Doctoral Support Center & Doctoral Programming Blog

Hello Cohort of 2011!

Here are a few advising updates:

Spring 2012 Registration

Students may now register for the Spring 2011 courses. Everyone should have received a registration memo and if you need me to re-send a copy of the memo, please contact me.

MMR Immunizations

Please submit proof of MMR immunity to the Student Health Center by mail, fax, or email. Failure to do so will result in an account hold and an inability to register for the Spring 2012 semester.

USC-University Park Health Center, Compliance Office

849 W. 34th Street, Room 120, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0311

FAX: 213-821-2740

E-mail: uphccomp@usc.edu

Concentration Selection Event

All first year students are given the opportunity to learn about the four concentrations (K-12, Ed Psych, Higher Ed and TEMS) options during the 2012 spring semester.   The Ed.D. Concentration Selection Event will be held on Monday, January 9, 2012, for students interested in a possible concentration change.  At this event, faculty from all four concentrations will be discussing the concentration classes, career paths, and various other topics related to their concentrations. After this event, all students will be asked to confirm their concentration or request a switch. Please be aware that if you decide to switch concentrations, your request must be approved by the concentration chair.

Summer Conference

The Ed.D. Summer Conference for the Cohort of 2011 will take place on Saturday, August 18, 2012. Event information will be announced in the coming months.

Enjoy the remainder of the semester!

Melisa Carson

mcarson@usc.edu

(213) 821-1516

The Impact of the Ed. D Program

By: Myron H. Dembo,

Emeritus Professor of Educational Psychology

Many graduate students often mention the benefits of earning an Ed. D degree. They discuss applying for new positions and/or the possibility of promotions in their present area of expertise. In addition, my students have discussed useful outcomes of participating in our program well before they complete their degree.  

The following are some factors they mention: First, the focus on gap analysis has helped them identify causes before they seek solutions to problems. The focus on causes has helped their school committees modify their discussions so they ultimately identify solutions that have a greater probability to close performance gaps. Secondly, my students report that they are more critical of information that comes from individual opinions or blogs rather than research findings. Often school personnel use opinion pieces to support ideas that are not based on research. For example, there is considerable information on the amount of homework that should be given to elementary school students. Individuals can find information to support almost any view they take. Yet, the research indicates that homework has benefits, but has little impact on academic achievement at the elementary level. The emphasis on research findings has helped graduate students to use scientific information when discussing critical issues in education. Third, my students find that they are asking key questions at meetings that other individuals have not considered.   When they raise significant questions their peers often ask how they knew to ask these pertinent questions. It appears that our emphasis on theory, research, and practice in course work allows our students to provide insights that other non-doctoral professionals have failed to consider.

In summary, the key professional knowledge and skills introduced at the doctoral level –readings, discussions, and exercises –appears to have some immediate outcomes in helping graduate students become more successful professionals.  In the process, you also have the potential of impacting other
professionals as well.  

Updates

Hello 2nd year Ed.D. Students,

Please make a note of the following deadlines and events on the horizon:

2012 Spring Registration
-Please check your OASIS to find your registration appointment time in order to register for EDUC 792
-Remember for EDUC 536-Inquiry II, you cannot register until Wednesday, October 26th at 8:30 a.m.
-The deadline to register for the spring semester without a late fee is January 6th, 2012.

Upcoming Events
-2nd EGO Townhall Meeting of the Year "Mediterranean Midterm Madness". Wednesday October 26th at 7:00 p.m. in WPH B49
-Preparing for the Dissertation Workshop-January 30th and March 26th 4-6 p.m. Location- TBA

FIGHT ON!

Nina Nieves
Ed.D. Program Advisor

Mediterranean Midterm Madness: EGO Townhall Meeting

2nd Townhall Meeting of the Year: "Mediterranean Midterm Madness"

Take a break from class and grab some free food, courtesy of EGO, GPSS, and Papa Cristos!

Spend some time with EGO and your fellow Rossier students this Wednesday, October 26 at 7:00pm in WPH B49 as they prepare for the big game on Saturday.

Tickets to the 4th Annual Tailgate Olympics will be on sale!

See you there!

Register for Spring 2012!

Dear Cohorts of 2003, 2006, and 2009,

I hope Fall semester is treating you well!

If you wish to be a Fall 2011 graduate, you must successfully defend and upload your dissertation to the Graduate School by November 1, 2011. Please contact me as soon as possible if you are seeking to meet the deadline.

Registration for the Spring 2012 semester is now open! Please submit the appropriate Permit to Enroll form to me in order to receive D-clearance to register for Spring classes.

It is important to note that the last day to register (and pay tuition) without late fees is January 6, 2012 and the last day to add/drop a class is January 27, 2012.

I encourage you to attend the upcoming DSC workshops and events, and take advantage of all of the resources and opportunities available to you at USC!

Please don’t forget to RSVP by November 21st for the Dissertation Submission Workshop on Monday, December 5, 2011 from 4:00pm – 6:00pm in THH 102. The session will feature presentations from DSC, the Thesis Editors, the Financial Aid Office, and a Student Panel!

