GRADUATE EDUCATION AT USM
USM offers twenty-seven advanced degree programs in a variety of academic and professional fields, including: Applied Medical Science, Computer Science, American and New England Studies, Biology, Creative Writing, Music, Social Work, Statistics, Accounting, Business Administration, Adult Education, Counseling, Educational Leadership, Extended Teacher Education (ETEP), Literacy Education, School Psychology, Special Education, Nursing, Leadership Studies, Occupational Therapy, Community Planning and Development, Health Policy and Management and Public Policy and Management. In addition, USM offers a Ph.D. in Public Policy, a Psy.D. in School Psychology, and the Juris Doctor degree through the University of Maine School of Law. In collaboration with the University of Maine, USM offers a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. USM also offers six programs leading to a Certificate of Advanced Study, and twenty-three certificates of graduate study that are post baccalaureate, non-degree programs. The Office of Graduate Studies, under the leadership of the Dean of Graduate Studies, oversees all facets of graduate education at USM. In addition to managing the Graduate Admissions process, the Office of Graduate Studies allocates and administers Graduate Assistantships, tuition waivers and scholarships, oversees development and implementation of university-wide policies related to graduate education, and addresses graduate student concerns. The Graduate Council is the graduate faculty's advisory body to the Provost regarding all aspects of graduate education at USM. Each graduate program is represented on the Graduate Council by the program chair or his/her designee. The Associate Dean of Graduate Studies appoints one graduate student representative from among students recommended by graduate faculty. The Dean of Graduate Studies serves as chair and facilitator of the Graduate Council. The Graduate Council makes recommendations to the Provost concerning the qualifications for designation as graduate faculty, policies relating to graduate studies, the organization and administration of graduate studies, the review of existing graduate programs, and the development of graduate programming including the review of proposals for new graduate degrees. The Council is charged with decision-making and advising that is based on the best interests of graduate education as a whole at USM. All university-wide policies pertaining to graduate programs, faculty, and students are developed with input from the Council, and must be approved by the Graduate Council as well as by the Provost. For more information about the Office of Graduate Studies, please visit www.usm.maine.edu/grad/. 2009-2010 USM Faculty Handbook Return to Table of Contents page |
