Program Approval Form

Transcription

1 Program Approval Form For approval of new programs and deletions or modifications to an existing program. Action Requested: Type (Check one): X Create New (SCHEV approval required except for minors) B.A. B.S. Minor Inactivate Existing M.A. M.S. M.Ed. Modify Existing (check all that apply) X Ph.D. Title (SCHEV approval required except for minors) Undergraduate Certificate* Concentration (Choose one): Add Delete Modify Graduate Certificate* Degree Requirements Other: Admission Standards/ Application Requirements Other Changes: College/School: CHSS Department: Higher Education Program Submitted by: Jan Arminio Ext: Effective Term: Fall 2016 Please note: For students to be admitted to a new degree, minor, certificate or concentration, the program must be fully approved, entered into Banner, and published in the University Catalog. Justification: (attach separate document if necessary) The proposed doctoral program in Higher Education will be situated in the Higher Education Program (HEP) housed in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) at George Mason University. Currently, HEP provides the higher education specialization for a Ph.D. in Education that is offered by the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) and a Doctor of Arts in Community College Education (DACCE) offered by CHSS. The Ph.D. in Higher Education, housed in CHSS, would replace both the higher education specialization in CEHD and the DACCE. The program proposes to enroll its first students in Fall 2016 and graduate its first degree-holders in Students will be prepared to be administrators in higher education, faculty in higher education programs, and scholars whose research is about higher education. The Ph.D. in Higher Education will prepare students for careers in higher education in either faculty development roles or in administrative positions. The doctoral program will focus on leadership, the scholarship of teaching and learning, administration, and assessment. The proposed interdisciplinary, graduate-level curriculum prepares individuals for positions of leadership in teaching, research, and administration at community colleges, four-year colleges, and universities around the globe. The program also prepares students for positions in associations, government agencies, and industries whose activities relate to or impact higher education. The current environment of higher education provides new opportunities, along with new challenges. Technology is making new delivery methods possible, and most universities are embracing some forms of distance or hybrid offerings. The technology also allows for new pedagogies to be introduced to traditional classrooms. At the same time, our students will come from more diverse backgrounds and levels of educational preparedness. Universities are also faced with increased regulatory and reporting requirements, and the financial realities are creating the need for innovative and efficient organizational structures. Future higher education leaders need to be prepared to work in an era of rapid change in the midst of a challenging environment. Whether preparing for a career in teaching or administration, future higher education leaders need to be grounded in a broad understanding of current issues in higher education, understand advanced research methods, and be knowledgeable about their area of specialization. Our multidisciplinary Ph.D. program will ensure that we graduate students fully prepared for their roles within a complex, rapidly changing, higher education environment. Our graduates will be ready and expected to contribute to the future of higher education. The Higher Education degree builds upon the current success of the higher education specialization in the Ph.D. in Education program and the DACCE. Its purpose is to streamline, consolidate, and enhance Mason s current doctoral level offering in Higher Education so that our students can contribute specific expertise in creating higher education today that addresses tomorrow s needs. Our research indicates there is interest in a more specialized degree than what Mason currently offers. Though other higher education programs exist in the commonwealth, this one focuses on the essence of the higher education enterprise (the scholarship of teaching and learning); is multidisciplinary, yet specialized; located in the backyard of higher education national policy makers; structured to serve both fulltime students and students working as fulltime professionals; and mentors students through a continuous comprehensive portfolio process.

2 Program Title: (Required) Title must identify subject matter. Do not include name of college/school/dept. Concentration(s): Admissions Standards / Application Requirements: (Required only if different from those listed in the University Catalog) Degree Requirements: Consult University Catalog for models, attach separate document if necessary using track changes for modifications Courses offered via distance: (if applicable) TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED: Existing Doctorate of Arts in Community College Education PhD in Higher Education New/Modified Higher Education Administration Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Individualized Studies Bachelor s and Master s degrees from accredited institutions. Two sealed official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Applicants do not need to submit transcripts for courses taken at George Mason University. Complete graduate application to include application fee and goal statement (1,000 words) that addresses the reasons for applying to enter the Ph.D. in Higher Education. Three letters of recommendation from academic and professional references. A minimum of three years of successful work experience in an educational, community, or human services environment. Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores for General Test. Scores taken within the last 5 years are acceptable. Writing sample that demonstrates analytical and integrative thinking. Examples might include research papers completed for class, analytical essays, grant proposals, or published articles. Current resume. Interview. See Below none 72 *For Certificates Only: Indicate whether students are able to pursue on a Full-time basis Part-time basis Approval Signatures 9/16/15 Department Date College/School Date Provost s Office Date Required for Minors and Interdisciplinary Programs If this program may impact another unit or is in collaboration with another unit at Mason, the originating department must circulate this proposal for review by those units and obtain the necessary signatures prior to submission. Failure to do so will delay action on this proposal. Unit Name Unit Approval Name Unit Approver s Signature Date For Graduate Programs Only Graduate Council Member Provost Office Graduate Council Approval Date For Registrar Office s Use Only: Received Banner Catalog revised 6/7/12

