Goals and Objectives

The Graduate School’s major goal is to provide an environment that supports the enhancement of research, teaching, and other scholarly pursuits for students seeking advanced degrees in specialized academic disciplines. Through graduate study, high-level scholarship, diligence, and excellence are encouraged and emphasized by the involvement of students in courses, seminars, independent study and research. Graduate degree programs are structured to enable students to obtain education and training in specialized academic subjects. Through these experiences graduates are prepared and can provide leadership and expertise to meet the needs and demands of an ever-evolving, diverse society.

Within the context of these goals, the graduate program of the University seeks to provide an environment wherein the pursuit and appreciation of learning is nourished and enhanced to the maximum extent.

The major objectives of the Graduate School are:

• Provide advanced programs of study in specialized academic disciplines.
• Provide students with knowledge of the concepts and techniques for scholarly research.
• Teach students to anticipate consequences and evaluate the validity of assumptions.
• Prepare students to synthesize the essence of knowledge drawn from several related courses in an academic discipline.
• Train students in the techniques of problem solving through the use of systematic analysis.
• Prepare students to become creative contributors to the advancement of knowledge and to the well being of society.

The objectives of the Graduate School are undergirded by a commitment to intellectual honesty, thoroughness, and accuracy. These virtues are emphasized by the University and apply to faculty and student involvement in courses, seminars, independent study, and research. Graduate degree programs are structured to enable students to obtain specialized as well as interdisciplinary training in the various academic disciplines.

Through legislative mandate, the University and the Graduate School are committed to the development of programs and services that enable students and faculty to study the complex urban milieu and to render service to the urban community. Therefore, an overall goal of the Graduate School is to develop highly trained graduates for service in the public and private sectors with a knowledge of and interest in providing leadership and expertise in the solution of urban problems.

The policies governing admissions and the requirements for qualifying for professional certificates and degrees have been formulated to attract students who have the potential for achieving maximum benefits through an involvement in a graduate program. The ultimate aim is to develop an intellectually oriented individual who appreciates his/her culture and is capable of achieving social, political and economic security as the result of being involved in a graduate program offered by Texas Southern University.

Organization

The Graduate School is organized as an integral unit of the University under the Office of Academic Affairs. The faculty members of the Graduate School are drawn from other component academic units at the University and are responsible for instruction, research, and student academic advising. All graduate programs are administered by the Dean of the Graduate School on the basis of policies and regulations established by the Graduate Council.

The Graduate Council is a standing committee of the University and includes faculty, students and administrative representatives from academic units of the University that have graduate programs. Each unit, including the library and Registrar’s Office, has one representative on the Council. Two students are included in the Council membership. Department heads and deans are ex-officio. The Dean of the Graduate School is the Chair of the Council.

Each academic department has faculty members who serve as academic advisers to graduate students. In some departments a graduate coordinator has been named. All graduate advisers function under the policies and regulations approved by the Graduate

Council. Department chairpersons recommend faculty for graduate status and students for assistantships and scholarships. Each department reviews applications for admission to its degree programs and recommends students for admission to the Graduate School. The Dean of the Graduate School takes final action on applications for admission.

Faculty

The faculty of the Graduate School consists of persons who have been approved for graduate faculty status and includes three categories: regular, associate, and special faculty. Regular faculty members are approved for five-year periods, whereas associate faculty members are approved every three years, and, special faculty must be approved each year. Most graduate faculty members have had more than five years of college level teaching experience and have published scholarly books and papers in leading journals. Some are engaged in research projects supported by federal, state, or private grants.

Students

The student population is ethnically diverse and includes persons from most states across the country. A relatively large corps of international students also matriculates in the Graduate School.

Research

The graduate faculty is involved in myriad research projects funded by federal, state, and private grants. Significant research centers on urban and instructional issues. These research activities have resulted in publications in various scholarly journals and books. Effective Fall 2016 Dissertations and Theses are submitted to ProQuest electronically and are available online.

Degrees

The Graduate School offers degrees at the master’s and doctoral levels. Master’s degree offerings are as follows: Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, Master of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy, Master of Education, Master of Public Administration, and Master of Science. Doctoral degrees offered through the Graduate School consist of the Doctor of Education with concentrations in Curriculum and Instruction, Counselor Education, and Educational Administration, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Administration of Justice, Environmental Toxicology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Urban Planning and Environmental Policy.

Programs of Study

Graduate students can select degree programs housed in the University’s Colleges and Schools.

In the College of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences, master’s degrees are offered in English, history, human services and consumer sciences, psychology, and sociology.

In the School of Communications, a master’s degree is offered in speech communication, journalism, and radio television film (RTF).

In the College of Education, master’s degrees are offered in educational administration, curriculum and instruction, counseling, and in Health, Kinesiology & Sport Studies as well as doctoral degrees in curriculum and instruction, counselor education, and educational administration.

In the Jesse H. Jones School of Business, master’s degrees are offered in management information systems and business administration.

In the College of Science, Engineering and Technology, master’s degrees are offered in biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental toxicology, mathematics and transportation, and the Ph.D. is offered in environmental toxicology.

In the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, master’s degrees are offered in health care administration, pharmaceutical sciences and the Ph.D. is offered in pharmaceutical sciences.

In the Barbara Jordan/Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs, master’s degrees are offered in public administration, administration of justice, and urban planning and environmental policy and the Ph.D. is offered in administration of justice and in urban planning and environmental policy.

The master’s degree may be earned by either one or two plans: Plan A, with the thesis, or Plan B, without the thesis. In some departments the preparation of an approved thesis is mandatory. The student should consult the department of his or her major, and the student should indicate which plan he or she will follow at the time of matriculation. (See respective department programs for the details of Plan A and Plan B.)

The completion of an approved dissertation is required for the Doctor of Education degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree.

Each student should complete a degree plan during the first semester of enrollment through consultation with the chairperson of the department.

General Regulations

Each graduate student should understand and adhere to the regulations of the Graduate School, the calendar of events, and the requirements for degrees. It is the responsibility of the graduate student to comply with the regulations and requirements of the Graduate School as stated in the graduate bulletin and in other official documents.