MSCHE/ACOE Self Study

The PhD program recently (2007) underwent a major review and revision as described later in this section (Strategic Plan Goal 2.4). In the newly implemented program, doctoral students fulfill eighty semester-hour credits of core courses and seminars/tutorials, laboratory rotations, and research as part of degree requirements. Students are required to complete Introduction to Vision Science (Parts I and II) aimed at providing a broad understanding of different aspects of vision science as well as Introduction to Statistical Methods and Ethics in Research . During the first year, each student must complete rotations in two different research labs, one in the fall and one in the spring. In addition to the core courses, students are required to pass tutorials and seminars in more specialized areas. Course listings and program requirements are detailed in the previously cited Graduate Policy Document. To promote the development of analytical and presentation skills, each May all students are required to make an oral presentation on their research over the past year. Graduate faculty members, as well as other students, attend these presentations. Formative feedback is provided to each presenter. Starting in the second year, students are required to give at least one Journal Club presentation. (The Journal Club is a student club that brings together full-time graduate students and faculty in an informal colloquium type setting to discuss recent journal articles.) A list of 2009-2010 Journal Club presentations can be found in Appendix B-14. In lieu of a specialty area exam, a dissertation proposal written in National Research Service Award (NRSA) grant proposal form to include aims, significance of area, and background (up to 10 pages) must be submitted at the end of year 2. This is done to provide students training in writing grant proposals. Students are required to provide an oral defense of this written material, which is graded by the student’s dissertation research committee. The PhD dissertation is expected to take the form of published or submitted journal articles. The defense consists of an hour-long public presentation, to include a question period, followed by a meeting with the student’s committee. Appendix B-15 (or http://www.sunyopt.edu/academics/Grad_StudentHandbook.pdf) gives the Graduate Student Handbook, which includes yearly benchmarks required for satisfactory progress in the Graduate Program. The credentials of all faculty members who teach in the PhD program or supervise dissertation research are reviewed by the Graduate Qualifications Committee, a three-member committee elected by Faculty of The Graduate Program. A list of faculty members currently qualified for graduate program participation can be found in Appendix B-16 or on the College’s Web site at http://www.sunyopt.edu/research/phdadvisors.shtml. Curricular Evaluation and Program Assessment The Committee on Graduate Program, Policy, Admissions and Standing, which is elected by faculty who participate in the graduate program, has primary

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