University of Virginia Library

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

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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