CSU Ed.D. Senate Bill Passed--Now on Governator's Desk

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Anthony Pina, Sep 20, 2005.

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  1. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    I just checked the status of SB 724, the bill that would give the California State University system the authority to offer the Doctor of Education degree. The original bill would grant the CSUs the ability to award "professional doctorates" in three areas, education, physical therapy and audiology. The amended bill, took out all of the "professional doctorate" language (that was inaccurate anyway) and changed everything to "Doctor of Education". The language was also changed to emphasize the need for educational leaders in California.

    The amended bill was passed handily by State Senate (33 to3) and State Assembly (73 to 3) and has been on the "Governator's " desk waiting for a signature for 12 days (it is considered a "non-urgent" bill, so it may be a little while before he signs). There seems to be no indication that he will veto it.

    Thirteen of the 23 CSU campuses currently offer joint doctoral programs in education in tandem with UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, Claremont Graduate University and University of San Diego). These and the ten others would be free to offer their own programs without having to partner with another university.
     
  2. MS_Blanc

    MS_Blanc New Member

    Ya' mean they actually trust Cal State to award doctoral degrees all by themselves?

    This represents a potential victory for CSU -- out from under UC's thumb at last!
     
  3. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    If this passes, I predict that it will just be the tip of the iceberg.
     
  4. Tom H.

    Tom H. New Member

    Will Governator Sign the Bill?

    Consider, for a moment, the person upon whom you are counting to do the right thing.
    http://www.schwarzenegger.com/

    Arnold is in the middle of all types controversial issues and appears to be actively seeking out more confrontations with his political opponents. Don't be suprised if this worthy piece of legislation gets lost in the shuffle.

    BTW, Schwarzenegger obtained his bachelor's degree via a non-traditional program from one of the branches of the University of Wisconsin about 25 years ago.
     
  5. thinktank

    thinktank Member

    The EdD is a good addition

    I think the EdD is a good addition and I looked into some of the joint doctorates when I applied to NCU, but the joint programs are B&M programs. I worry a little that my PhD will be "devalued" if all State schools can offer them, but I will have a PhD and they will only offer an EdD, when they get it off the ground.
     
  6. boydston

    boydston New Member

  7. tcnixon

    tcnixon Active Member


    It will be interesting to see if CSU Fresno and others who offer doctorates in conjunction with the University of California will continue to do so or will go out on their own.

    My guess is that they will choose to offer the degrees without the umbrella of the UCs. Not necessarily a good idea for the students, but I can see why they might want to do it. In most cases, though, they will be taking a more prestigious doctorate and making it less so.



    Tom Nixon
     
  8. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    This new legislation is probably exciting to the education profession, but it's just sending the message "screw you" to everyone else.

    As originally written, this bill would have restricted the CSU from offering Ph.D.s and degrees in law, medicine and dentistry. But it would have authorized a host of "professional and applied" doctorates ranging from DBAs and PsyDs to DEngr and DPH. Then the bill was rewritten to only apply to audiology, physical therapy and education. Now it has somehow turned into "the bill that would give the California State University system the authority to offer the Doctor of Education degree." That's great I guess, as far as it goes, but it's nothing remotely like what was originally proposed.

    It doesn't even address the problem that motivated the original legislation. Changes in California law will soon require all new audiologists licensed in California to have Au.D. degrees. (Previously, masters degrees were satisfactory.) But with the exception of a single program at UCSD (operated jointly with SDSU), all the half a dozen or so audiology programs in California are at CSU campuses. Presumably all of these programs will have to close, or at the least the UC system will have to create a set of new unnecessary duplicate departments in a subject that they have no experience with in order to award joint doctorates.

    Physical therapy is talking about creating a doctoral licensing requirement as well. And once again, it's the CSUs that produce the state's physical therapists.

    In a time when UC is crying a flood of tears about underfunding, arrogant waste motivated by nothing except guarding turf is just stupid. But it's not surprising, since professional educators teamed with politicians have the composite IQ of earthworms.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 25, 2005
  9. lifelonglearner

    lifelonglearner New Member

    Signed!

    From http://www.calstate.edu/pa/news/2005/EdDok.shtml

    Governor Signs Bill Authorizing CSU Education Doctorate

    Contact: Colleen Bentley-Adler, Clara Potes-Fellow, (562) 951-4800

    (September 22, 2005) – Governor Schwarzenegger today signed legislation (SB 724) that will authorize the California State University to independently offer the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree. This is the first authorization to independently award a doctorate since the system was formed almost half a century ago. The new degree will target K-12 and community college administrative leaders.

