Professor Cox's Doctoral Syllabi

The purpose of this course is to introduce new doctoral students to the perspectives and practices of doctoral study. This is an un-graded (credit/ non-credit only) course required of all first year doctoral students, though attendance and participation by other doctoral students is encouraged. As a faculty, we wish to ensure that our students have a sense of the vocations of teaching, research and service that are the foundations of the academy. This course is our attempt to provide a window into the norms and practices that define the academic world. We hope and expect that students will gain from this course a better sense of “place” and a firmer sense of how to successfully navigate through the curriculum to a quality dissertation.

We seek to accomplish the following goals in this course:

Ø To offer a forum in which to discuss concerns and questions that is part of the process of gaining an education.

Ø To ensure that all students share a common understanding of the rules and procedures that will govern their studies

Ø To acquaint doctoral students with a fuller understanding of the roles and practices of faculty within a department and university.

Ø To gain an understanding of the ethos, ethic and intellectual approach that shapes the “culture” of academe.

Ø To help establish a “learning community” and support network for both part-time and full-time students

III. METHODS AND PERSPECTIVES

This course meets on alternate weeks throughout the first two semesters of classes for all students in the PhD, regardless of specialization. The emphasis is on socialization and enculturation into the academy. We want each of you to get better acquainted with each other and with the faculty. Our conversations will be wide-ranging. Not only will we discuss the technical and administrative details of this journey, but we will also discuss the intellectual, philosophical and sociological elements of the pursuit of a doctorate, and by implication of being a junior faculty member. We have a discussion schedule established, but as events unfold there may be times when other issues and concerns may take precedence. Therefore, these are informal affairs. Some meetings will be scheduled off campus.

IV. CLASS/DISCUSSION SCHEDULE

Fall Semester

· August 30: Introduction to course, schedule and format. Doctoral education in perspective. The curriculum….and other questions great and small. DAASPA. The faculty, who we are and what we do.

· September 13: Discussion with individual faculty about research interests. (continued).

· September 27: Discussion with individual faculty about research interests. (continued).

· October 11: Discussion with faculty about research interests (continued).

· October 25: Discussion with faculty about research interests (continued).

· November 8: Research and writing; preliminary tips and suggestions. Academic writing… the art and craft of writing a journal article.

· November 22: Program of Study Committee, who should be on it, and why.

Spring Semester

· January 17: Why do we have comprehensive examinations? When and where. Purpose and meaning.

· January 31: Dissertation Committee, who should be on it and why. The dissertation in conceptual perspective. Defining a topic, structuring the research, scope and character of the project.

· February 14: The Nature of the “Academic” Life; the rhythms, folk wisdom, false impressions and realities.

· February 28: The transition from student to faculty member. On being a faculty member… the ethos and the expectation.

· March 14: Program of Study Committee redux.

· April 11: Meet the authors…. A discussion about the latest work of the faculty and students.

· April 25: Critiquing the course, suggestions for improvement.

Website designed Matthew Sweeney.

Last updated March 2003

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The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by The University of Akron.)