 | Board of Visitors minutes February 10, 1950 |  |
GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL DEGREES IN EDUCATION
President Darden presented for consideration of the Board a program for awarding graduate
professional degrees in the Department of Education, as set forth in the following letter from
Dean Lindley J. Stiles
The Department of Education respectfully requests that the Board of Visitors of the University
of Virginia approve
1. The establishment of graduate professional degrees in education—the Master of
Education and Doctor of Education degrees—to be administered by the Department of Education;
2. The development of a program of graduate extension work by the Department of Education
in cooperation with the University Extension Division.
Detailed descriptions of the degree requirements and of the proposed program of work in
extension are attached.
These requests, as outlined, have been considered favorably by both the Department of
Graduate Studies and the University Senate. After considering the need for graduate professional
degrees and a program of graduate extension work in education, the Graduate Committee of the Department
of Graduate Studies unanimously approved the following statement in its meeting on January
17, 1950.
"The Graduate Committee recognizes the need for professional
graduate degrees in Education and favors the presentation of the proposals
of Dean Lindley J. Stiles to the University Senate. The Committee recommends
that these professional degrees, when established, be administered
by the Department of Education."
The University Senate, on February 3, 1950, in consideration of the above action by the
Department of Graduate Studies, voted unanimously to recommend to the Board of Visitors of the
University of Virginia that the Department of Education be authorized to grant professional graduate
degrees in education and to develop in cooperation with the University Extension Division a
program of graduate extension work in the field of education.
Authority for the granting of professional degrees by the Department of Education was
established by action of the Board of Visitors in its January 12, 1920, meeting. Excerpts from
the minutes (Minutes, page 164, Vol. IX) of that meeting read:
"Resolved, that the Rector and Visitors of the University be
requested to grant authority to organize the Curry Memorial School of
Education into a Department, coordinate with the other professional departments
of the University, with power to confer appropriate professional
degrees
"The above was disposed of in the following resolution, being
unanimously adopted:
"Resolved by the Rector and Visitors of the University, that the
request of the Curry Memorial School of Education to organize said school
into a Department, coordinate with the other professional departments of the
University, with power to confer appropriate professional degrees, be and is
hereby granted."
Since the above action was taken the Curry Memorial Department of Education has been
granting three undergraduate professional degrees: the Bachelor of Science in Education; the
Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education; and the Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. The
present request for approval of the granting of graduate professional degrees by the Department
of Education is in accord with the functions prescribed and delegated to the Department of Education
as a professional department of the University
The prerogatives for the granting of graduate professional degrees by professional departments
of the University and for offering graduate work in extension are already reputably
established in the University of Virginia. Graduate professional degrees are now being granted
by the Departments of Law, Medicine and Engineering. The Department of Engineering has developed
a program of graduate work in extension leading to the Master of Science degree in Engineering.
The requests by the Department of Education are in accord with established practices in
other major universities. Their implementation will represent fundamental and necessary steps in
the direction of making available through the Department of Education greater service to teachers
and to public education throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.
THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF EDUCATION
A student approved for admission to graduate work in education will have the option of
undertaking (1) a program leading to the present Master of Arts degree, with education as a field
of specialization, provided he meets the admission requirements of the Department of Graduate Studies,
or (2) a program leading to the Master of Education Degree.
Requirements for the Master of Education Degree
The student who elects to pursue the Master of Education will register in the Curry Memorial
Department of Education—Graduate Division. Such registration must have the approval of the
Dean of the Department and must be completed prior to enrollment in graduate courses in order for
work completed to be applied toward fulfilling the requirements for the Master of Education degree.
Admission: A student holding the Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
may become a candidate for the Master of Education degree provided he gives evidence of adequate
preparation for the type of work to be pursued.
Advisory Committee: At the time of registration each student will select, in consultation
with the Dean of the Department of Education, an adviser who will approve the student's initial
registration in graduate courses. During the first period of graduate study the student and his
adviser will recommend to the Dean of the Department of Education two additional faculty members,
who, along with the Adviser will constitute the student's Advisory Committee.
