Graduate Studies Committee

February 24, 2006

105 Hullihen Hall—8:30 am (Next meeting March 3rd in 105 Hullihen at 8:30 am)

 

Members present:  Charles Mason, Chair; John Sawyer, Abena Aidoo (Graduate Student), Paula Vasquez (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:  Professors Michael Peterson and Allan Waterfield met with the Committee to respond to the report of the Permanent Status Program Review Committee for the M.S. in Health Promotion.   A full explanation was given of the purpose of the program, its goals, the student projects, the success of the students who have completed the program as well as issues that exist with the organization of the program in the Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences.   Linda Bucher served on the Review Panel for the Health Promotion program and stated that the purpose of the Health Promotion was separate from the purposes of the Nursing programs.   The Committee tabled the continuance of open discussion on whether to recommend permanent status until the next meeting.  Chuck Mason will draft a listing of the committee’s recommendations on this program for discussion at the next meeting

 

New Business:  Pablo Huq served on the Review Panel for the Master’s programs in Mechanical Engineering.  He stated that the primary purpose for the two degree programs was to differentiate the master’s offering with thesis from that without the thesis and that the non-thesis program provides an opportunity for non-traditional and part-time students to complete the Master’s degree.  The Request for Approval of Permanent Status for the M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and the M.E.M. in Mechanical Engineering:  Non-Thesis programs were unanimously approved for recommendation to the Coordinating Committee.  The review did not result in any changes or suggestions for change in the existing programs.

 

            The Request for Revision to the M.Ed. major in Reading:  The Reading policy document reflects the new course changes, but there is no overall change in the total credits required for the degree. The changes to the program are to restructure the content of EDUC 608 and 609 and replace EDUC 668 and EDUC 630 with a new combined 6-credit hour summer class.  These changes address weaknesses indicated as needed in the IRA (International Reading Association) standards.  The Committee unanimously approved the proposed changes.

 

            The Request for Revision to the Concentration in Science Education in the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction:  The proposed change is to require the applicants to the Science Education Concentration to submit scores for the Praxis II Content Area Test that is directly applicable to the subject area that applicants intend to teach.  Applicants who already are certified to teach would not be required to submit Praxis II scores.  In addition, titles for EDUC 613, 614, 619 and 750 have been changed and are currently on the challenge list.  The Committee unanimously approved the proposed changes.

 

            Discussion on the proposed establishment of a combined BA in English with an MA in Teaching English as a Second Language was tabled to the next meeting.