My apologies if this was posted before, but I just ran across it while looking for some papers and thought you all might enjoy it. It's kind of long. I do not know who created it originally, or I'd give due credit.
Comprehensive Examination
Fall Semester, 2007
Fall Semester, 2007
HISTORY. Describe the history of the papacy from its origins to the present day, concentrating especially but not exclusively, on its social, political, economic, religious, and philosophical impact on Europe, Asia, America, and Africa. Be brief, concise, and specific.
MEDICINE. You have been provided with a razor blade, a piece of gauze, and a bottle of Scotch. Remove your appendix. Do not suture until your work has been inspected. You have 15 minutes.
BIOLOGY. Create life. Estimate the differences in subsequent human culture if this form of life had developed 500 million years earlier, with special attention to its probable effect on the English parliamentary system. Prove your thesis.
MUSIC. Write a piano concerto. Orchestrate and perform it with flute and drum. You will find a piano under your seat.
PSYCHOLOGY. Based on your knowledge of their works, evaluate the emotional stability, degree of adjustment, and repressed frustrations of each of the following: Alexander of Aphrodisia, Ramses II, Gregory of Nicea, Hammurabi. Support your evaluation with quotations from each person's work, making appropriate references. It is not necessary to translate.
SOCIOLOGY. Estimate the sociological problems which might accompany the end of the world. Construct an experiment to test your theory.
MANAGEMENT SCIENCE. Define Management. Define Science. How do they relate? Why? Create a generalized algorithm to optimize all managerial decisions. Assuming a 1000 gigabyte server, supporting 50 terminals, each terminal to activate your algorithm, design the communications interface and all necessary control programs.
ENGINEERING. The disassembled parts of a high-powered rifle have been placed in a box on your desk. You will also find an instruction manual, printed in Swahili. In 10 minutes, a hungry Bengal tiger will be admitted to the room. Take whatever action you feel appropriate. Be prepared to justify your decision.
ECONOMICS. Develop a realistic plan for refinancing national debt. Trace the possible effects of your plan in the following areas: Cubism, the Donatist controversy, the wave theory of light. Outline a method for preventing these effects. Point out the deficiencies in your point of view, as demonstrated in your answer to the last question.
POLITICAL SCIENCE. There is a red telephone on the desk beside you. Start World War III. Report at length on its socio-political effects, if any.
EPISTEMOLOGY. Take a position for or against truth. Prove the validity of your position.
PHYSICS. Explain the nature of matter. Include in your answer an evaluation of the impact of the development of mathematics on science.
PHILOSOPHY. Sketch the development of human thought; estimate its significance. Compare with the development of any other kind of thought.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE. Describe in detail. Be objective and specific.
EXTRA CREDIT. Define the universe. Give 3 examples.
