Graduate School and Beyond: Earning and Using Your Advanced Degree

by Mark H. Rossman

Overview

Knowledge is power. Simply stated, this book provides graduate students-traditional and returning learners-with power. To succeed, graduate students need to understand the process of completing a graduate degree, control as many aspects of the process as possible, and be careful, skillful, and tactful negotiators. This book gives prospective graduate students a preview of what to expect and equips current graduate students with what they need to know to maneuver an often labyrinthine system. Online courses, distance learning, social networking, and the effects of the internet on graduate education are special features of this book emerging from the author's 35 years of experience in leading edge educational settings.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781594518089
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/30/2010
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Mark H. Rossman Professor Emeritus,
/Capella University

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction xiii

1 Can I Really Complete a Graduate Degree? 1

Can I Afford a Graduate Degree? 2

How Will Working on the Degree Impact My Family and Job? 3

Am I Too Old to Be Seeking a Graduate Degree? 4

How This Book Can Help You 5

Why Am I in Graduate School? 6

Three Categories of Learners 7

Motivation 9

Barriers to Learning 10

Time Management 13

Self-Directed Learning 15

Becoming a Self-Directed Learner 15

Need for Support 17

2 Online Courses and Degrees 24

Development of Distance (or Online) Education 25

What Are the Different Types of Online Courses? 26

Why Should I Enroll in an Online Course? 26

What Are Some Differences Between Online and On-Campus Classes? 27

What Are Some Strategies to Help Me Complete an Online Degree? 28

How Do I Complete and Hand in Assignments? 29

What Is the Average Age of Online Class Participants? 29

How Are Online Courses Graded? 29

How Much Time Will It Take to Complete Online Courses and the Degree? 30

What Technology Is Needed to Participate in an Online Course or Degree Program? 31

How Effective Are Online Courses? 31

What Skills Are Needed to Succeed in Online Courses? 32

Do Online Learners Feel Isolated? 33

Is "Online" Right for You? 34

3 Financing Your Graduate Degree 36

Federal Sources 36

State Sources 38

University or College Sources 38

Employers 39

Family 40

Savings and Investments 40

Additional Sources 40

Financial Aid Scams 41

Graduate School Financial Aid Checklist 42

4 The Degree Program 44

Accreditation 45

Am I in the Right Graduate Degree Program? 46

Defining the Program of Study 47

Developing and Completing the Program of Study 52

Know Yourself 57

Controlling Frustrations 59

5 The Graduate Committee 62

Functions of the Graduate Committee 62

Roles of Committee Members 67

Getting to Know Potential Committee Members 70

Becoming Known by Potential Committee Members 71

Choosing Your Committee 72

Committee Member Selection Guide 73

6 The Comprehensive Exam 76

Purpose of the Comprehensive Examination 77

The Comprehensive Examination Process 78

Evaluating the Comp 80

Preparing for the Comprehensive Exam 81

Tips for Successfully Completing the Comp Written Exam 85

Tips for Successfully Completing the Comp Oral Exam 88

7 Proposal and the Thesis/Dissertation 92

ProQuest UMI Dissertation Publishing 93

The Pre-Proposal 94

How to Develop the Pre-Proposal 95

Developing the Proposal 98

The Thesis/Dissertation 99

Connecting the Proposal to the Thesis/Dissertation 100

Chapter 1 The Problem 100

Chapter 2 The Literature Review 106

Chapter 3 The Methodology 110

Chapter 4 Presentation and Analysis of the Data 114

Chapter 5 Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations 115

References and Appendixes 116

Concluding Thoughts 116

8 The Defense 117

Understanding the Defense 118

Preparing for the Defense 119

What to Do at the Defense 122

The Decision 125

9 Now What? 126

Binding Your Thesis or Dissertation 126

Copyrighting Your Work 127

Publishing Your Work 128

Making Up Lost "Quality Time" 130

Commencement 131

Developing an Unofficial Annotated Transcript 131

The Portfolio Résumé 137

Using the Title Doctor 141

ABD-All But Dissertation 141

Avoiding Emotional Letdowns 142

Put Your Degree to Work 142

References and Suggested Readings 145

References 145

General Style Guides 146

Guides to Writing a Proposal, Thesis, Dissertation, or Research Paper 147

Research and Writing in the Disciplines 148

Index 149

About the Author 156

Editorial Reviews

Mark Rossman has been a rigorous guide and friend to generations of students. His biases come through loud and clear—the most successful students ‘own’ their education. They seek to shape their educational experiences to their own unique needs, rather than passively accept whatever is ‘thrown their way.’ This guide to graduate study is both practical and very thorough. It will take the mystery out of the process. Mark shares with his readers the importance of parsing the tasks, breaking them down into its component parts, each to be dealt with in its own time. You don’t have to read it cover to cover—just the well-labeled ideas that apply to you. My favorite: ‘Becoming a Self-Directed Learner.’”
—Dwight Allen, Eminent Scholar of Educational Reform, Emeritus, Old Dominion University and former Dean of the School of Education, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

"Knowledge is power. In this book, Dr. Rossman fully discusses and explains all aspects of the graduate school process, including the program of study, finances, delivery systems (online and on campus) the committee process, comps, the proposal and how it is connected to the thesis/dissertation. With this clear and succinct information, the graduate student is in a much better position to develop an advanced degree program that will fully and adequately meet personal and professional goals and objectives."
—Craig Swenson, Chancellor, Argosy University System

“Built upon his forty-plus years of experience as faculty, administrator, and graduate student advisor, Dr. Rossman’s new book amplifies and extends his earlier work, the nationally recognized and applauded Negotiating Graduate School, and brings to graduate students a compelling and re-assuring vision of the path to their degree. As a long-time colleague at two universities and as former president of an innovative online graduate institution, I am proud to endorse Graduate School and Beyond and to recommend it to every prospective graduate student.”
—J. Bruce Francis, Distinguished Senior Faculty, Capella University

Students Say:
“I completed reading your book tonight in one setting. The book totally engrossed me, as the information was so captivating. I just could not put the book down as it has a wealth of information and answered so many questions I’ve been wondering about. I will refer to [the book] again and again during the course of my degree program; it answers many questions I’ve been wondering about and some I hadn’t thought about.”
—Lisa R. Jones

“Dr. Rossman’s guide is a succinct yet thorough tool that not only explains the hurdles of graduate school but also provides practical wisdom to finish the race. From making the decision to attend my graduate program through submitting drafts of my dissertation, this book has been a constant companion as I have negotiated each phrase of my doctorate, and I know that I will continue to reference this resource as I defend my dissertation and move forward in my professional life after graduate school.”
—Rockford Samsom

From the Publisher