3 Catalog Description The Higher Education Program at George Mason University focuses on leadership, the scholarship of teaching and learning, administration, and assessment. This interdisciplinary, graduate-level curriculum prepares individuals for positions of leadership in teaching, research, and administration at community colleges, four-year colleges, and universities around the globe. The program also prepares students for positions in associations, government agencies, and industries whose activities relate to or impact higher education. Students may concentrate in administration, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and individualized studies (one they create in consultation with an advisor). Proposed PhD in Higher Education Degree Requirements The purpose of the doctorate is to ensure mastery of scholarship and its application. Students pursuing this degree are required to complete 72 credits. A master s degree is required for admission and students receive a reduction of credit of up to 24 credits determined on an individual basis. Doctoral Course Work (72 credits) Courses consist of core courses, research methods, concentration courses, electives, and 998 and 999. *= new course **= existing course with revised number ***-modified course number or description Core Courses (18 credits) The 18-credit core of courses is designed to develop leaders in higher education so emphasizes a broad knowledge base. Courses concentrate on scholarship and practice in student learning and development, and organizational strategies in higher education Theories in Higher Education (3 credits)* Digital Technologies in Higher Education (3 credits)* The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (3 credits)** Access and Social Justice (3 credits)* Leadership in Higher Education (3 credits)** Organization and Administration of Higher Education (3 credits)** Research Methods (15 credits) Students will purposefully choose two additional methods courses (beyond the three listed below) with one being in either advanced qualitative or quantitative methods. Additional possible advanced methods courses include case study methodology, mixed-methods, structural equation modeling, and multivariate statistics. The advanced methods courses are offered primarily in the College of Education and Human Development as well as Psychology and Sociology and Anthropology in the College of Humanities and Social Science and must be approved by the advising portfolio committee. 805 Research Designs in Higher Education (3 credits) 806 Qualitative Methods in Higher Education Research (3 credits) 807 Quantitative Methods in Higher Education Research (3 credits) Concentration Courses (15 credits) Students choose from one of three secondary concentrations: Higher Education Administration, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, or Individualized Study. Each concentration is designed around a specific sub-field and will be guided by a student s professional and research goals. Higher Education Administration Students in the Higher Education Administration concentration will acquire advanced knowledge and understanding of legal issues, finance and budgeting, institutional assessment, leadership theories and practices, and the role of student services through the following required concentration courses: 624 Finance and Fiscal Management in Higher Education (3 credits)

4 701 Higher Education Law (3 credits) 711 Policy in Higher Education (3 credits)* 712 Institutional Assessment (3 credits)** Students will also have the option of one elective that can be chosen from either the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning concentration or another course at Mason. Choice of elective will be approved by the portfolio committee. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Students in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning concentration acquire advanced knowledge and understanding of the latest theories and research on pedagogy, student learning, learning assessment, and teaching with technology through the following required concentration courses: 602 College Teaching (3 credits) 603 Higher Education in the Digital Age (3 credits) 605 Learning Assessment (3 credits) 645 Contemporary College Student (3 credits) Students will also have the option of one elective that can be chosen from either the Higher Education Administration concentration or another course at Mason. Choice of elective will be approved by the portfolio committee. Individualized Study Students in the Individualized Study concentration will acquire advanced skills in an area intentionally designed to meet a set of objectives clearly articulated by the student and approved by the portfolio committee. This concentration will likely include courses with a more multidisciplinary perspective and be taken from programs across Mason. When consistent with Mason policy and students learning goals, students may use master s coursework toward Individualized Study concentration credits. Non-restrictive Electives (9 credits) Students will purposefully select an additional three courses as electives. These are designed to provide additional content knowledge and skills in subjects that relate to both areas of concentration. Electives are selected from: 606 Diversity in Higher Education 644 Student Services 646 Student Development Theory* 713 The Internationalization of Higher Education* Portfolio Reviews Students will engage in a comprehensive portfolio review process throughout their coursework to document accomplishments, assess student growth and development, and provide opportunity for faculty to suggest changes that more closely tie student research and professional goals to the program of study. Three portfolios must be submitted: the first after a student completes 18 credits (portfolio 1), the second after the completion of 36 credits (portfolio 2), and the third once coursework is completed to finalize dissertation plans, steps, and timeline. The portfolio review process requires a committee of three faculty members who review the portfolios and meet with the student after each portfolio is submitted. Advancement to Candidacy Students must advance to candidacy within six years of enrollment in the program and graduate from the program within nine years. Students will advance to candidacy after completing all coursework successfully, completing all three portfolio reviews, and successfully completing 998 with an approved dissertation proposal.

5 Dissertation Research (12 credits) 998 To enroll in 998, students must have a dissertation chair. Once students enroll in 998, students are required to form a dissertation committee consisting of three faculty with one designated as a chair. At least one member of the committee must be from the Higher Education Program unit. Students must also have two additional members with graduate faculty status who could be from another department or college at George Mason University. HESD 999 The dissertation should use theoretical and social science or humanities methods to address a problem within higher education research, teaching, and practice that is framed by the empirical literature. The dissertation process begins after the student has successfully completed all required 48 credit hours and successfully completed three portfolio reviews. Students complete a minimum of 3 credits of 998 and 9 credits of 999. Students must apply a minimum 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. 998 Dissertation Proposal (3-6 credits) 999 Dissertation (1-3 credits, repeatable up to 9 credits) Total: 72 credits