Graduate Catalog
Table of Contents

General Information - 2007/2008


Overview

In an emerging global community, universities must educate students so that they uphold standards of civility and civic responsibility and continue learning after graduation. Western Illinois University prepares its students and graduates to contribute to the global community as it grows and changes. This preparation is rooted in the values that our university embraces: academic excellence, educational opportunity, personal growth, and social responsibility.


Our Heritage  

Founded in 1899, Western Illinois University was established to address a serious educational problem: poorly prepared teachers in the state’s grammar schools, especially the several thousand country schools. The faculty and students of Western Illinois State Normal School were eager to meet this need, and the institution soon became known for its well-rounded, deeply committed graduates. As the years passed, Western’s mission continually broadened to include academic majors that prepared high school teachers, the state’s earliest and most successful extension program, a multi-faceted graduate school, a liberal arts program, and, eventually, distinguished colleges devoted to arts and sciences, business and technology, education and human services, and fine arts and communication. During that time, the institution earned a reputation for expanding public access to affordable, high quality degree programs and fostering student involvement in university activities. Western is now a leading comprehensive university, with a non-residential campus in the Quad Cities as well as a traditional, residential campus in Macomb. The University, with an outstanding, diverse faculty and staff, offers programs of study to more than 13,000 students, not only from Illinois, but from across the nation and around the world. Despite more than a century of growth and development, the University maintains a strong sense of community and has retained its deeply rooted commitments to holistic education, academic quality, public service, and progressive social change.


Our Values

Academic Excellence: Central to our history and tradition is the commitment to
teaching, to the individual learner, and to active involvement in the teaching-learning process. Western Illinois University’s highly qualified, diverse faculty promotes critical
thinking, engaged learning, research and creativity in a challenging, supportive learning community. We are committed to an academic environment that encourages
lifelong development as learners, scholars, teachers, and mentors.

Educational Opportunity: Western Illinois University values educational opportunity
and welcomes those who show promise and a willingness to work toward achieving shared educational goals. We are committed to providing accessible, high quality
educational programs and financial support for our students.

Personal Growth: Because Western Illinois University values the development of the
whole person, we are committed to providing opportunities for personal growth in an environment that supports the development of wellness, ethical decision making, and personal responsibility.

Social Responsibility: Western Illinois University is committed to equity, social
justice, and diversity, and maintains the highest standards of integrity in our work with others. We serve as a resource for and stimulus to economic, educational, cultural, environmental, and community development in our region and well beyond it.


Our Vision

Western Illinois University will be the leading comprehensive university in the United States.


Western Illinois University Mission Statement

Western Illinois University, a community of individuals dedicated to learning, will have
a profound and positive impact on our changing world through the unique interaction of instruction, research, and public service as we educate and prepare a diverse student population to thrive in and contribute to our global society.


Mission of the Graduate School

It is the primary goal of the School of Graduate Studies to facilitate, encourage,
support, and coordinate excellence in graduate education at Western Illinois University. To achieve this goal, the Graduate Council and the graduate office in concert with the provost, deans, department chairs, department graduate committee chairs, and graduate faculty will oversee issues relating to policies, procedures, and academic standards in graduate education.


Accreditation

Western Illinois University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a
member of the North Central Association. The University’s teacher certification programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and approved by the Illinois State Board of Education. WIU degree programs in athletic training; business; communication sciences and disorders; counseling; dietetics; music; recreation, park and tourism administration; and social work are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs; AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business; American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; American Dietetic Association; National Association of Schools of Music; Commission on the Accreditation of Athletic Training Education; National Recreation and Park Association/ American Alliance for Leisure and Recreation Council on Accreditation; and Council on Social Work Education.


 Equal Opportunity and Access

Western Illinois University complies fully with all applicable federal and state
nondiscrimination laws, orders, and regulations. The University is committed to providing equal opportunity and an educational and work environment for its students, faculty, and staff that is free from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age, marital status, disability, or veteran status.

Further, the University is committed to a comprehensive Affirmative Action program
that ensures access and equity in educational programs, activities, and employment.

The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access is responsible for administering and
monitoring Western Illinois University’s Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action policies and procedures. Inquiries about or complaints alleging violation of the policies should be directed to Cathy O’Neill Couza, director of Equal Opportunity and Access, 203 Sherman Hall, 309/298-1977. The director also serves as the coordinator for Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and its implementing regulations, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).


