Educational Opportunities
Anthony J. Brazel Research and Field Exam Award

The Anthony J. Brazel Research and Field Examination - a unique ASU institution created in 1973 - is a two-week examination that evaluates a Ph.D. student’s capacity to undertake and successfully complete an independent research project and write it up in journal form. The examination is appraised on the ability to: (1) refine and hone a question into a manageable research problem; (2) couch the research problem in appropriate literature(s); (3) acquire, organize, and synthesize relevant field information and data; (4) demonstrate technical competence in geographic skills; and (5) express ideas, concepts, and lines of argumentation through clear, effective writing. The Graduate Program Committee reads and discusses each exam, and votes on the best exam at the end of the academic year.