STRENGTHS: INTERDISCIPLINARY FOCUS, DIRECTED STUDY USED TO EXTEND RESEARCH STANDARDS AND RUBRICS WITH ROOM TO EXPLORE Master of Arts

Old MLS 1990 t Les Avery first chair, followed by Dave Elliot MLS with a focus on psychology and counseling Loose definition of outcomes in courses No program level outcomes All classes delivered in GIS with Regis faculty of record 36 credit hours

Robert Collins Chair 2004 to 2010 Structure and core (approved 2005):  MAPC 601 Graduate Research (core)  MAPC 602 Ethics Multiculturalism (core)  Four specialization courses  MAPC 603 Interdisciplinary Studies (core)  Three specialization courses  MAPC 688 and 696 for capstone (core)  OR MAPC 694 Core courses moved to ground and online (no directed study) Only approved affiliate faculty teaching directed study Standardized learning contract Counseling program and Adult Education programs break off Greater use of existing courses in MNM, MED, MSCR Specialization courses delivered 75% Directed Study, Begin to build ground based courses and degree paths

Mike Spangle chair 2010 to Present Any course that was offered online was no longer taught in directed study Number of specializations reduced and linked by themes Communication, Psychology, Creative Writing, Fine Art and Social Science emerge as strongest programs Specialization coursework standardized with ground/online courses. Use of “umbrella courses” such as Advanced studio I replace various GIS courses Directed Study reduced to 55% of total coursework MAPC 694 is the new inter-disciplinary capstone course.

For Example: Psychology specialization courses offered online/ground Psychology  MAPY 605Human Growth and Development  MAPY 606Theories of personality  MAPY 607Social Psychology  MAPY 608Neuroscience of Communication  MAPY 611Emotions in communication and conflict  MAPY 620Psychology of leadership/innovation  MAPY 621Adolescent psychology  MAPY 623Psychology of conflict  MAPY 659Complexity Innovation and Future

Other current specializations Communication courses are ground based with limited directed study. These courses will be created online within the next academic year Religious Studies courses are being co-listed with undergraduate courses and a graduate syllabus, with directed study courses used to expand on foundational work. History courses are currently directed study but will be linked thematically within the next academic year Creative writing courses are offered on the ground and moving online. Directed study students are being linked in the LMS shell under faculty and will move into thematic courses. This work will shift based on the MFA in creative writing outcome. Fine Arts students are taking online courses, ground based critiques (with SKYPE access) and directed study courses linked through the LMS. More courses being developed online.

Current Plan The current work is focuses on positioning the MA for future growth, scalability and quality Co-list graduate courses, where possible, with 400 level courses, requiring graduate level work Create more umbrella courses in Creative writing Faculty teaching directed Study will use online shell to connect students Create opportunity across the university with other graduate programs.

Future Strengths: interdisciplinary focus, directed study used to extend research, standards and rubrics with room to explore Create thematic seminar courses online for history, social science and other degree paths Continue to reduce directed study delivery and use for emerging specializations, graduation needs, and small programs that serve Regis (assistant athletic coaches), and to expand graduate research after a foundation course. Follow trends to explore possible degree offerings using the MA as a ‘skunk works’ and incubator to test new programs. Consider launching a degree, when it is large enough to do so, in partnership with Regis College (Creative writing) or Rueckert-Hartman (Exercise and wellness) Degree focused on one University