2008 Woodie Awards
MSU To Add Doctoral Program
Administration: Plans For New Curriculum Seek to Increase Interest in Reasearch
Meaghan McCallum
Issue date: 11/11/04 Section: News
The administration at Montclair State University has decided, as one of largest state colleges in New Jersey, to incorporate an advanced doctoral program into the curriculum in the next few years Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs Judy Minier said.
"We are the second largest state university in New Jersey. We believe that we have an obligation to offer advanced educational programs currently not in place at other institutions," Minier said. "We want to find ways to educate more students in state and offering doctoral programs addresses that agenda."
The doctoral program is also expected to enhance the University's reputation by providing services to local and national organizations, agencies, and private companies with valuable research, Minier said.
Additional funds for research and student-based scholarships will also be an aspect of the self-funded program that will better the University's reputation, said Minier.
"We are well aware that doctoral programs will draw research faculty to our programs which can expand educational opportunities for all students at MSU," said Minier.
The University's plans for expansion have grown tremendously since 1997, when the state granted MSU the authority to incorporate a Doctoral program in Education, followed by a Doctorate in Environmental Management in 2003.
Though the new doctoral program remains in its developing stages, the proposed areas of doctoral study include Educational Leadership, Family and Child Studies, Mathematics Education, and Computer Science, said Minier.
"My interest [in the program] depends on what year I graduate and how long the program has been in motion. I wouldn't want to be the first group to be enrolled in the program, because I feel like it's kind of an experiment, to see how it works out," said Toyin Adekoje, senior psychology and child advocacy major.
MSU is making a conservative effort to plan for future success by hiring new and current faculty, who prove to be imperative resources to the future achievement of goals throughout the expansion project, Minier said.
The role of the new faculty will be to help create the doctoral program, teach at a doctoral level, and create new levels of advanced study or research projects for both graduate and undergraduate students, said Minier.
The details of the new doctoral program, such as the admission standards or application process have yet to be established, said Minier.
"Even if the doctoral program does expand, it will continue to lag compared to the programs other universities offer. I think we have a good graduate program though," said Sung K. Hong, second year graduate student, environmental studies major.
The New Academic Building, to be finished in 2006, is expected to house a portion of the doctoral students; however, the school is looking at further construction to accommodate the program, said Minier.
"We are the second largest state university in New Jersey. We believe that we have an obligation to offer advanced educational programs currently not in place at other institutions," Minier said. "We want to find ways to educate more students in state and offering doctoral programs addresses that agenda."
The doctoral program is also expected to enhance the University's reputation by providing services to local and national organizations, agencies, and private companies with valuable research, Minier said.
Additional funds for research and student-based scholarships will also be an aspect of the self-funded program that will better the University's reputation, said Minier.
"We are well aware that doctoral programs will draw research faculty to our programs which can expand educational opportunities for all students at MSU," said Minier.
The University's plans for expansion have grown tremendously since 1997, when the state granted MSU the authority to incorporate a Doctoral program in Education, followed by a Doctorate in Environmental Management in 2003.
Though the new doctoral program remains in its developing stages, the proposed areas of doctoral study include Educational Leadership, Family and Child Studies, Mathematics Education, and Computer Science, said Minier.
"My interest [in the program] depends on what year I graduate and how long the program has been in motion. I wouldn't want to be the first group to be enrolled in the program, because I feel like it's kind of an experiment, to see how it works out," said Toyin Adekoje, senior psychology and child advocacy major.
MSU is making a conservative effort to plan for future success by hiring new and current faculty, who prove to be imperative resources to the future achievement of goals throughout the expansion project, Minier said.
The role of the new faculty will be to help create the doctoral program, teach at a doctoral level, and create new levels of advanced study or research projects for both graduate and undergraduate students, said Minier.
The details of the new doctoral program, such as the admission standards or application process have yet to be established, said Minier.
"Even if the doctoral program does expand, it will continue to lag compared to the programs other universities offer. I think we have a good graduate program though," said Sung K. Hong, second year graduate student, environmental studies major.
The New Academic Building, to be finished in 2006, is expected to house a portion of the doctoral students; however, the school is looking at further construction to accommodate the program, said Minier.