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Summative Evaluation

Overview
Summative Evaluation Formats
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Process Overview

All candidates for the M.A., M.S.S., M.Div-NE degrees or a Post-Master’s Certificate are required to complete a Summative Evaluation. The comprehensive exam is the normative Summative Evaluation. By exception through application and approval, some students in the Theology and Philosophy programs may receive permission to write a thesis. All M.A. in Pastoral Studies students must complete the comprehensive exam.
Summative Evaluation Formats

Summative Evaluation Formats by Program and Enrollment

MA Pastoral Studies

  • Students enrolled in the M.A. in Pastoral Studies program may only take the Old Format Comprehensive Exam.

MA Philosophy

  • Students enrolled in the M.A. in Philosophy program prior to the Fall 2025 semester will take the Old Format Comprehensive Exam.
  • Students enrolled in the M.A. in Philosophy program from the Fall 2025 semester and beyond will take the New Format Comprehensive Exam.

MA Theology

  • Students enrolled in the M.A. in Theology program starting in the Fall 2019 semester through Summer 2024 must complete ENG 890 Summative Evaluation: Comprehensive Exam and Professional Paper (Theology) as their only comprehensive exam option.
  • Students enrolled in the M.A. in Theology program in the Summer 2019 semester and prior will take the Old Format Comprehensive Exam.
  • Students enrolled in the M.A. in Theology program from the Fall 2024 semester and beyond will take the New Format Comprehensive Exam.

M.S.S.

  • Students enrolled in the M.S.S. from the Fall 2024 semester and beyond will take the New Format Comprehensive Exam.

MDiv-NE

  • Students enrolled in the MDiv-NE program will take a written comprehensive exam and complete the MDiv-NE Project.
Old Format
New Format
Master Thesis
MDiv-NE Guidelines

Do You Have Questions or Need Help?

Students should directly contact the Associate Dean of Online Learning with any questions.

Comprehensive Exam Process for M.A. in Theology students enrolled starting in the Fall 2019 semester through the Summer 2024 Semester (Old Format)

A. ENG 890 Summative Evaluation:

Comprehensive Exam and Professional Paper (Theology)

All M.A. in Theology students enrolled starting in the Fall 2019 semester and going forward must take ENG 890 Summative Evaluation: Comprehensive Exam and Professional Paper (Theology) as their Summative Evaluation unless granted permission to write a thesis (see below for the thesis process). ENG 890 is a two-semester process. During the first semester, the student prepares for and takes an oral exam on the theology core. The following semester the student writes a 10-page professional paper to peer-reviewed academic journal standards under the guidance of a faculty advisor on a topic in the student’s concentration area.

Students enroll in ENG 890 the semester before their last planned final semester. ENG 890 counts as a required 3-credit course for all concentrations in the M.A. in Theology. For students enrolled before the Fall 2019 semester who opt to take ENG 890, it counts as a 3-credit Theology elective.

B. ENG 890 Process

During the student’s first semester of the ENG 890 process, the student completes a series of instructor-led exercises to prepare for an oral exam on the theology core and to prepare for writing the professional paper. At the end of the semester, the student completes an oral exam on the theology core. The following semester, the student writes a 10-page professional paper to peer-reviewed academic journal standards under the guidance of a faculty advisor on a topic in the student’s concentration area. Once the faculty advisor approves the paper, a reader also reviews and must approve the paper. The paper is graded pass/fail.

C. Fee Structure

Since ENG 890 is a 3-credit course, the tuition fee is the same as the current 3-credit graduate course tuition fee. For the professional paper portion the following semester, the student must pay the current faculty advisor and reader fee, along with the graduation fee.

D. Guidelines

For the Guidelines relating to writing Academic and Professional Papers please visit, Holy Apostles Library

M.S.S., M.A. Philosophy, and M.A. Theology New Format Comprehensive Exam

Throughout their time in the M.A Philosophy, M.A. Theology, or M.S.S. program, students will complete research papers in most of their courses. Each of these papers will seek to deepen the student’s understanding of the primary texts and controversies in each area of study. As the student nears completion of the program, the student will select one of their papers from his/her portfolio to “professionalize” under the guidance of an assigned faculty advisor. Students are responsible for finding their own advisor, but will be appointed one if needed. The goal is to bring the paper to peer-reviewed academic journal standards. Once the faculty advisor approves the paper, a reader also reviews and must approve the paper. When the paper has been approved, the advisor and reader will also be responsible for conducting the oral comprehensive exam (see next section). On rare occasions, other faculty members may be assigned to serve as the examiners for the oral comprehensive exam.

