New Course Proposal
EDCI 6xxxx: Curriculum and Instruction Doctoral Seminar I
Proposed Course: EDCI 6xxxx: Curriculum and Instruction Doctoral Seminar I
Class 1, Cr 1, Sem. 1
Course Description: An examination of current issues and concerns related to doctoral study in curriculum and instruction.
A. Justification for the Course:This course is part of the new proposed core for all doctoral students in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. The intent of the core is to provide a cohesive first-year experience for doctoral students that will address content of common interest across the department. The proposed course will addressfoundational issues in doctoral study as well as the “nuts and bolts” of the doctoral degree process.
B. Level of the Course: The course is proposed as a 600-level course because it is intended for students enrolled in doctoral programs in Curriculum and Instruction only.
C. Prerequisites: Admission to a C&I doctoral degree program.
D. Course Instructor: The course may be taught by any faculty member in the department.Responsibility for course coordination may be rotated among program areas or faculty members.
E. Course Outline: See attached example course outline for example topics and methods of assessment. Actual topics may vary from semester to semester.
F. Reading List: See the attached outline for examplesof possible readings for identified topics. In practice, specific readings may be identified by the course instructor or suggested by guest lecturers who come to the class to speak on selected topics.
Example Course Outline
EDCI 6xxxx: Curriculum and Instruction Doctoral Seminar I
Course Description
An examination of current issues and concerns related to doctoral study in curriculum and instruction. This course is intended for all new doctoral students in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and should be taken within the first year of doctoral study. Students should concurrently enroll in EDCI 5xxxx –Teaching and Learning: Theory and Research.
CourseFormat
This is a 1-credit course thatmeetsonce per week for 50 minutes. Each weekly class session addressesa specific course topic. Readingswill beassigned, as appropriate,to provide background information oncourse topics, and guest speakers may be invited to class to address specific course topics. See the schedule for specific topics and assignments.
Course Goals
This course is designed to provide the student with foundational knowledge about doctoral study including the “nuts and bolts” of the doctoral degree process. The goals of the seminar are to help the student to:
- Understand the nature of the Ph.D. and the process of obtaining a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at PurdueUniversity
- Interact with other doctoral students, faculty, and staff in C&I
- Develop skills and knowledge that will be important during Ph.D. studies and beyond
- Understand ethical conduct of research in the discipline
- Begin to grow and develop as a professional
Assessments and Grading
Grades will be based upon four assignments and seminar participation. See the schedule for due dates.
Assignment 1 – Reflection Journal (40 pts)
Write reflections for 8 of the topics presented in the seminar (your choice). Each reflection should be 2-3 pages (word processed, double-spaced) and should summarize the key points from that week’s seminar and include a reflection on the relevance of the topic to you personally. Submit your completed journal by the last class session.
Assignment 2 – Draft Plan of Study (20 pts)
Review the requirements for a doctoral degree in your program area and create a draft Plan of Study that satisfies the requirements. Have your major advisor review the draft and provide you with feedback.This is intended as a tentative paper draft and need not be submitted via the GraduateSchool database system as an actual draft Plan of Study. Submit a printed copy of your draft plan with your advisor’s signature to acknowledge that he or she has reviewed it.
Assignment 3 – Complete the CITI on-line tutorial on human subjects research (20 pts)
Completion of the Collaborative IRB Training Initiative (CITI) tutorial is required for all individuals who seek to do humans subjects research at Purdue. See Submit documentation of course completion.
Assignment 4 – Professional Vita (20 pts)
All doctoral students are required to submit a vita annually to the Office of Graduate Studies. In preparation for this requirement, develop a vita according to the “Purdue format.” Submit your word processed vita.
Seminar Participation
Attendance and participation are expected and important to your success as a doctoral student. Participation will be used as a deciding factor in borderline grade cases.
Grades will be assigned on the basis of the percent of accumulated points as follows:
93 and above = A, 90-92 = A-, 87-89 = B+, 83-86 = B, 80-82 = B-, 77-79 = C+,
73-76 = C, 70-72 = C-, 67-69 = D+, 63-66 = D, 60-62 = D-, 59 and below = F
Readings
See the schedule for topics and associated readings.