I look forward to receiving your Permit to Enroll forms and seeing you at the Dissertation Submission Workshop!

Fight On, Write On, and Keep Calm and Carry On!

Yevy

Ed.D. Program Advisor

2012 Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Dissertation Fellowship

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has created dissertation fellowships for doctoral students conducting research that advance the understanding of the factors and contexts that help low-income students overcome personal adversity and challenging socioeconomic circumstances to excel academically. The goal of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is to assist high-achieving low-income students, from middle school to graduate school, in reaching their full potential through education. The Foundation will award four fellowships of up to $25,000 in 2012 with plans to increase the number of fellowships in the coming years. Although applicants must be candidates for a doctoral degree at a graduate school in the United States, they need not be US citizens.

Links to the application requirements and guidelines are posted on the Jack Kent Cooke website; the application and other materials must be submitted by February 3, 2012.  Please visit the Fellowship site (http://www.jkcf.org/scholarships/graduate-scholarships/jack-kent-cooke-dissertation-fellowship-award/ ) for more information about the fellowship, the application instruction, and the Foundation.

Featured Guest Blogger: Rocke DeMark, Ed.D.

My name is Rocke DeMark and I graduated from the Ed.D. Program in 2011 with a focus on Higher Education Administration. The Ed.D. degree was essential in helping me obtain my current position. I am the Associate Director of Student Affairs for the Fully Employed MBA Program at UC Irvine. Not only do I frequently utilize the knowledge gained from the classroom in my role, I also am able to bring a wealth of information from my dissertation to the workplace. Many of my colleagues come to me for advice on anything related to my dissertation topic.

While I do not necessarily miss the dissertation-filled nights and weekends, I genuinely miss the Ed.D. Program. It was a remarkable experience that tested my intellect, motivation, and resolve. My advice to students going through the program is to appreciate every moment of it. While the work may be overwhelming, you will leave the program as an accomplished individual capable of making a difference. You will possess an excellent education as a result of your classroom and dissertation work. Additionally, you will also have built an impressive network of professionals, faculty, and friends. These individuals will support you in whatever endeavors you choose to pursue and will be vital for your future success.

Enjoy the rest of your time in the Ed.D. Program. While you may be jealous of the free time I currently have on evenings and weekends, I am currently reminiscing about being back in the classroom with my Cohort of 2008 LA Weekend classmates. I wish you the best of luck as you work towards the completion of your dissertation and the degree!

Hello Cohort of 2011!

Everyone should have received the registration memo for the Spring 2012 semester.  Registration will begin Monday, October 24, 2011.   If you have any questions related to course content, syllabi, or assignments, please remember to contact your faculty member and s/he will be able to address those concerns.

In response to the emails I have received regarding the Summer 2012 term, you can expect the following course schedule.  Summer 2012 classes are offered May 16 - August 8 (12 weeks). You will take your first concentration class during the first 6-week session and EDUC 532: Inquiry Methods I will be offered the second 6-week session.  You are also scheduled to attend Summer Conference August 18, 2012, which consists of faculty thematic group presentations and students selecting their top three dissertation group choices.  I hope this information is helpful as you make plans for next summer.

Fight On!
Melisa Carson

Student Services for Veterans

The Veterans Affairs Office at USC assists students with financial aid processes and certifies eligibility for veterans to receive their education benefits. Please visit the following link for more information about the Veterans Affairs Office: http://www.usc.edu/dept/ARR/veteransaffairs/index.html

The Veteran Services Office, directed by Syreeta Greene, jointly offers veterans emotional and social support as they transition into higher education. To review the services offered by the Veterans Services Office please visit the following link: http://sait.usc.edu/ca/tvsp/

The Veterans Affairs Office in conjunction with the Veterans Services Office create increased support services, greater awareness, and more specialized attention for student Veterans’ needs.

2012 Spring Registration Information

Hello Cohort of 2010!!!

You should have received your 2012 Spring Registration memo last Friday. Please make a note of the following important information:

Registration Information
* Registration for spring 2012 begins on Monday October 24, 2011
* Registration for Inquiry II will not begin until Wednesday October 26th, 2011 at 8:30 a.m.
* Please register for EDUC 536 and EDUC 792

Important Dates to Remember

Session	Last Day to Register w/o a Late Fee	Classes Begin	Last Day to Drop w/o a "W" Last Day to Register or Add Classes	Last Day to Drop with a "W"	Classes End
001	January 6	January 9	January 27	April 6	April 27
334 (LA WKND)	January 6	January 17	February 3	April 3	May 5
328 (OC)	January 6	January 17	February 3	April 3	May 5

Textbooks for EDUC 536
*Statistics for People Who Think they Hate Statistics by N. Salkind, Sage Publications

*Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods(3rd Edition, 2002), by Patton, Sage Publications

Health Insurance
* Please visit the following website to make changes to your health insurance: http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/Health_Center/ins.index.shtml)

*Please review your Spring Registration Memo for more details. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

FIGHT ON!!

Nina Nieves
Ed.D. Program Advisor
(213)821-1512