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news:
CSU seeks legislation
to offer doctorate
By Maya Yamane
Summer On-line Forty-Niner
The California
State University system is seeking legislation that would
allow the CSU to offer an education doctorate, once only offered
by the University of California system. "There's
a huge need for [education doctorates] in the state,"
said Ken Swisher, spokesperson for the Chancellor's Office.
The intent of this
bill is to make a statement that the California Legislature
is committed to providing educational opportunities, said
Elena Masias, government relations liaison for Cal State Long
Beach.
The bill, SB 713,
was introduced February 23 by Sen. Dede Alpert, D - San Diego.,
Masias said.
The existing law
limits the CSU to master's and bachelor's degrees and allows
the UC to offer doctorates, said Armando Contreras, executive
assistant to CSULB President Robert Maxson.
The California
Master Plan for Higher Education, introduced in 1960, organized
the distinctions between the three California school systems--community
colleges, the CSU and the UC, Contreras said.
The plan was approved
by the Regents and the State Board of Education and submitted
to the Legislature. There was a cooperative agreement that
the CSU could offer joint doctorate programs with the UC,
but very few people are interested in the programs, Masias
said.
The existing law
also authorizes the CSU to offer doctoral degrees jointly
with one or more independent institutions of higher education,
if the program is approved by the Legislature and signed by
the governor, Swisher said.
"We [CSULB]
do have other doctorate programs, but they are joint programs,"
Contreras said. "We do offer an education doctorate,
but we do it jointly with UC Riverside. Technically, the degree
is offered at Riverside."
If SB 713 passes,
it would allow the CSU to offer doctorates, Contreras said.
There will be a
hearing later this month.
"This is a
two-year bill which will go into effect some time next year,"
Swisher said. "The bill will have to be signed by the
governor."
The education doctorate
program's curriculum will emphasize practical teaching methods,
Swisher said.
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