    "This legislation marks perhaps the most significant change in the California State University's role in the last four decades," said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed. "We are extremely grateful to Senator Scott and to all of the supporters of this bill who understand the importance of creating access to high-quality programs that prepare leaders for California's schools."

    Previously, under California’s Master Plan for Higher Education, the CSU could only offer bachelor and master’s degrees, except for a limited number of doctorates via programs offered jointly with private universities or in partnership with the University of California.

    However, workforce demands for doctoral training for administrative leaders for California public elementary and secondary schools and community colleges has far outstripped the state’s ability to provide them. In addition, because the Doctor of Education degree is primarily offered in California by private universities, the costs are a barrier to many Californians.

    The new educational leadership doctorate builds upon the CSU’s expertise and program strengths. The CSU historically had its origins in teacher colleges, and the preparation of teachers and education leaders has remained one of its core missions. The expansion of the responsibility for educational leadership training at the doctorate level will facilitate increased career opportunities and better preparation for thousands of educators who will be ready to meet the educational needs of the state.

    UC will continue to offer its own doctoral degrees in education (both the Ph.D. and the Ed.D.), and both systems will continue to offer a wide variety of training and professional development programs for teachers and administrators.

    The law is effective on January 1, 2006. The first students are expected to begin their studies for the Ed.D. at selected CSU campuses in fall 2007.

    The California State University is the largest system of senior higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, approximately 400,000 students and 42,000 faculty and staff. Since the system was created in 1961, it has awarded about 2 million degrees, about 82,000 annually. The CSU is renowned for the quality of its teaching and for the job-ready graduates it produces. Its mission is to provide high-quality, affordable education to meet the ever-changing needs of the people of California. With its commitment to excellence, diversity and innovation, the CSU is the university system that is working for California. See www.calstate.edu
     
  10. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Re: Signed!

    Fascinating. I wonder howlong it will take for one of the campuses to offer one online. Any guesses from the peanut gallery?

    -=Steve=-
     
  11. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    Interesting; I have known more than one licensed clinical psychologist whose degree was a Doctor of Education. I wonder if CSU will get into that business as well?
     
  12. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    Actually, it would not surpirse me one bit to see CSUs offer Ed.D.s in various subjects--even those tangental to education. Ed.D.s are offered in counseling at various universities. My own university is seriously considering the development of an Ed.D. with an emphasis in global leadership.
     
  13. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    Re: Re: Signed!

    San Diego State's doctorate in educational technology might be a good candidate. SDSU's Ed Tech faculty is top notch and could likely pull it off. SDSU also offers the most joint doctoral programs, so they would be the the best positioned to begin offering their own Ed.D.s. Look at the CSUs with a large service area (e.g. Fresno) or those with solid track records in DL (e.g. Chico, Dominguez Hills) to be possible entrants into the fray.
     
  14. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Yeah! I'm kind of hoping one of them will offer an EdD in History Education or Social Studies Education via DL.
     
  15. ternahan

    ternahan New Member

    That would be good news to one of my friends who finished the Humanities External Degree from CSU Dominguez Hills and insists on a Doctorate with the same flexibility. Perhaps the Ed. D. will be her best bet!
     
  16. boydston

    boydston New Member

    I don't think that we should expect a lot of flexibility and creative innovation -- at least not for awhile. In our state we are hurting for leadership in education and I suspect that the initial thrust will be for training school administrators -- lead teachers and ed technologists. Perhaps they will eventually do more as they establish themselves.

    It sounds like your friend is looking for something like the Georgetown DLS, which isn't offered by distance. But I suspect that some of the schools offering the MLS will pick up that ball soon enough. Just don't expect that in the Cal State system -- at least not until someone else proves its value. The CSU system will stick to the basics at first. That's my peanut gallery guess.
     
  17. jimwe

    jimwe Member

    Re: Re: Signed!

    I remember when I was taking classes at Cal State Hayward, there were rumors about a planned (2002) DEd program. Maybe this is what they were waiting for.
     
  18. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    My dream program is an EdD program in Fill-in-the-Blank Education, with 18 hours in Fill-in-the-Blank and the rest in education. Great for us online adjunct wannabes!

    I believe there are some things like this at the Master's level, but they focus on teaching at the secondary level?

    -=Steve=-
     

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