.
The rules are different for M.A. students and M.S. students.
- M.A. students must take the Analysis of Algorithms examination, plus two other parts
- M.S. students must take the Management Information Systems examination, plus two other parts
Grading
Each part of the examination is written by a separate committee and graded by that committee. In order to pass the Comprehensive examination, students must pass all three parts (this includes Analysis of Algorithms for M.A. students and Management Information Systems for M.S. students).
- Starting in fall 2016, if you complete all the answers on three parts of the exam but pass only one part, you will have to retake the missing two parts.
- If you fail one part and pass the other two, you will receive credit for those two parts. The next time you take the exam, you will have to pass only one part.
Brooklyn College policy allows graduate students to attempt to pass the exam two times.
