Section 3: Comprehensive Standards

3.6.2 The institution ensures that its graduate instruction and resources foster independent learning, enabling the graduate to contribute to a profession or field of study.

Judgment of Compliance:
Compliance

Narrative/Justification for Judgment of Compliance:
Christopher Newport University is in compliance with this comprehensive standard. The Graduate Studies mission statement demonstrates Christopher Newport University's commitment to independent learning:

The graduate programs at Christopher Newport University offer degrees at the master's level for the educational and professional enhancement and enrichment of students and in response to the needs of the CNU community. Graduate study at CNU requires students to extend their knowledge and intellectual maturity to a level of complexity and sophistication well beyond that of undergraduate education. Graduate students are required not only to gain an understanding of the subject matter and the nature of research in their discipline but, also to engage in their own research projects. The goal of this activity is to give the master's degree recipient greater ability to practice in and contribute to a profession or field of scholarship.

Graduate faculty members are active scholars in their fields, who are recognized as productively engaged in their professions. As such, these faculty members serve as models for graduate students and provide for them an appropriate level of knowledge and research expertise. CNU's graduate programs are committed to teaching and scholarship of high quality and to the availability of faculty members to students.

As stated in the Admissions, Graduate Assistantships, and Degrees Committee Statement of Criteria and Policies (approved by the Graduate Faculty Council), CNU admits only graduate students whose ability and preparation indicate potential for success. Admission decisions are made by the graduate faculty members in the appropriate academic department or departments. Applicants pursuing degree-seeking status must present an official transcript indicating the successful completion for all requirements for a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university and minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Transcripts for all graduate work from other institutions must be presented. In addition, three letters of recommendation from persons able to judge the applicant's potential to complete the graduate program successfully must be submitted. Each program also requires appropriate test scores. The Applied Physics and Computer Science program and the Environmental Science program use the GRE, while the Master of Arts in Teaching uses the PRAXIS I. The MAT also requires an essay. International applicants must present minimum scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Learning outcomes for the graduate programs reflect expectations for independent learning skills. Relevant MAT goals are:

• Organize learning environments to achieve optimal learning conditions appropriate to student age level;
• Demonstrate skills in the assessment of student performance and make appropriate decisions based on that assessment;
• Engage in reflective decision making.

The curriculum of the M.S. in Environmental Science contributes to the development of independent learning through research and technical writing skills as well as participating in research.

The M. S. in Applied Physics and Computer Science provides its graduates with the scientific background and technical tools to

• advance an experimental technique, extend the application of a theory or produce new data or observations;
• design, build and evaluate a system of measurement, instrumentation, computers and/or software;
• present logically and clearly the results of their own scientific investigation;
• understand and critically evaluate other scientists' work.

Likewise, degree requirements support and foster independent learning. Program curricula prepare students for undertaking the thesis and special projects as well as for preparing professional portfolios. The MAT requires an acceptable portfolio evaluated by a University supervisor. The courses in the M.S. in APCS program require extensive use of computers or require significant laboratory experimentation. The thesis preparation courses are an integral part of the thesis. Students who elect the non-thesis option must pass a comprehensive examination. For the M.S. in Environmental Science, many courses feature laboratory or field components. Other courses are designed to build research and technical writing skills. The program offers a thesis option with an oral presentation and thesis defense. The non-thesis option requires a research project. This project is limited in scope and requires less time than a thesis, but an oral report and written report of the completed project are required.

Independent learning skills are evaluated in many courses, often by grades on specific assignments, and factored into the overall course grades. Thesis, practicum, internships, and final research projects all receive letter grades. These appear on transcripts and factor into the cumulative grade point average.

The Associate Provost for Research and Graduate Studies oversees the three graduate programs and works with the Graduate Faculty Council. She is responsible for ensuring that faculty resources are channeled for teaching and for needed committee work.

Support Documentation:
Spreadsheet of Thesis Topics by Program:
          APCS
          ENVS
          IO
          MAT
          MPSL and Nursing

Examples of Syllabi showing Course Objectives and Independent Learning Components:
          CPSC 580
          ENGL 532
          ENVS 595
          GOVT 692
          MLAN 538
          PSYC 521
          TCHG 516

Graduate Catalog 06-07: Degree Requirements for Each Program

Additional Live Web Resources:
None