Student Right-To-Know

Information complying with the Federal Student Right-to-Know legislation including
the Campus Safety and Security Act (Clery Law) is available in the Office of Public
Safety, the Student Assistance Center, University Housing and Dining Services, the Office of the Vice President for Student Services, and the Office of the Vice President for Administrative Services. The information contains campus crime statistics and graduation rates at Western Illinois University and is on the University website at www.wiu.edu/clery.


Administrative Organization

Graduate degree programs are administered by academic departments in four colleges.
College deans report to the provost and academic vice president, who has responsibility for all academic programs and personnel at the University. The administration of graduate education is centered in the Office of the Provost under the leadership of the associate provost and academic vice president. In addition to the provost, three other vice presidents administer the areas of student services, administrative services, and advancement and public services. The president is responsible to Western Illinois University’s Board of Trustees for the operation and general welfare of the University.

The School of Graduate Studies is the coordinating agency for the University’s graduate programs. It maintains records related to admission, graduate assistantships, and completion of degree requirements and works closely with members of the graduate faculty, academic departments, and college deans. The School of Graduate Studies is administered by the associate provost and director of graduate studies who reports to the provost and academic vice president. The School of Graduate Studies has responsibility for implementing the policies, procedures, and academic standards established by the Graduate Council, a representative body elected by full members of the graduate faculty. Any deviation from graduate academic regulations must be approved by the Graduate Council. The Council may determine, at any time, a student’s eligibility to continue graduate studies at Western Illinois University.


Academic Colleges

Graduate programming and coursework is offered through academic departments in
four colleges as indicated below:

College of Arts and Sciences

African American Studies, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, English and Journalism, Foreign Languages and Literatures, Geography, Geology, History, Mathematics, Philosophy and Religious Studies, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology, and Women’s Studies

College of Business and Technology

Accountancy, Agriculture, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering Technology, Information Management and Decision Sciences, Management, and Marketing and Finance

College of Education and Human Services

Counselor Education; Curriculum and Instruction; Dietetics, Fashion Merchandising, and Hospitality; Educational and Interdisciplinary Studies; Educational Leadership; Health Sciences; Instructional Design and Technology; Kinesiology; Law Enforcement and Justice Administration; Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration; Special Education; and Sport Management

College of Fine Arts and Communication

Art, Broadcasting, Communication, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Music, and Theatre and Dance


Trustees of the University

William L. Epperly, Chicago (Chair)
Steven L. Nelson, Moline (Vice Chair)
Robert J. Cook, Macomb (Secretary)
Carolyn J. Ehlert, Milan
Donald W. “Bill” Griffin, Macomb
J. Michael Houston, Springfield
Jessie L. Kallman, Moline (Student Member)


Officers of the University

President: Dr. Alvin Goldfarb
Provost and Academic Vice President: Dr. Jack Thomas
Dean of College of Arts and Sciences: Dr. Inessa Levi
Dean of College of Business and Technology: Dr. Thomas L. Erekson
Dean of College of Education and Human Services: Dr. Bonnie J. Smith-Skripps
Dean of College of Fine Arts and Communication: Dr. Paul K. Kreider
Dean of University Libraries: Dr. Phyllis C. Self
Associate Provost and Director of Graduate Studies: Dr. Barbara A. Baily
Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs: Dr. Jeanne Clerc
Vice President for Administrative Services: Ms. Jacqueline K. Thompson
Vice President for Advancement and Public Services: Dr. Daniel Hendricks
Vice President for Student Services: Dr. W. Garry Johnson


Graduate Council, Academic Year 2007-2008

Thomas J. Cody, Ph.D., Professor, Educational and Interdisciplinary Studies
William Cupples, Ed.D., Professor, Engineering Technology
Andrea Redcay Graves, D.M.A., Associate Professor, Music
egla Hassan, M.F.A., Professor, Theatre and Dance
Martin Maskarinec, Ph.D., Professor, Computer Science
Mark Mossman, Ph.D., Associate Professor, English and Journalism
Katharine A. Pawelko, Ph.D., Professor, Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration
Michael A. Romano, Ph.D., Professor, Biological Sciences