This Capstone Research Paper is not given a final grade of pass/fail until after the oral comprehensive exam is complete.

Comprehensive Exam

The one-hour oral exam will be conducted by means of video conference. If a student does not have access to the necessary equipment, an online conferencing number may be used (i.e., telephone conferencing).

The hour is parsed in this way:

  1. The primary examiner begins with a prayer and proceeds to ask questions based on (a) the student’s submitted Capstone Research Paper; and (b) a list of core program topics. After the primary examiner has concluded, the secondary examiner may ask additional questions.
  2. The primary and secondary examiners may each question the student for up to 30 minutes, after which the student will be invited to leave the conference.
  3. When the examiners have agreed on the results, the primary examiner will call the student back (into the video conference) and announce the results.
  4. The Capstone Research Paper is graded HIGH PASS, PASS, or FAIL.
  5. The oral exam is graded HIGH PASS, PASS, or FAIL.
  6. Upon successful completion of the oral exam, the Comprehensive Exam Administrator will notify the student and appropriate administration members to record the student’s completion of the Capstone Research Paper and comprehensive exam. The student will prepare a cover page for the paper signed by the advisor and reader and then submit a digital copy of the paper to the HACS Library.
  7. If the examiners are dissatisfied with the results of any portion of the exam, they will provide the student with an explanation and feedback for improvement. The student may then re-take that portion of the exam. A third and final chance can be scheduled at the discretion of the Vice-President of Academic Affairs.

Please see the Tuition and Fee schedule for the New Format Summative Evaluation fee.

Master’s Thesis Process

Note: Only M.A. in Theology and M.A. in Philosophy students may request permission to write a master’s thesis. M.A. in Pastoral Studies students must take the comprehensive exam as their Summative Evaluation.

A. Statement of Purpose

An M.A. student in theology or philosophy at Holy Apostles College and Seminary may request permission to write a thesis to fulfill the requirement of the summative evaluation. The thesis demonstrates a student’s ability to conduct scholarly research and writing in the student’s concentration field and to make an academic contribution to that field. An M.A. thesis comprises approximately 60 pages of scholarly writing, including the bibliography. The title of the successfully defended thesis will be noted on the student’s transcript.

B. Requirements for M.A. Thesis Direction

  1. Enrolled in the M.A. program in Philosophy or Theology.
  2. Completion of ENG 891 Academic Research, Design, and Writing with a grade of at least B+.
  3. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 in the Holy Apostles’ M.A. program.
  4. Submission of an academic writing sample with the thesis application and proposal. The academic writing sample will be a research paper the student completed for a HACS graduate-level course in the student’s program (Theology or Philosophy).
  5. Students approved to write an M.A. thesis may begin the Thesis Directed Study either concurrently with the student’s final semester of coursework or the semester following completion of all coursework.

The ENG 891 Academic Research, Design, and Writing requirement may be waived for a student who has already successfully written a thesis or dissertation in the humanities. To request a waiver of ENG 891, the student must submit an electronic copy of the thesis or dissertation to the Summative Evaluation Administrator.

Note: It is recommended that you do not enroll in any electives if you are considering writing a thesis. If you will be writing a thesis, your elective will be used by ENG 891 and the Thesis Direction course, which will also be a 3-credit course.

C. Guidelines

Please review the current Thesis Guidelines for details of the thesis process.

D. Fee Structure

For current cost information, please refer to the Tuition & Fees policy on the Tuition & Financial Aid section of the Holy Apostles website https://holyapostles.edu/tuition-and-financial-aid/.

Online MDiv in the New Evangelization Summative Evaluation

MDiv Summative Evaluation Guidelines

The summative evaluation involves a practicum and an oral defense over one’s practicum plus a written comprehensive examination over one’s coursework. These elements of the summative evaluation are normally completed in one semester.

The practicum, prepared in consultation with a faculty advisor, consists of several contact hours of ministry (e.g., implementing a program that one develops at the parish level). Upon conclusion of the practicum, the student offers a defense before a board of two professors via Zoom. Typically, the student utilizes a PowerPoint presentation for the defense, although other forms of delivery are acceptable.

Normally, the student begins the summative evaluation upon completion of one’s coursework, although one may undertake it during one’s final semester of classes.

Do You Have Questions or Need Help?

Students should directly contact the Associate Dean of Online Learning with any questions.

Contact the Dean