Mission and Goals
Graduate study at the University of Montevallo is linked directly to the University’s overall mission through providing professional programs of focused study and avenues for continuing growth to students who have made a commitment to careers in a selected number of fields. According to the Vision Statement of UM’s Strategic Plan, “Our vision for graduate students builds on [the University’s] undergraduate foundation, using traditional and innovative instructional methods to foster growth in specialized skills and knowledge required by practicing educators, counselors, speech-language clinicians, scholars in the humanities, and other professional leaders, within a nurturing environment steeped in the unique ‘Montevallo experience.’” High-quality educational experiences are emphasized that will allow graduates to practice in and contribute to their chosen profession or field of scholarship at deeper levels of complexity, challenge, and specialization. Each program is designed to offer the graduate student opportunities to extend and apply old and new knowledge and skills and to develop greater intellectual maturity and creative independence.
All eligible graduate programs that are offered at the University of Montevallo have received professional accreditation at the state and/or national level in their given field, and all programs are supported by the University’s base of liberal arts and sciences.
Graduate study at the University of Montevallo complements the undergraduate program, providing the same sense of community and quality of interaction between students and faculty. Further, the University creates an appropriate graduate environment by insuring adequate and up-to-date library resources, faculty-sponsored graduate student gatherings and paper presentations, advice from faculty regarding proper publication and conference channels, and a graduate seminar-like setting in many of its graduate classes.
Degrees and Programs
Initiated in 1955, the program has grown to include four master’s degrees in eight majors and a number of concentrations, as well as the Educational Specialist degree and AA certification in two areas. The degrees offered by UM are:
Master of Arts (M.A.)
English
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
Business Administration
Master of Science (M.S.)
Speech-Language Pathology
Master of Education (M.Ed.)
Collaborative (Special) Education K-6
Collaborative (Special) Education 6-12
Collaborative (Special) Education P-12 DHH
Counseling and Guidance
Elementary Education (K-6)
Instructional Leadership
Preschool to High School Education (P-12)
Secondary Education (6-12)
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)
Instructional Technology
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) and Class AA Certification
Instructional Leadership
Teacher Leadership
Graduate Student Advisory/Focus Groups
Graduate students will be asked regularly to participate in focus group or other advisory-type activities to provide input regarding graduate programs and services. All graduate programs will be represented in these activities, which will be scheduled at least once a year.
Graduate Honors Recognition
The Annual Graduate Honors Reception, held each spring, is designated for recognizing outstanding achievement. Awards are presented to outstanding graduate students in each graduate program.
Qualified graduate students may also be invited to join most of the honorary organizations on campus, including Alpha Epsilon Lambda, Beta Gamma Sigma, Chi Sigma Iota, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Pi and Sigma Tau Delta.
Governance
The Board of Trustees at the University of Montevallo is charged with authority to approve the number and type of graduate degrees; the number and nature of departments, divisions, schools or colleges through which the curriculum is administered; and the extent to which the institution should offer distance learning programs.
Graduate Council
It is the responsibility of the Graduate Council to determine policy concerning the graduate program, including review and approval of new and existing graduate curricula and programs (with such actions then referred to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs) and to consider such other business as may be submitted to it pertaining to graduate programs. The Graduate Council reports to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and is composed of at least one graduate faculty member from each department that has a graduate program. The Chair of the Graduate Council is elected by its members, and the academic deans, the Director of Carmichael Library, and the Director of Graduate Admissions and Records serve as ex-officio members. Upon request and approval of Graduate Council, departments with more than one graduate program may seat additional representatives by program.
The Chair of the Graduate Council shall invite each department without a graduate program but with graduate courses to be present when input/participation from that department is deemed necessary by Council.
Administration of Programs
Graduate programs are administered primarily within the academic department and the appropriate college.
Graduate Faculty
The University of Montevallo employs faculty fully qualified and highly competent to provide sound and effective graduate instruction.
Graduate Admissions and Records
The role of the Office of Graduate Admissions and Records is to collaborate with academic departments in recruitment of prospective students; to respond to inquiries and requests for information; maintain student records; and evaluate credentials for student admission, retention, and completion, using criteria established by graduate program faculty and Graduate Council.
Curriculum
Graduate Courses
All graduate courses offered by the University of Montevallo are acceptable for credit as requirements or electives applicable to at least one University degree or certificate.
Cross-Listed Courses
Some departments at the University of Montevallo occasionally offer cross-listed graduate and undergraduate courses. In these cases, the department maintains a significant difference between undergraduate and graduate instruction. This difference is indicated clearly in course syllabi. Graduate students are expected to produce acceptable levels of research and/or performance through activities such as independent research, outside readings, and more comprehensive examinations.
Course Evaluation
The evaluation of graduate instruction is addressed annually as a part of the faculty performance review. Students are provided an opportunity to give feedback on the quality of instruction through the student course evaluation process.
Alternative Delivery Formats
Graduate courses offered in non-traditional formats (e.g., concentrated or abbreviated time periods) are designed to ensure sufficient opportunity for preparation, reflection, and analysis of the subject matter with at least one calendar week of reflection and analysis for students for each semester hour of credit awarded. Levels of student knowledge and competencies are equivalent to those for courses delivered in traditional formats.
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