- (a) Kellogg Commission. (2001). Returning to Our Roots: Executive Summaries of the Reports of the Kellogg Commission on the Future of State and Land-GrantUniversities.(
(b) Larabee, D.F. (2003). The peculiar problems of preparing educational researchers. Educational Researcher, 32(4), 13-22. - (a) Guidelinesfor Good Practicesin the Graduate Student-Faculty Advisor Relationship, Stanford University (
(b) Mentor and Graduate Student Strategies for Success, University of Louisville Graduate School ( - (a) Conducting a Literature Review in Education and the Behavioral Sciences. The Libraries of AdelphiUniversity. (
(b) Identifying a Good Research Question. ( - Ethical Standards of the American Educational Research Association, (
- Conference Paper Guide. ClaremontGraduateUniversity. (
- Henson, K. T. (2007). Writing for publication: Steps to excellence. Phi Delta Kappan, 88(10). (
- Levine, S. J. (2009) Writing and Presenting Your Thesis or Dissertation. MichiganStateUniversity. (
Tentative Course Schedule
Week / Topic / Assignment1 / Introduction to the seminar: Doctoral study in Curriculum and Instruction
2 / Understanding the professoriate and the PhD
/ Reading 1
3 / Overview of PhD requirements and process;
Milestone: Developing a Plan of Study
4 / Advisor-student relationship;
Forming a graduate committee / Reading 2
5 / Resources for the graduate student;
The Graduate School and Office of Graduate Studies
6 / Finding literature: Using the Libraries;
Getting to know journals in your field
7 / Reviewing literature and identifying a research question
/ Reading 3
8 / Professional ethics and responsible conduct of research
/ Reading 4
Draft Plan of Study due
9 / Human subjects research and the IRB
10 / Milestones: Preliminary examination and dissertation proposal
11 / Professional conferences;
Writing proposals and making presentations / Reading 5
CITI course deadline
12 / Writing for publication / Reading 6
13 / Vita preparation and the annual review process
14 / Milestones: The dissertation and final defense / Reading 7
Vita due
15 / Finding employment before and after graduation;
Job search and interview skills / Reflection journal due
Course Policies/Special Notes:
- In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines and grading percentages are subject to changes that may be necessitated by a revised semester calendar or other circumstances. Here are ways to get information about changes in this course. The course BlackBoard web page, my email address: , and my office phone: 49x-xxxx.
- Students are required to visit to review the response procedures for emergencies in Beering Hall. It is necessary that you review these directions within the first week of your Beering classes. If you have any questions see your instructor.
- Students with disabilities must be registered with DisabilityResourceCenter in the Office of the Dean of Students before classroom accommodations can be provided. If you are eligible for academic accommodations because you have a documented disability that will impact your work in this class, please schedule an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss your needs.
- Purdue prohibits "dishonesty in connection with any University activity. Cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the University are examples of dishonesty." [Part 5, Section III-B-2-a, University Regulations] Furthermore, the University Senate has stipulated that "the commitment of acts of cheating, lying, and deceit in any of their diverse forms (such as the use of substitutes for taking examinations, the use of illegal cribs, plagiarism, and copying during examinations) is dishonest and must not be tolerated. Moreover, knowingly to aid and abet, directly or indirectly, other parties in committing dishonest acts is in itself dishonest." [University Senate Document 72-18, December 15, 1972]
- PurdueUniversity policy states that all students are expected to be present for every meeting of classes in which they are enrolled. All matters relative to attendance, including the make-up of missed work, are to be arranged between you and the instructor. Only the instructor can excuse you from classes or course responsibilities. In the case of an illness, accident, or an emergency, you should make direct contact with your instructor as soon as possible, preferably before the class. If the instructor cannot be reached directly a message should be left in the instructor’s department mailbox or with the instructor’s secretary. If you will be absent for more than five days, have not been able to reach the instructor in person or by telephone or through leaving notification of your circumstances with the instructor's secretary, you or your representative should notify the Office of the Dean of Students (765-494-1254) as soon as possible after becoming aware that the absence is necessary. Be advised, you may be asked to provide documentation from an authorized professional or agency which supports an explanation for your absence.