Compilation of Graduate-Level Service-Learning Programs
From: "Renee Buchanan"
Organization: University of Utah - Student Affairs & Service
To: service-learning@csf.colorado.edu
Date: Mon, 3 Jun 1996 09:05:58 MST
Subject: Service learning graduate programs
Friends,
Thanks for the great response to the question of Service-Learning as
a graduate program. Follows is a compilation of what I have
received so far. At the end is abstracts of messages from which
this information is pulled, including e-mail addresses.
Vanderbilt: although not a service-learning program per se, it has
a program in Educational Leadership with faculty experienced service
learning practitioners and 5 doing research on service learning.
SUNY Stony Brook: A program geared toward professionals in service
learning in the Masters of Social Work. Although not a
service-learning program exactly, it is about student development in
the areas of community service.
Mankato State University, MN and University of Colorado, Boulder:
These are programs in Experiential education with opportunities for
service learning.
University of Louisville: Ph.D. program in Urban and Public Affairs,
recently awarded two urban community service grants from the U.S.
Dept. of Education, with a specific urban community service track.
Colorado State University: has a 1 credit workshop approved for
their Higher Ed program, with plans to integrate a second (and
possibly a first) year course.
Ohio State: one of the practicums has an service learning focus.
Seattle University: Master in Teaching program which focuses on
service learning.
University of Massachusetts, Boston: College of Public and Community
Service has been doing service learning long before anyone used the
term.
Also suggested by phone: College Student Personnel programs such as
at Colorado State, Washington, Oregon (Corvallis), Western Illinois.
Public Administration programs. Also suggested was a Philanthropic
degree somewhere in Indiana.
----
From: gilesde@ctrvax.Vanderbilt.Edu (Dwight E. Giles, Jr.)
I have tried to monitor this informally and I know of no graduate
program in service-learning per se. Most of the master's theses and
doctoral dissertations that I know of are in schools of education. I
am presently working with about 4 graduate students who are doing
their dissertations on service learning. Two of those are here in
Peabody College at Vanderbilt in the graduate program in Educational
Leadership/ while there are no graduate courses on service-learning
there are faculty who are experienced service learning practitioners
themselves, and there are about 5 of us who do research in service
learning. In Educational Leadership is a faculty named John
Braxton, you might contact him directly via e-mail or phone at
(615) 322 8000.
---
From: Michelle Davis
WWW: http://pobox.upenn.edu/~michd/
The only Graduate program I am currently aware of that is most
specifically geared toward professionals in service learning is a
track in the Masters of Social Work Degree Program at the State
University of New York at Stony Brook. It truly isn't a program
about "service -learning as you might define it, however it is about
student development in the areas of community service. The
telephone number is (516)444-2139. Good luck. I would also highly
recommend any of the Americorps National Service Programs or VISTA
programs to give you a solid foundation as well as very practical
experience in service-learning.
----
From: "Whitcomb, Geoff"
While I do not think there are any such programs, there are two
schools that have graduate program in Experiential Education. I am
completing my Master's Degree in Experiential Education here at
Mankato State University in Mankato, Minnesota; the other school is
the University of Colorado at Boulder. This has been an outstanding
program, because of the latitude that is allowed in designing one's
own course of study. The school operates on a quarter system, and
the major is 51 credits. I have also been able to be a part-time
AmeriCorps member during my studies, where my position as the
university Service-Learning Program Advisor has fulfilled my wishes
for learning and experience. I also know that next year there will
be a 20-hour Grad Assistantship as the Service- Learning advisor,
although the deadline for applying to the school is June 1.
I think it is important to get a degree that is broader in nature
than a specifically S-L oriented one would be, as the job market for
the graduate is potentially larger. College Service-Learning
positions are often those which are involved in two or more student
services, i.e. Greek Life and S-L, Orientation and S-L, etc. A
change in the national political climate this fall could also spell
the beginning of the end for the national S-L movement. An
Experiential Education degree teaches one the philosophical and
pedagogical bases for both Service-Learning and Adventure Education,
and puts one in touch with students from all over the country and
world.
If you or your students are interested in finding out more, please
contact either the M.S.U. Educational Leadership department at (507)
389-1116, or myself at (507) 389-2153 work, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., or
625-8976 home.
----
From: John Gilderbloom
PROJECT DIRECTOR HANDS (Housing and
Neighborhood Development S. Chair, Center for Sustainable Urban
Communities 502-852-8557
Our Ph.D. program in Urban and Public Affairs might be of interest
to you. I have asked the coordinator to send you information on the
MPA and Ph.D. program. The program has a number of research
assistantships to do service learning. We also have been awarded two
urban community service grants from the U.S. Department of Education
totaling 3 million dollars over the past 4 years. One of my
doctoral students just completed a Ph.D. dissertation on "Town and
Gown Relationships: Urban Community Service." Our program does
offer a specific urban community service track. Our tracks are as
follows: (1) public administration, (2) urban planning and
development, (3) research methods for public policy and (4)
infrastructure.
----
From: "Michael Stifter, Assoc Manager"
I spent this past semester researching this very same thing for a
practicum I did in the Office of Community Services here at CSU. We
wanted to integrate our Higher Ed Admin program and so I researched
schools that had an s-l focus. Guess what? I found hardly a trace
of anything.
However, we have been fortunate to get a 1 credit workshop approved
for our Higher Ed program and we also are integrating a second year
course and possibly a first year. Other programs you may want to
check out are Social Work programs that sometimes have a social
issues focus. One in particular is at SUNY-Stony Brooke. This is
a new program and Mel Goldstein is the director of it. It sounds
like an excellent program and may come as close as it gets to a
preparatory program. Someone also mentioned the Higher Ed program
at The Ohio State having one of their practicums that were s-l
focused as part of their curriculum.
----
From: martinc@SNYONEVA.CC.ONEONTA.EDU
There is a graduate program at Seattle University that is a Master
in Teaching program which focuses on service learning, might be
able to more info via their home page at http://www.seattleu.edu/
As I recall my discussion with someone from Seattle when first I
heard of this program, you do not need an undergraduate degree in
education to be accepted into the program.
---
From: John_Sarvey@city-year.org (John Sarvey)
Try the College of Public and Community Service at the University of
Massachusetts at Boston. It's a very innovative, a progressive
college started by very dynamic and committed faculty. They've been
doing service-learning long before anyone used the term
service-learning. The graduation requirements are competency-based
and provide opportunities for students to get credit even for prior
experience by demonstrating a level of mastery for particular
competencies. I don't have the number but they're listed.
---------------------------------------------------------
Renee Buchanan
Service Learning
Bennion Community Service Center
101 Union, University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
801/581-4811
801/585-3034 (fax)
rbuchan@ssb1.saff.utah.edu
Date: Mon, 3 Jun 1996 13:32:31 -0700