School of Graduate and Professional Studies

Devi Prasad V. Potluri, Ph.D.

Associate Provost

Website: https://www.csu.edu/graduateschool/

Graduate and Professional Education

Graduate and professional education continues academic study beyond the baccalaureate level. Work at the graduate and professional levels expands and deepens knowledge and understanding of individual disciplines, emphasizes the connections among distinct fields, and sharpens students’ critical and analytical skills. Students develop experience in conducting research while developing their skills in collecting, synthesizing, and analyzing data and presenting conclusions in writing. Within disciplines, graduate study enhances professional knowledge and skills in a context that stresses the enduring character and essential value of liberal learning.

The Associate Provost of Graduate and Professional Studies administers graduate and professional education at the university in collaboration with the Deans of the Colleges with graduate and professional programs, and the Graduate and Professional Council. The Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Health Sciences and Pharmacy offer programs leading to post-baccalaureate certificates and the master’s degree. The College of Education additionally offers the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and The College of Health Sciences and Pharmacy additionally offers the Doctor of Pharmacy in PharmD. Courses are offered in the late afternoon, evening, and on Saturday to accommodate students who are employed full-time.

History of Graduate Education at Chicago State University

A graduate curriculum in the field of elementary education that led to a master’s degree was inaugurated in 1938. Chicago State University was the first college in the state of Illinois devoted exclusively to teacher training that offered a graduate degree program. The program enabled college graduates with little or no previous work in education to obtain the professional preparation needed to teach in the elementary schools. A second graduate curriculum for teachers in service who needed specialized or advanced training in industrial education was introduced in 1941. World War II created conditions that prevented classes in this program from continuing, and they were discontinued in 1943. In 1950, the college again enrolled a group of graduate students with little or no background in education or teaching experience. These students pursued an intensive program designed to prepare them as kindergarten teachers. Those completing the prescribed course of study and satisfying the requirements of passing a comprehensive examination and writing a thesis received a master’s degree.

Graduate programs were reestablished in areas where there was a need in the school system, particularly in specialized fields, such as industrial education, library science, and biological sciences. In 1962, the Master of Arts in Teaching degree was established in English, geography, history, and mathematics. By 1965, these evolved to the Master of Arts degrees. Other master’s degree programs have been added over the years.

In 2005 and 2008, the university enrolled the first students in the Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership Doctoral, and Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), respectively. Today, graduate, and professional education at Chicago State University brings together a community of scholars with a common interest in creative expression, research, and advanced study.

Mission of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies

The Graduate School supports the University’s mission through providing high quality teaching and by maintaining an environment that promotes learning and research opportunities for faculty and post-baccalaureate students. The Graduate School provides leadership to assure academic quality of graduate and professional programs at CSU through policies, processes, and programs.

Organization and Administration of School of Graduate and Professional Studies [ Graduate School]

The Graduate School at CSU is the vehicle for organizing, facilitating, and coordinating all graduate and professional education throughout the university. Deans of colleges with graduate and professional programs administer the affairs of the colleges’ graduate programs, with the advice and approval of policies via the Graduate Council, and with input and administrative oversight by the Associate Provost of the Graduate School.

The College Deans are responsible for the administration of both graduate instruction and research in ways that allow for the continual improvement of graduate education, including encouraging faculty research and assisting faculty in seeking support for research. The Associate Provost of the Graduate School provides oversight of academic programs that include admission of graduate students, matriculation, financial aid, and academic progress until graduation, in consultation with the graduate faculty of departments and programs. The Graduate School Associate Provost has the final responsibility for approving admissions and for such matters as variations to candidacy, questions of supervision, academic progress, and submission and examination of theses.

University Graduate and Professional Council

The Graduate School achieves its mission of providing quality graduate and professional programs within a system of shared governance through the Graduate and Professional Studies Council (hereafter called “The Council”). The mission of the Council is two- fold:

1. To provide a forum in which matters of concern to graduate education are discussed and the mission of Graduate and Professional Studies is fulfilled, and
2. To work with the office of Graduate and Professional Studies to review, establish, and update policies affecting graduate and professional education at Chicago State University.

The Associate Provost of the Graduate School chairs the council. The council is composed of a representative faculty from graduate and professional program plus ex-officio members. The council provides oversight authority of graduate and professional programs by recommending and reviewing academic policies, programs, and services of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies. The Council is responsible for the standards of admission, retention and graduation, curriculum issues in graduate and professional programs, interdisciplinary program development, approval of new graduate courses and programs, and matters of policy related to graduate education.