Graduate Studies Committee
A&S Conference Room
Members present: Charles Mason, Chair; John Sawyer, Abena Aidoo (Graduate Student), Robert Opila, Andrew Teplyakov; Ali Poorani; Pablo Huq, Susan Brynteson, Peter Kolchin, Linda Bucher, Matthew Kinservik, Dewey Caron and Mary Martin
Old Business: Peter Cole from the Linguistics and Cognitive Science program presented the proposal for the name change of the MA in Linguistics to the MA in Linguistics and Cognitive Science. In addition, the proposal identifies that MA students have the option to complete either a track clearly in Linguistics or one in Cognitive Science or an individualized track that combines elements of both tracks. The Committee unanimously approved the proposal.
Richard Fang from the MS program in Human Nutrition presented the proposal to add a Dietetic Internship option to the existing thesis and non-thesis options of the program. The proposal offers an accelerated program for post-baccalaureate students with a current verification statement from an accredited didactic program in dietetics to complete a master’s program and dietetic internship in a two-year time frame rather than the current MS program of two years and the Dietetic Certification program of a 3rd year.
The Committee unanimously approved the resolution to add the option.
New Business: Matthew Kinservik presented the rationale for the revisions to the MA in English and the PHD in English. The change is the program requires ENGL 684 (Introduction to Literary Theory) and the addition of a comprehensive examination. The MA program does not require a thesis and the addition of the theory course and the comprehensive examination makes the program more rigorous for the needs of the MA students. The changes to PHD included the elimination of the comprehensive examination resulting in a revision of the specialty examination. In addition, the proposal made changes to the dissertation proposal requirements. The old proposal was approximately 2-3 pages in length and the new proposal must be 20 pages in length including an outline of the chapters envisioned. The Committee unanimously approved the proposed changes to the MA and PHD in English.