According to a 2004 study, Michigan ranked 26th among
all states in the nation regarding indicators of child
well being and high-infant mortality rates, high frequency
of low-birth weight babies, and high adolescent drop-out/push-out
rates (Kids Count, 2004).
Detroit, one of the nation's largest cities, has one of
the highest child poverty rates (46.6 percent) and an infant
mortality rate more than twice the national average.
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Loppnow |
A new doctoral program at Eastern Michigan University
hopes to change that by
helping educators understand how
human differences and environmental factors impact the
teaching/learning relationship.
"The doctoral degree in educational studies has a unique
focus on the teaching and learning relationship, and the
integration of scholarship and practice," said Donald Loppnow,
provost and executive vice president of EMU. "The
concentrations in nursing education and urban education
will meet the regional and national demand for research
and teaching expertise in these areas of societal need."
"There are only a handful of this type of program in the
country," said Pamela Smith, professor of teacher education
at EMU. "This is really cutting edge because it focuses
on the critical issues facing our children in schools.
Very few programs, nationally, examine poverty and education
in urban, suburban and rural communities."
"The School of Nursing is delighted to have formed a partnership
with the EMU Department of Teacher Education. For decades,
this has been one of the most exceptional programs in the
nation in terms of producing outstanding teachers," said
Betty Beard, head of nursing at EMU. "Together, faculty
and doctoral students, in both education and nursing, will
work together to understand how environmental factors impact
students."
The Ph.D. in educational studies, EMU's fourth doctoral
degree, is a collaboration between the department of teacher
education and the school of nursing at EMU.
"The key to the program is it is unique in the country,
bringing together education and health care professionals
in a collaborative, interdisciplinary program focused on
working with impoverished communities to solve everyday
problems. Our goal is a program that provides research-based
actions rooted in local community needs," said Robert Carpenter,
doctoral coordinator and associate professor of teacher
education.
The degree has two concentrations: a Ph.D. in educational
studies with a concentration in nursing education or a
Ph.D. in educational studies with a concentration in urban
education.
Each concentration is made up of 24-credit hours, with
at least 12 hours of required doctoral level courses and
up to 12 hours of restricted electives.
Smith said that the first cohort would be comprised of
15 students in each concentration.
The program will begin this summer, Smith said.
The application process runs through March 30. For more
information, go to http://www.emich.edu/coe/ted/edst/index.html
