The M.Ed. and M.S.Ed. Comprehensive Examinations are one of the final components that Master of Education and Master of Science Education students are required to complete to fulfill one of the degree requirements (except Sport Administration and Coaching Education & Athlete Development). 

Students registering for the Comprehensive Examination should also apply for graduation. The Registrar's Office has additional information about this process.

The comprehensive exams are administered online, once per semester. Notes are not permitted during the exam. All exams except Educational Administration exams are three (3) hours long, from 8:00 am to 11:00 am. Educational Administration exams are four (4) hours long, from 8:00am – 12:00pm.

The upcoming dates for the Comprehensive Exams are:

• Saturday, April 5, 2025
• Saturday, July 12, 2025
• Saturday, November 8, 2025

Registration and Study Guides

Students within six credit hours of completing their degree requirements are invited to register for the Comprehensive Exam by completing this registration form. Study guides are available below.

Major Specific Exam Study Guides

Students majoring in the programs below complete an examination in the area of their major.

• TESOL Study Guide
• Reading Education Study Guide
• Educational Administration Study Guide
• M.S.Ed. Special Education Study Guide - Students using this study guide will have completed or are currently completing the following courses: 
  • EDSP 616 Philosophy and Cultural Diversity or MATH 516 Introduction to Statistics
  • EDSP 617 Administrative Partnerships
  • EDSP 618 Qual. and Quant. Research
  • EDSP 619 SPED: Research Paper

Special Education students seeking a M.Ed. use the study guide for the CORE areas - found at the bottom of this page. 

M.Ed. CORE Areas Study Guide 

M.Ed. students majoring in Elementary Education, Montessori Education, Secondary Education, and Special Education, complete the Comprehensive Exam in the Master of Education CORE courses. The CORE exam consists of three distinct areas. Students should have completed or are currently completing the following courses:

• EDFD 500 History and/or Philosophy of American Education 
• EDFD 505 Educational Administration/Organization of Educ. Systems in the U.S.
• EDFD 507 Educational Research

CORE Study Guide for Elementary, Montessori, Secondary and Special Education

If unsure which guide to study, or you have not yet completed or are currently completing, all of the courses listed for your major, please contact the School of Education at thomasa7@xavier.edu or 513-745-3701.