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2011-2012 University Catalog
Community College Education, DA
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Banner Code: LA-DA-EDCC
Web: highered.gmu.edu
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.
This program of study is offered by the Higher Education Program .
For policies governing all graduate degrees, see the Academic Policies chapter of the catalog. |
Application Requirements
Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in the Admission chapter of this catalog. Applicants to the DA in community college education must already have earned a master’s degree in a relevant field.
For information specific to the DA in community college education, see Application Requirements and Deadlines on the college web site. Reduction of Credit
Students must have a master’s degree before being admitted to the DA in community college education. Most students receive a reduction of study of 30 credits based on their previous master’s degree. 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 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 and 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. 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 director; any modifications require the student to file a revised program of study. Degree Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 60 credits beyond the master’s degree. 24 credits in a knowledge area
- One course (3 credits) in research design or methods. Students should choose this course in consultation with an advisor.
- Seven courses (21 credits) in the knowledge area. These are chosen by the student in consultation with an advisor. The courses appear on the Program of Study, which requires the approval of the advisor and director of the program.
Four courses (18 credits) in the education core
One course (3 credits) in research design or methods
Students should choose this course in consultation with an advisor. Two internships (6 credits)
Students take 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 18 credits of education core requirements, 6 credits in the knowledge area, and an approved program of study. Internships, which must be approved by the advisor and internship coordinator, require a minimum of 180 hours of work for 3 credits and participation in an internship seminar. Dissertation (12 credits)
Students must complete a dissertation in which they demonstrate their ability to conduct original research that contributes new knowledge or a reinterpretation of existing knowledge to the area of investigation. Students who focus their dissertation in the knowledge area must connect their research to higher education. Dissertations may be practice-oriented, focusing on new and replicable ways of teaching within 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.
Once enrolled in 998, students in this degree program must maintain continuous registration in 998 or 999 each semester (excluding summers) until the dissertation is submitted to and accepted by the University Libraries. Once enrolled in 999, students must follow the university’s continuous registration policy as specified in the Academic Policies chapter of the catalog. Students who defend in the summer must be registered for at least 1 credit of 999.
Students complete a minimum of 3 credits of 998 and 3 credits of 999. They may apply a maximum of 12 dissertation credits (998 and 999 combined) to the degree. Because of the continuous registration policy, students may be required to register for additional credits of these courses. 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 portfolio reviewed 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 the fall semester.) Students who do not retake the exam by this deadline or do not successfully complete the candidacy exam the second time will be terminated from the program. Advancement to Candidacy
To advance to candidacy, students must complete all course work required on their approved program of study. Students must also successfully complete and pass comprehensive exams on the education core and the major knowledge area. In addition, students must have a dissertation committee appointed by the dean’s office as well as an approved proposal. Evidence of the approved proposal must be on file in the dean’s office before a student can be advanced to candidacy. |
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