Sen. Doc. No. 13-037
SPECIAL REPORT
of the
GRADUATE COUNCIL
concerning the
REPLACEMENT OF THE CERTIFICATE OF ADVANCED GRADUATE STUDY (CAGS) DEGREE WITH THE EDUCATION SPECIALIST (ED.S.) DEGREE IN THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
Presented at the 724 th Regular Meeting of the Faculty Senate February 21, 2013
COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP
Neal Abraham Beth Lang Jane Baran John Lopes Lori Baronas Michael Malone Tom Braden Ernest May D. Anthony Butterfield John McCarthy Leslie Button Dominic Poccia Derek Doughty Margaret Riley David Ford Alan Robinson Steve Goodwin Frederic Schaffer Linda Griffin (Chair) Jocelyn Silverlight Mark Hamin Howard Stidham Cynthia Jacelon Anna Strowe A Yemisi Jimoh Patrick Sullivan Arthur Kinney Hongmei Sun Keven Klement Nathan Therien David Vaillancourt
Sen. Doc. No. 13-037
The Academic Standards and Curriculum Committee (ASCC) of the Graduate Council met on January 30, 2013 and reviewed the proposal to replace the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) Degree with Education Specialist (Ed.S.) Degree. The ASCC recommended this proposal for approval.
On Wednesday, February 13, 2013, the Graduate Council met and approved the replacement of the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) Degree with the Education Specialist (Ed.S.) Degree.
MOVED: That the Faculty Senate approve the Replacement of the Certificate of Advanced Graduate 39-13 Study (CAGS) Degree with the Education Specialist (Ed.S.) Degree in the School of Education, as presented in Sen. Doc. No. 13-037.
Sen. Doc. No. 13-037 FORM RR
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY THE FACULTY SENATE
PROGRAM REVISION APPROVAL FORM
35 COPIES REQUIRED
PROGRAM TITLE: Replace Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) Degree with Education Specialist (Ed.S.) Degree
PLEASE CHECK: GRADUATE X UNDERGRADUATE
DEPARTMENT School of Education HEAD/CHAIR:
SCHOOL OR COLLEGE Education DEAN: Christine McCormick
Submission Date: Proposed Starting Date: 9/1/2013
I. PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT
A. Describe the Proposal.
The School of Education offers a degree called the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS). This degree requires 30 credits beyond the master’s and is designed to provide continuing professional development for those who do not want to embark on doctoral study.
The School of Education and recipients of the CAGS are at a disadvantage because the CAGS degree is referred to by this name only in the Northeast; in the rest of the country, it is referred to as the Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree.
This proposal will replace the CAGS with the Ed.S. It will also add a 3-credit capstone course requirement to the existing CAGS course requirements.
B. Provide a brief overview of the process for developing the Proposal.
This proposal was approved by the School of Education Academic Matters Committee in Spring 2011. The delay in formal submission to the Senate is a result of uncertainty about appropriate procedure to follow. The procedure now being followed has been approved by Associate Provost Bryan Harvey and Senate Secretary Ernest May.
II. PURPOSE AND GOALS
Describe the Proposal’s purpose and the particular knowledge and skills to be acquired.
The purpose of this proposal is to bring this campus into conformity with the practice at other institutions nationally (e.g. Georgia State University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Florida, University of Colorado, and University of Arizona, Indiana University) and within the UMass system (UMass Lowell and UMass Boston). Because it is known nationally, the Ed.S. degree is more marketable for our graduates and more attractive to prospective students.
This change will also reduce confusion. Having a 30 credit degree referred to as a “Certificate” leads to confusion with the many 12-18 credit graduate certificates offered through UMass Amherst.
This proposal will improve reporting of data. Ed. S. data are included in accreditation agencies and federal reporting sites; CAGS data are not.
III. RESOURCES
If this proposal requires no additional resources, say so and briefly explain why. If this proposal requires additional resources, explain how they will be paid for. For proposals involving instruction, indicate how many new enrollments are expected and whether the courses have room to accommodate them.
This proposal requires no new resources. The only substantive change is the addition of the capstone project. The capstone project is not an organized course, so it does not require additional faculty.
Sen. Doc. No. 13-037 Further Information
Requirements
The current requirements for the CAGS are: • Must have completed a Master’s degree. • All 30 credits must be taken at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. • At least 15 of those credits must be taken in the School of Education; • 18 of the credits must be at the 600 or above course level number. • All courses must be completed within a four-year time period. • No more than 9 credits from independent study practica.
The Ed.S. requirements will be identical, except for the addition of a 3-credit capstone project that will be included in the 30 credits. The following are examples of capstones, each with possible oral presentation components: • A written comprehensive exam, designed as a summative evaluation that measures the pertinent and professional relevant knowledge candidates have obtained during the program. • A portfolio designed to give candidates the opportunity to reflect on their graduate experience and to synthesize and integrate what they have learned. The portfolio is intended to be reflective and comprehensive.
All admission requirements, policies, and procedures for the CAGS remain the same for the Ed.S.
Process of Conversion
The CAGS is currently offered in the following School of Education departments and concentrations: Department of Education Policy, Research and Administration • Education Policy and Leadership • Educational Administration • Higher Education • Policy Studies in Education Department of Student Development • School Counselor Education • School Psychology • Social Justice Education • Special Education\ Department of Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies • Bilingual/ESL/Multicultural Education • Children, Families and Schools • Learning, Media and Technology • Science Education Online
As the conversion from CAGS to Ed.S. proceeds, each concentration will submit to the School of Education Academic Matters Committee a description of its capstone project. Concentrations that primarily prepare students to work in P-12 schools will in addition need to address the elements in NCATE Standard 1 (content knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, professional and pedagogical, effects on student learning and dispositions). Most of these elements could be incorporated into the capstone project.
Transition
• The degree name change will begin for students admitted for Fall 2013 onwards. • Students who already graduated from UMass Amherst with a CAGS degree cannot have their degrees retroactively renamed to Ed.S. • Students who graduate in summer 2013 will receive a CAGS. • Students currently enrolled for a CAGS degree who will graduate in Fall 2013 or later may complete an academic petition to have their degree be named Ed.S. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of the School of Education will write to all enrolled CAGS students informing them of this change.