Academic Program Proposal Provost Summary University of Kansas - Lawrence

Transcription

1 Date: March 10, 2014 Academic Program Proposal Provost Summary University of Kansas - Lawrence Area Summary 1. Program Identification Contact: Ben Chappell Type of Program: Certificate (e.g., New Degree, Joint Degree, Minor, Concentration, Certificate, Emphasis, Track, or Option) Degree Abbreviation, if applicable: N/A (e.g., BA, BGS, BS, BME, BSB, BSE, MA, MS, MBA, MPA, JD, PhD, DMA, DE) CIP Code (to be completed by OIRP): Primary and Additional Location(s) of Instruction: Lawrence campus (e.g., Lawrence campus, Edwards campus, KUMC, Fort Leavenworth, JCCC, or KCK Community College, etc ) 2. Academic Unit School: CLAS Department: American Studies 1

2 3. Program Description The primary purpose of the Graduate Certificate in American Studies is to offer doctoral students in humanities and social science departments access to our faculty resources and a portable credential of substantial engagement with our field. This will enhance the qualifications of students aiming to teach in the area of American Studies or allied interdisciplinary fields such as ethnic studies or cultural studies. As a kind of doctoral minor, the certificate program will offer not only topical material but training in interdisciplinary theory and methods to supplement the curriculum of the home department. A secondary purpose is to provide enrichment or an introductory experience with interdisciplinary social and cultural scholarship for otherwise non-degree-seeking students. This will extend access to the intellectual resources of the Department in keeping with our unit s commitment to contribute to the public good. To this end, the certificate would be available to qualified high school and community college faculty. The certificate-seeking population may also include visiting international graduate students, in light of the Department s long history of hosting international Fulbright scholars and active exchange with the American Studies department of the University of Regensburg, Germany. Finally, the certificate may aid in the identification and recruitment of strong students for the Department s graduate program. 2

3 4. Demand/Need for the Program KU hosts one of only four American Studies doctoral programs in the 11-state region (extending mainly to the east and north) represented by the Mid-America American Studies Association (MAASA). KU publishes one of the leading journals in the field, and has faculty who actively contribute leadership to professional associations. These factors give KU sufficient standing in the field of American Studies to allow our certification of students work to be recognized as credible by our American Studies colleagues internationally. Faculty members at KU who hold doctoral degrees in American Studies are currently employed in various departments, including History; Religious Studies; Theatre; and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Other colleagues who are active or prominent in the field hold appointments in departments such as English. The graduate students whom all of these scholars recruit to their respective programs are likely to have interests that would be served by the certificate. The Department has fielded walk-in inquiries about a certificate from current KU doctoral students. Since 2008, 53 students from other degree programs have enrolled in our core graduate required courses, providing 27% of total enrollment in those courses. In addition, 74 students enrolled from other programs in our graduate seminars, representing 60% of that enrollment. This represents substantial interest in our courses and faculty from outside our own degree programs. Typically our courses are taken as electives for students from other programs. The possibility of a certificate is intended to leverage this interest to support addition enrollment in other AMS graduate seminars. 5. Comparative/Locational Advantage The only certificate of American Studies evident in the MAASA region is offered by Northwestern University. It consists of four undesignated courses, and is directed to non-degree students, such as working educators or those considering application for a Ph.D. Nationally, other certificates are offered by City University of New York, Keenesaw State, Stockton College, Vanderbilt, Villanova, and Wyoming. Most of these are offered at the MA level, or combine graduate and undergraduate courses. Only CUNY s resembles the proposal here in serving as a doctoral minor. 3

4 6. Curriculum The Certificate will consist of four courses for a total of 12 credit hours: 1. AMS 801 Introduction to American Studies (offered every Fall) 2. AMS 802 Theorizing America (offered every Fall) or AMS 803 Research Methods in American Studies (offered every Spring) 3-4. Two elective seminars in American Studies The choice between AMS 802 and 803 offers students the experience that best complements work in their home departments, depending on whether that work emphasizes training in theory or methodology more. The elective seminars must carry an AMS catalog number above 700. Due to their Department-specific purpose and content, AMS 804 Research Seminar and AMS 900 Teaching Seminar do not qualify as elective seminars for the certificate. All courses are offered at the Lawrence campus, and none are offered online at this time. Enrollment in individual courses is not guaranteed to certificate students, but dependent on the demand from degreeseeking students and consent of the instructor. 7. Faculty Profile The graduate faculty of the Department of American Studies will support this certificate. Though several of our members are joint-appointed with other units, their graduate seminars are typically cross-listed with an AMS number. Therefore the majority of their graduate course offerings (with the exceptions of AMS 804 and AMS 900) will serve certificate students. Henry Bial.50 Ben Chappell 1.00 Jacob Dorman.50 Elizabeth Esch 1.00 Ruben Flores 1.00 Jennifer Hamer.75 Randal Jelks.75 Clarence Lang.25 Cheryl Lester.50 David Roediger.75 Sherrie Tucker FTE 4

5 8. Student Profile Anticipated student enrollment Full Time Part Time Total Year Year Year Anticipated number of program graduates after 5 years: 10 after 7 years: Academic Support Nothing additional required. 10. Facilities and Equipment Nothing additional required. 11. Program Review, Assessment, Accreditation The Director of Graduate Studies will collect information on the certificate program, including: - number of students enrolled - their degree home departments, if any - portion of international students - completion rates - effect on regular course enrollments - alumni outcomes Five years after the enrollment of the first student in the certificate program, the Graduate Studies Committee of the Department of American Studies will assess the program in light of these data in order to evaluate its net impact on the Department. In addition, the certificate will be included in all future program evaluations of the Department of American Studies. The College and Graduate Studies will evaluate the certificate program every 7 years as part of the mandatory review and renewal process for all graduate certificates. 12. Costs, Financing The program draws on current teaching loads and requires no additional funds. When completed, this form is to be ed by the College/School Dean to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Lawrence Campus. A copy of the submitted form is to 5

6 be ed to Abby Coffin, Assistant to the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. 6