University Catalog 2006-2007

University Catalog > LAHS > Higher Education

Higher Education

Phone: 703-993-2310
Web: highered.gmu.edu

Faculty

Czarda, Gentemann, Kettlewell (director), Kidd, Leavitt, Lyne, J. Muir, S. Muir, O’Connor, Patrick, Reeves, Rossell, Salmon

Course Work

This program offers all course work designated CTCH in the Course Descriptions chapter of this catalog.

Graduate Programs

Community College Teaching, MAIS

See the Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS) chapter for information. The concentration qualifies students to teach entry-level courses in growing fields at the community college.

Higher Education, MAIS

See the Interdisciplinary Studies, MAIS chapter for information. This concentration prepares individuals for administrative and leadership positions in the two- or four-year colleges and universities. Students may focus on administration or student services.

Community College Education, DA

The doctor of arts in community college education (DACCE) prepares students to be leaders in undergraduate education. In addition to expertise in a selected disciplinary or interdisciplinary knowledge area, graduates are proficient in four core areas related to undergraduate education: scholarly activity related to teaching and learning; effective integration of technology in the teaching and learning process; pedagogy appropriate to the discipline; and program and curriculum design, development, and assessment. With this background and the guided practical experience provided by internships, students are prepared to lead their institutions to respond to the changing needs of 21st century students.

Admission

Students are accepted for the fall semester only. Applications submitted after the posted deadline will be considered on a space-available basis. In addition to meeting admission requirements for graduate study at George Mason, applicants should have a master’s degree in a knowledge area offered by the participating departments and schools; and submit a writing sample appropriate to the knowledge area, three letters of recommendation, and a resume. While GRE or GMAT scores are not required, they represent valuable support for admission decisions.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 60 credits beyond the master’s degree, distributed as follows:

Once enrolled in 998, students must maintain continuous registration in 998 or 999 each semester until the dissertation is submitted to and accepted by the university library. Unless defending in summer, students do not need to be registered during the summer sessions.

Within the 60 credits, a minimum of 6 credits must be in courses with a technology focus. These include the required CTCH 603, courses in the knowledge area, or electives in the education core, as approved by the program director.

Knowledge Area

Substantial work in a knowledge area is essential to the leadership in curriculum expected of students. Given the dynamic nature of the community college and growth of programs in nontraditional fields, the choice of a knowledge area and relevant course work should be guided by the student’s developing interests and a vision of the student’s role as a community college educator. While many DACCE students take their 24 knowledge area credits exclusively in one discipline or department, they are encouraged to think broadly and in terms of multiple disciplines, and to work with their advisor to choose appropriate courses from more than one discipline or department.

Education Core

The 18-credit core of education courses is designed to develop leaders in undergraduate education. The program emphasizes a broad knowledge base in teaching as well as course work in the history and philosophy of the community college and instructional technology. These courses concentrate on scholarship and practice in teaching and learning, instructional technology, and program and curriculum design and assessment. All courses emphasize leadership, ethics, and diversity in higher education.

Internships

Students participate in two, 3-credit internships to learn skills applicable to college-based teaching and higher education administration or policy. Internships provide an important educational experience that complements classroom-based course work. Students doing an internship should have completed a minimum of 18 credits of core requirements, including CTCH 601 and 602, and 3 credits in the knowledge area; and have an approved program of study. Internships, which must be approved by the advisor and internship coordinator, require a minimum of 200 hours of work for 3 credits, and participation in an internship seminar.

Program of Study

Working with an advisor, students develop a program of study that outlines courses that will be used to fulfill degree requirements. The program of study is approved by the advisor and program director; any modifications require the student to file a revised program of study.

Candidacy Exams

Students must pass candidacy exams to demonstrate breadth and depth of knowledge in both the knowledge area and education core. To be eligible to take a candidacy exam, students need to have completed all course work in the specific area, be in good standing (minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00); and be registered for at least 1 credit. The competency exam for the education core is a written exam administered by the Higher Education program. The knowledge area exams are administered by the liaison in the knowledge area; each area has its own exam guidelines.

Students who do not pass a candidacy exam in either area have until the last day of the next semester (published in the Schedule of Classes) to retake it. (For students who take exams in the summer months, this will be the published date for fall semester.) Students who do not retake the exam by this deadline, or who do not successfully complete the candidacy exam the second time, will be terminated from the program.

Advancement to Candidacy

After students complete all course work, pass candidacy exams, and have an appointed dissertation committee and a signed proposal, they are, with the recommendation of the committee, advanced to candidacy by the dean.

Dissertation

In the dissertation, students demonstrate an ability to conduct original research that contributes new knowledge or a reinterpretation of existing knowledge to the area of investigation. This research can be theoretical in nature, focusing on pedagogy, the knowledge area, or a combination of both. Students who focus their dissertation in the knowledge area must include at least a chapter that shows how results of the dissertation research may be applied to undergraduate education. Dissertations may also be practice- oriented, focusing on new and replicable ways of teaching within the knowledge area.

To register for dissertation proposal (998), students need to have an approved program of study and must have completed the two internships, all other course work, and candidacy exams in both the core and the knowledge area. To register for dissertation research (999), students must be advanced to candidacy. Students enrolled in 999 are required to submit evidence of progress to the dissertation advisor and the program by the last day of classes each semester (as published in the Schedule of Classes), such as a draft of a chapter or a brief, descriptive report of research activities. Students showing successful progress will receive a grade of “IP.” Those who do not will receive an “IN.”

Students are required to take at least 3 credits of proposal research (998), and 9 of research writing (999), and no more than 12 credits of 998 and 999 combined may be applied to the doctoral degree.

Certificate in Community College Education

The certificate is designed for graduate students who are planning a career in undergraduate education. The program offers courses that enhance peda-gogical skills, explore pedagogical scholarship and the use of technology in instruction, and explain the history and philosophy of the two-year college.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for the certificate are the same as for the doctoral program. Applicants may hold a master’s degree or be completing a master’s degree, and do not need to specify a knowledge area in their goals statement.

Certificate Requirements

Students must complete 18 credits distributed as follows.