Two innovative advanced degree programs in postclinical, research-oriented optometric education at Ohio State University are described briefly. One is a combined professional and research degree program at the master's and doctoral levels. The other is a two-year postclinical degree format combining a half-time patient care residency and a…

The evolution of a doctoral program in education (Ed.D.) is chronicled, with special attention to a culminating project designed to link theory and practice. It was found that while students' projects mimicked the norms of a conventional dissertation, they often lacked rigor and depth. It is felt that preceding coursework had not adequately…

Maintains that early sociological studies of U.S. higher education noted that despite a widespread ideology of egalitarianism, both individuals and departments were highly stratified. Reports on a study of changes in the structure of the stratification system in sociology over the past 30 years. (CFR)

A meta-analytic review was conducted on published studies examining the relationship between performance on the quantitative and verbal components of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and graduate grade point average. Results suggest that the quantitative and verbal components of the GRE possess minimal predictive validity. (SLD)

Investigates the instructional benefits of using a Group Decision Support System (GDSS), i.e., a computer-based system implemented on a local area network for assisting a group with communication, decision making, and negotiating. An experiment using a GDSS in a graduate seminar class at the University of Mississippi is described. (31 references)…

This response to EC 603 649 argues that the field of applied behavior analysis does train a large number of practitioners and administrators and a few researchers, that graduate programs already vary research training and practice training, and that both practicing and research behavior analysts need to be taught the logic of experimental control.…

This response to EC 603 649 agrees that the field of applied behavior analysis has a low success rate in teaching productive researchers but argues that the corrective action should involve doing a more effective job of teaching students how to be successful researchers in nonacademic settings. (JDD)

Describes a long-term professional development program designed by Cuyahoga Community College (CCC) in collaboration with Kent State University. Addresses project design, the joint advisory committee and project liaison, and project impact. Reveals that 70 CCC staff members have taken Kent State courses, including 25 admitted to doctoral programs.…

In a study of verbosity in Pakistani English, this paper examines three kinds of study guides (paraphrase books, essay volumes, and success guides) to show their broad influence on Pakistani graduate students majoring in English literature. Each type of guide reflects inconsistent and verbose use of language. (15 references) (LB)

The Civil Rights Act of 1991 requires that employment criteria be job related. This provision could be extended to the doctoral degree, which is a superfluous and inappropriate qualification for college faculty because it provides specialized and narrow coursework aimed at the needs of the researcher, not the subject-area teacher. (MSE)

A model for problem solving stressing both psychological and cultural influences is presented. This model is based on the analyses of how graduate students (n=10) solve organic synthesis problems, along with two models of problem solving and a constructivist epistemological stance. (KR)

Discusses reasons for the decline in American student participation in the sciences and offers suggestions to reverse this trend. (ZWH)

Recounts the experiences of one middle-aged community college English teacher who decided to go after a terminal degree. Considers the pros and cons of returning to graduate school for the doctorate degree. Describes how teacher training for graduate students might be improved. (HB)

Definitions of effective instructional leadership inadequately address supervision and strategic deployment of student support personnel (counselors, psychologists, social workers, and others) as critical resources for school success. Engaging their skills and understanding expands professional discourse, improves teaching and learning, and…

Suggests an innovative technique for the graduate curriculum in literature and language that can help new faculty members develop not only culture courses but also competency in interdisciplinary scholarship, discussing course organization, varieties of interdisciplinary study, and the professional development seminar. (20 references) (CB)