Certificate of Advanced Studies

DEGREE: CERTIFICATE OF ADVANCED STUDIES - 33 hours

Program Objectives

This program is designed to meet the individual professional needs of the graduate student. Its purpose is to broaden the scope of work completed at the master's level. The CAS is a terminal program and may not prepare for entrance into advanced degree programs. It includes course work at the master's degree level, but is completed after the master's degree. This allows for increased specialization, better qualifications for specific positions, greater ability to accommodate modified professional goals, or more professional and personal growth. These courses cannot be applied toward the Ed.D. Program. Specifically, the objectives of the Certificate of Advanced Studies program enable students to

• Assist individuals to become more competent in their professional services in church and community.
• Permit educational personnel to acquire additional credit for advancement and/or salary schedule requirements within an organized program.
• Enlarge, at the graduate level in a structured manner, the arena in which forms of study and research may be pursued so as to develop the knowledge and skills on which educational growth depends.
• Provide a structure in which one or more of the above may be realized through programs of study "tailor-made" to meet the needs of individual students while at the same time guaranteeing certain basic requirements.
• Equip individuals for professional problem solving and decision-making.

Degree Requirements

• Completion of the 33 semester hour program
  Included in both the CAS and Master's degree programs together, the following must be completed:
• Twelve hours of foundation courses.
• Twenty-four hours in the major field (no more than half may be applied from the Master's degree.)
• Six hours in an area other than Education or Psychology
• Nine hours of a pure or applied research component and/or guided research/developmental project.
• Six hours of special independent study/seminar/field work/practicum.
• Free electives.
• Lecture-Forum Presentation
• Considering these unique objectives, the student will schedule, in consultation with the Dean of the appropriate college, a community "lecture-forum" type presentation during the final period of registration. This presentation should primarily reflect the results of the 15 semester hours of one or more of the following components: research, independent study, seminar, fieldwork, practicum, and developmental project. The student is encouraged to enroll in INS-6950 Independent Study under the research component to prepare for the lecture forum.
• Time Limit
• All credit toward a CAS must be completed within five calendar years after registration for the first course. A petition for time extension is to be addressed to the appropriate Dean.

CAS Program Procedures

Registration

Course registration is the responsibility of the student. Upon acceptance to the University, it is highly recommended that the student consult with his/her advisor to develop a tentative program sheet. This tentative program must be approved by the appropriate Dean. Once program approval is obtained from the Dean, it must be followed unless revised by the advisor and approved by the Dean.

Candidacy

The student must file an Application for Candidacy upon completion of 24 hours of course work toward certification or within two semesters of completion.

Terminal Requirements

The students must present a "Lecture/Forum" in consultation with the project advisor during the final semester of registration. The project advisor, who is typically the student's advisor, will submit the CAS Final Presentation Report Form. This form is used to indicate that the "Lecture/Forum" was acceptable. The candidate is then recommended for receiving the Certificate of Advanced Studies, pending the completion of course work in the approved program.

Graduation

An "Intent to Graduate" form must be submitted to the Registrar's Office at least one semester prior to the anticipated conferral of the degree. Deadlines for submission are posted outside the Registrar's Office, Addison Hall Room 151 and are listed on the form.