Approval of Professional Degree Program: Each student working toward the Master of Education
degree will plan, with the help of his Advisory Committee, a program of study adapted to his
educational background, professional experience and anticipated professional objectives. In all
cases, the student's program will be projected in such manner that it forms a consistent plan of
work and is directed toward a definite professional goal. The Advisory Committee and the Dean of
the Department of Education must approve for the Department of Education the proposed program.
The Degree Program: A student must complete a minimum program of twenty-four semester-hours
in graduate courses which have received the approval of his Advisory Committee and of the
Dean of the Department of Education and must, in addition, include in his program of work one of the
following: (1) one or more graduate courses with a minimum credit value of six semester-hours;
(2) a thesis; or (3) a research study of a field project approved and directed by his adviser, in
cooperation with other members of the Advisory Committee.
Examinations: Each candidate for the Master of Education degree must pass a comprehensive
examination in the field or fields in which the degree program is projected. When a thesis or field
study is included in the student's degree program the examination will give appropriate consideration
to the quality and extent of these projects.
Inclusion of Graduate Extension Work in the Master of Education Degree Program: A student
who pursues graduate study through the program of extension work developed by the Department of Education
will be permitted to apply, upon approval of his Advisory Committee, twelve to fifteen hours
of such credit toward the course requirements of the Master of Education degree. Approval for counting
more than twelve hours of graduate extension credit toward the degree must be secured from the
Dean and the Faculty of the Department of Education. In no case may more than half of the course
work submitted for the Master of Education degree be work taken in extension.
Transfer of Credit from Other Institutions: Upon approval of his Advisory Committee and
the Dean of the Department of Education a student may transfer a maximum of six semester-hours of
graduate credit in other accredited institutions to apply toward the requirements of the Master of
Education degree in the Department of Education of the University of Virginia. In no case, however,
may the total amount of transfer credit and credit earned through extension work equal more than
one-half of the total credits required for the degree and when the total exceeds twelve semester-hours
it must be approved by the Dean and the Faculty of the Department of Education.
THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF EDUCATION
The program for the Doctor of Education degree is designed to prepare the student within
a broad context for professional proficiency in the field of education. Candidates for this degree
must show evidence of competency and of ability to assume a position of leadership in the field of
education. The special requirements for the degree are shown below.
Admission: A student seeking admission to candidacy to this degree shall have approved
baccalaureate and master's degrees. The candidate must have had successful experience in the field
of education. Admission of the candidate in the Department of Education must be approved by the
Dean.
Program: A student seeking candidacy to the Doctor of Education degree may satisfy residence
requirements by one of two patterns: (1) he may register continuously in graduate courses
until he had completed a minimum of thirty semester-hours. Eighteen of these must be done in
courses in residence. The remaining twelve hours may be completed through doctoral seminars offered
in extension, (2) he may register for one session of two full semesters work in residence.
A complete program showing the courses the student expects to pursue in meeting the requirements
for the Doctor of Education degree must be filed with the Dean of the Department of Education by
the end of the first semester after admission to graduate study for this degree.
Advisory Committee: At the time of registration each student will select, in consultation
with the Dean of the Department of Education, an adviser who will approve the student's initial
registration
During the first semester of doctoral study the student and his adviser will recommend to
the Dean of the Department of Education two additional faculty members, who, along with the adviser,
will constitute the student's doctoral Advisory Committee.
Qualifying Examinations: The prospective candidate shall, after completing a minimum of
twelve semester-hours of work, take a qualifying examination in order to satisfy his Advisory Committee
that the depth and breadth of his professional knowledge is adequate for the pursuit of the
Doctor of Education degree.
Field of Concentration: After successful completion of the qualifying examinations the
student becomes eligible to pursue further work in selected fields of concentration. For this
phase of his program, he will select a minimum of three fields in which specialization will be developed,
and related to which it is expected that the dissertation will eventually be projected.
Supervised Field Study Project: Prior to the time the student undertakes the final
written examination on fields of concentration, he will undertake under the supervision of a member
of the staff of the Department of Education a supervised field study project. This project
will be carried out for the purpose of demonstrating ability to complete successfully an experiment
designed to improve an educational program. The quality of the demonstrated leadership throughout
this supervised field study project will be taken into account in the consideration of the student
for candidacy of the Doctor of Education degree.
