Graduate Equity Fellowship

Over the summer, I was accepted for the Graduate Equity Fellowship. Participating in the program will help to propel my education into a PhD program upon completion of the MSN program at CSUSB. Dr. Marilyn Stoner has accepted to help offer suggestions and guide me through the required projects. A timeline below has been proposed and may change as needed.

• Fall 2011 - Due October 14, 2011
• Report #1 - Initial Faculty Discussion
• Report #2 - Familiarizing with research
• Winter 2012 - Due January 9, 2012
• Report #3 - IRB Proposal
• Report #4 - Schools of Interest
• Spring 2012 - Due April 2, 2012
• Report #5 - Admission Requirements
• Self Study Essay

Fall Quarter Portfolio Assignments (Friday, October 14, 2011):

Meeting done by October 1, 2011

Rough Draft Report #1 Available by October 7, 2011

Rough Draft Report #2 Available by October 1, 2011

Report #1 – Initial Faculty Discussion
Kevin – Will prepare by researching items prior to meeting
Marilyn – Provide availability at office/(location of choice) for approximately 1 hour

A. Select a faculty consultant. The faculty consultant should be someone in the area (or a closely-related field) in which you wish to seek the Ph.D. They may be a CSUSB faculty member from whom you have taken a course or from whom you are now taking one.

B. Faculty Consultant Interview. Discuss your interest in the Ph.D. with your faculty consultant. Some topics to consider are:

• 1. the location of the best Ph.D. programs in your field of interest,
• 2. general academic requirements of these programs,
• 3. things you may do at the M.A./M.S. level to prepare for a Ph.D. program,
• 4. major research focuses and trends in the field,
• 5. job availability,
• 6. subjects or courses taught by a person with a Ph.D. in your field of interest,
• 7. major professional conferences in the field,
• 8. major professional journals in the field.

(approx. 1-2 double-spaced pages) detailing what you learned from your faculty consultant, and explaining what was new or surprising and how what you have learned has impacted your plans to pursue the Ph.D.

Report #2 - Becoming Familiar with Research in your Field of Interest 
Kevin – complete tasks as required

A. Go on-line and review the announcement for a major professional conference in your field of interest for the Ph.D. In a brief report (approx. 1 double-spaced, typed page)

B. Review a major professional journal in your field, and in a brief report (approx. 1 double-spaced, typed page or less)

Winter Quarter Portfolio Assignments (Monday, January 9, 2012): 

Report #3 postponed until January 2011

Rough Draft of Report #4 available by January 2, 2011

Report #3 - IRB Proposal
Kevin – Initiate thesis committee to complete IRB approval

Research Project. Propose a research topic suitable for presentation at the CSUSB Student Research Conference to be held in June 2012. Write a proposal (approx. 2-3 double-spaced, typed pages) in which you state your purpose, methodology, results, analysis/interpretation of the results and value of the research. (Specific guidelines for your written report will be provided at the fall quarter meeting.)

Report #4 – Schools of Interest
Kevin - Complete tasks as required

Research at least three Ph.D. granting institutions in your field of interest. Write a report (approx. 2-3 double-spaced, typed pages) in which you describe

• (a) location, cost and infrastructure, 
• (b) the general academic requirements of these programs, 
• (c) the programs major research focus, 
• (d) the qualifications, research areas and publications of some key faculty in the program, 
• (e) courses offered that fit your interests, 
• (f) amounts and types of support available to Ph.D. candidates (and are there categories of support for under-represented students?), 
• (g) teaching opportunities for graduate students, 
• (h) explain which program is most attractive to you and why.

Spring Quarter Portfolio Assignments (Monday, April 2, 2012): 

Rough Draft of Report #5 available February 1, 2011

Rough Draft Self Study Essay available March 1, 2011

Completed Portfolio available for review by March 20, 2011

Submit Research for Annual CSUSB Student Research Conference

Report #5 - Admission Requirements
Kevin - Complete tasks as required

• Request admission materials and applications from the two Ph.D. granting institutions What is required? 
• What are the deadlines? 
• What supporting documents do you need to collect? 
• Compose a draft statement of purpose and solicit feedback on it from your faculty consultant. 
• Do any of the two institutions you have selected require an entrance exam?
• Research applicable entrance exams. 
• What is required? 
• How often is it offered?
• What do you need to do to prepare for it? 
• Write up your findings in a brief report (approx. 1 double-spaced, typed page or less). 

Completing the Portfolio/ Self-Study Essay
Kevin - Complete tasks as required
Marilyn – Provide Feedback and sign off

Assemble your portfolio. In a folder, include all reports and relevant supporting materials you have. Next, prepare a five page, typed self-study. This self-study is an essay in which you a look back at your experience in your M.A./M.S. program, the classroom, and the Graduate Equity Fellowship Program.