July 10, 2007

Cal State San Bernardino aims for first doctoral degree

By MARISA AGHA
The Press-Enterprise

Cal State San Bernardino is on track to become one of seven Cal State campuses this fall to offer the system's first doctoral degree, campus leaders said.

The campus aims to start a program to receive an education doctorate, also known as an Ed.D. The degree is common among kindergarten through high school administrators and community college faculty and leaders.

Inland educators say there is a growing demand for educators with such a degree.

"It's extremely important to our constituents," said Louis Fernandez, Cal State San Bernardino's provost and vice president of academic affairs. The aim is to accept this fall about 12 students who want to become kindergarten through high school administrators. By fall 2008, Cal State San Bernardino officials plan to add about 14 more spots, including some for prospective community college faculty and leaders, Fernandez said.

The California State University board of trustees' committee on educational policy discussed during its meeting in Long Beach on Tuesday plans to implement the degree at seven campuses this fall. In addition to Cal State San Bernardino, the other campuses that will offer the Ed.D. are Fresno, Fullerton, Long Beach, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Francisco.

The action marks a shift from the state's 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education. The plan designated UC as the state's sole public provider of doctoral and professional degrees.

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the association for the western region that accredits colleges and universities, is expected to announce later this month whether Cal State will receive accreditation for the degree program, Fernandez said.

Lou Monville, a Cal State trustee, said the system already is receiving many applications for the programs.

"It is going to become a critical resource for our region as we begin to develop the next generation of leaders for our K-12 and community college systems," Monville said. "There is definite interest."