Welcome to the LSU EDAD wiki! 

 

This is an experimental web site for the Department of Administration & Leadership. We are hoping that it becomes a place where graduate students can assist each other with helpful comments and ideas. Please feel free to offer additions or corrections regarding any information that you find. The Department of Administration & Leadership wants your experience in the School of Education to be noteworthy.

 

At this point, we've made this web site open to anyone who wishes to edit or comment.

 

Click Here to View the La Sierra University Evolution Debate Online

 

---

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions):

 

Topics:

• Does the Department of Administration & Leadership have an official web site?
• Who is my advisor? How can I contact him or her? 
• How should I construct my academic program?
• What about comprehensive or qualifying exams?
• When should I begin thinking about my doctoral dissertation?
• I've heard that La Sierra University offers tuition discounts for some graduate students. Is that true?
• Do I need to prepare a professional portfolio?

 

 

Does the Department of Administration & Leadership have an official web site?

 

Yes. Take a look at http://www.lasierra.edu/schools/ed/administration/.

 

Back to top

 

 

Who is my advisor? How can I contact him or her? 

 

Graduate students may choose their own advisors in the department. Generally, students take a class or two from the professors and then begin touching base with their advisor from time to time to ensure that they are on track. Because the department believes that it is good for students to take courses from practicing adminstrators who teach on an adjunct basis, currently the only full-time professors in the department are Clinton Valley and Steve Palwuk. The dean of the School of Education, Ed Boyatt, does some advising too. School of Education faculty member information can be found online at:  http://www.lasierra.edu/schools/ed/faculty/index.html.

 

Back to top

 

 

How should I construct my academic program?

 

Constructing one's MA, EdS, or EdD is not too difficult, but there are some steps that you shouldn't overlook. First, examine http://www.lasierra.edu/schools/ed/administration/degrees/masters.html#req (although the web site needs to be updated). Another option is to pick up one of the purple or blue sheets that are available in the School of Education and review the courses that you need to take for the degree and/or the administrative certification that you wish to earn.  Early on in the program, meet with an advisor to "lock in" your program requirements.

 

Back to top

 

 

What about comprehensive or qualifying exams?

 

After you complete the coursework for your MA or EdD (and before you write your doctoral thesis), you need to satisfactorily complete your comprehensive (MA) or qualifying (EdD) exam. To prepare for this important exam, obtain a study guide:

Comprehensive Exam Study Guide:  http://www.lasierra.edu/schools/ed/administration/study_guide.html 

Qualifying Exam Study Guide: http://www.lasierra.edu/schools/ed/administration/faq.html 

 

Back to top

 

 

When should I begin thinking about my doctoral dissertation?

 

Now is a good time. It might be a good idea to keep a notebook or document on your computer where you can jot down interesting dissertation ideas or research questions that occur to you during class sessions or when engaging in your assigned readings. For most persons, thinking of a subject that they want to explore in exquisite detail is one of the hardest parts of writing a dissertation. The process for starting and writing a dissertation (either quantitative or qualitative) is described in the Dissertation Handbook available online at http://www.lasierra.edu/schools/ed/DissertationHandbook.pdf. It is a good idea to print out this document. It is about 21 pages in length. (It is also being revised during the summer of 2009, so watch for updates.)

 

Back to top

 

 

I've heard that La Sierra University offers tuition discounts for some graduate students. Is that true?

 

K-12 teachers and administrators who work in nearby public school districts with which LSU has a contractual agreement for placing student teachers and administrative interns may receive about a 25% tuition discount. See our PDF Flyer: http://www.lasierra.edu/schools/ed/EdDiscountFlier.pdf  and check with the Office of Student Finance for details. http://www.lasierra.edu/departments/sfs/.

 

K-12 teachers and administrators who are employed in some conferences of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination's school system may enroll in summer courses at their conference's expense. Please check with your superintendent of schools to verify that this applies to you. You should also check with The School of Education's office of Digital Learning (http://distance.lasierra.edu/) regarding pricing for online master's level courses. There are generally no discounts offered for online courses.

 

Back to top

 

 

Do I need to prepare a professional portfolio?

 

You do if you are expecting to earn a Tier 1 credential (a.k.a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential - http://www.lasierra.edu/schools/ed/administration/credentials/tier1.html) to serve as a school administrator in the state of California. You might want to take a look at the Advisement Guide EDAD which is the department's field experience handbook. Printed copies are available from the department chair's office. We'll try to upload a PDF and provide you with a link in a few days. You should also speak with your advisor about the portfolio.

 

If you are seeking to earn a Tier 2 credential (a.k.a. Professional Clear Credential - http://www.lasierra.edu/schools/ed/administration/credentials/tier2.html), there is currently no requirement for a portfolio, but that is under review as we re-examine the requirements of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (http://www.ctc.ca.gov/) .

 

Back to top

 

 

---

Acadmic and Personal Users

Free webinar: PBwiki for librarians and educators