Examination on Fields of Concentration and Field Study: At least one semester prior to
the date on which the candidate expects to receive the Doctor of Education degree, each candidate
must take a final written examination covering the three or more fields of concentration. In addition
to covering fields of concentration, this examination will also deal with his supervised field
study project.
The Dissertation: A candidate for the Doctor of Education degree will project and carry
out under the supervision of his Advisory Committee a research problem appropriate for a dissertation
for this degree. In general, this problem will grow out of an actual educational situation.
The dissertation may be undertaken with the approval of the Advisory Committee after the successful
completion of the qualifying examinations.
Defense of the Dissertation: When the dissertation has secured the approval of the members
of the student's Advisory Committee, the Dean of the Department of Education shall notify the
candidate of the time set for the defense of the dissertation. The examination committee shall
consist of not less than five members of the graduate faculty of the University of Virginia. Normally,
members of the student's Advisory Committee will serve on the examination committee. Members
of the examination committee must vote unanimously favorably in order for the student to be declared
eligible to receive the degree of Doctor of Education.
Transfer of Credit from Other Institutions: A student may be allowed, upon approval of
his Advisory Committee to apply a maximum of twelve semester-hours of graduate work beyond the
Master's degree earned in another approved institution to the requirements of the Doctor of Education
degree in the University of Virginia.
PROGRAM OF GRADUATE WORK IN EXTENSION
In order that a greater contribution may be made to the in-service education of teachers
throughout the state, the Department of Education specifically requests approval for the offering
of certain graduate work in education through established extension centers and in other cooperating
institutions of higher learning in Virginia. Such a program of graduate work in education
will be developed in cooperation with the University Extension Division.
Organization of Graduate Extension Work in Education: It is anticipated that graduate
work in extension will be offered in accordance with three patterns of organization:
a. Selected graduate extension centers will be established throughout the State in
which regular schedules or curricula of graduate courses in education will be offered. Those
courses which are uniquely adapted for field work will be selected for graduate extension offerings.
It is pointed out that the laboratory work for certain courses in education may be more
easily offered to teachers while they are on the job working with students in actual school situations.
Courses dealing with the study of child growth and development, guidance, curriculum development,
supervision, instructional improvement, audio-visual aids, and improvement of reading,
are illustrations of the type of courses that will be offered in extension
b. Other colleges and universities in the state will be invited to cooperate with the
University of Virginia in making graduate work in education available to teachers. Cooperative
programs will be established which provide for qualified staff members in other institutions to
offer graduate work accredited by the Department of Education of the University of Virginia. Upon
approval of this plan, efforts will be made to develop in cooperation with other institutions of
higher learning in the State a program of graduate work in education organized on a state-wide,
rather than institution-centered, basis. Such a program will permit the utilization of all resources
for graduate work in education of collegiate institutions in Virginia, without unnecessary
duplication. The University of Virginia should appropriately offer leadership in the development
of a state-wide program of graduate work in education and may well serve as the major degree
granting agency for the program.
c. In selected city and county school systems practicum courses approved for extension
offerings will be made available to groups of teachers of a particular school district. Such
courses will be under the direct supervision and direction of the Department of Education of the
University of Virginia and will be designed to assist groups of teachers to undertake the actual
improvement of a particular educational program. Through such offerings it is anticipated that
the Department of Education of the University will be able to contribute directly to the solution
of critical problems faced by school systems
Provision of Staff for Graduate Extension Courses in Education: It is anticipated that
all extension work will be carried on by members of the staff of the Department of Education.
Whenever faculty members from other colleges are invited to offer graduate extension courses, they
will be appointed as acting part-time lecturers or professors in education to the staff of the Department
of Education. It is expected that most members of the resident staff will be teaching in
the field part-time and on the grounds part-time. Such experiences, it is believed, will be beneficial
both to members of the staff and to teachers in the field. It will keep staff members of
the Department of Education in close touch with developments in public schools and will help them
relate their efforts in graduate instruction to the problems of education in the State of Virginia
The Board approved the establishment of the program described above, leading to the
granting of the degrees of Master of Education and Doctor of Education, to be administered by the
Department of Education, and also approved the program of graduate extension work in the field of
education
| Board of Visitors minutes February 10, 1950 | |