Plymouth State University
Education and Teaching
Plymouth, New Hampshire
Overview
Plymouth State University (PSU) was founded in 1871 as a small teachers' training college and has expanded over the years to 170 acres and forty-six buildings. The M.Ed. program began in 1948; the M.B.A. program, in 1974; the C.A.G.S. program, in 1997; and the M.A.T. program, in 2004. The University has the brick-and-ivy look of its New England small college heritage while integrating state-of-the-art technology and facilities. Faculty members have rich and varied backgrounds and are strongly committed to maintaining high-quality graduate programs. Plymouth State University also offers undergraduate programs and has about 3,500 full- and part-time students enrolled in degree programs.
Plymouth State has approximately 1,300 graduate students. The majority of the students are working professionals enrolled in part-time study who commute to campus.
The Location and Community
Plymouth State University is located in the scenic Lakes Region of New Hampshire in the foothills of the White Mountains. PSU is approximately 2 hours from Boston, 2 hours from the Maine seacoast, and 1 hour from Hanover and Dartmouth College and Vermont.
Programs of Study and Degree Requirements
Plymouth State University Graduate Studies and Community Outreach offers Master of Education (M.Ed.) and Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree programs as well as Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (C.A.G.S.) programs. Students can select degree programs in athletic training; counselor education; educational leadership; elementary and secondary education with concentrations in computer technology education, environmental science, heritage studies, integrated arts, and self-designed studies; English education and the teaching of writing; health education; mathematics education; reading and writing specialist studies; and special education. The post-master's Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies program has concentrations in educational leadership; arts, leadership, and learning; and mental health counseling. A collaborative agreement with Argosy University/Sarasota allows C.A.G.S. students the opportunity to continue their doctoral study in educational leadership or curriculum and instruction. Professional certification in many K-12 disciplines and specialist certifications are available, such as initial teacher certification, school principal, special education administrator, and superintendent certification. Certificate programs in adult education, alternative health and healing, eating disorders, parenting, and play therapy are offered.
Plymouth State University is nationally accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), and state accredited by the New Hampshire State Department of Education (NH DOE).
The five major themes that are the hallmarks of all graduate programs are leadership and advocacy, scholarship and action/application, reflection and innovation, professionalism and service, and global awareness and social responsibility. The curriculum of graduate programs is standards-based on a national and state level, integrated, and culturally responsive. The curriculum is designed to develop professional competence in ethics, research, and communication. The programs promote theory to practice connections, and the degree course work is designed to provide real-world relevance, practical application of information, and personal and professional reflection.
Courses are offered year-round through various formats of weeklong institutes, weekends, full-term weekly classes, online courses, and WebCT integrated instruction. Plymouth State University has many collaborative partnerships with schools, agencies, professional development centers, professional development schools, and professional organizations such as the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), the New England League of Middle Schools (NELMS), and Project Adventure (PA). Online collaborative program offerings include Connected University/Classroom Connect, PBS Teacherline, American Museum of National History, ASCD, and Cantor's Web-Ed.
Facilities & Resources
Library divisions include Reference Services, Access Services, Technical Services, Systems and Technology Services, and Periodicals. The library collections are constantly increasing and include 302,519 cataloged volumes, 600,000 units of microform, and 958 periodical subscriptions. The library Web site allows remote access to the library's information resources and serves as a gateway to general Internet access. Most electronic resources, including LOLA (the online catalog) are available through the campus network both on and off campus. Lamson Library is the largest state-supported library in northern New Hampshire. Students have access to computers throughout the campus through public clusters in academic buildings and in the library.
Expenses and Aid
The tuition for the M.Ed. program in 2004-05 was approximately $332 per credit for New Hampshire residents and $365 per credit for nonresidents. C.A.G.S. tuition is about $352 per credit for residents and $387 per credit for nonresidents. Tuition rates are subject to change pending University policies.
Financial Aid:
Students should visit the U.S. Department of Education's Web site at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ for information regarding federal financial aid. Students may also contact PSU's Financial Aid Office at 603-535-2338. Students can also apply for graduate assistantships; applications are located on the graduate Web site and due April 15 of every year.
Housing/Living Expenses:
Off-campus rentals are options for students during the academic year, with limited on-campus summer housing available. Students should contact 603-535-2320 for more information.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted throughout the year for all programs except for athletic training, which requires that applications are posted by March 1 for the two-year program sequence. The Admissions Board meets weekly to review potential candidates. Three letters of recommendation, a resume, official transcripts, a writing sample or essay, and the Miller Analogies Test or Graduate Record Exam (for M.A.T. and M.Ed. applicants only) are required. An interview by phone or in person with the program coordinator is strongly recommended. The Miller Analogies Test is offered at on- and off-campus locations.
Who to Contact
Dr. Dennise Maslakowski
Graduate Studies and Community Outreach
Plymouth State University
17 High Street, MSC 11 Hogan House
Plymouth, New Hampshire 03264
603-535-2636
800-FOR-GRAD
E-mail: forgrad@plymouth.edu
Faculty
• The date in parentheses represents the year that person either joined the faculty or attained his or her current position.
• Virginia M. Barry, Vice President for Academic Affairs; Ph.D., Florida State. (2000)
• Dennise M. Maslakowski, Professor of Education and Associate Vice President for Graduate Studies; Ed.D., Virginia Tech. (1987)
• Julie N. Bernier, Associate Professor of Health and Physical Education and Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Affairs; Ed.D., Virginia. (1993)
• Marcia S. Blaine, Lecturer in History; Ph.D., New Hampshire.
• Judy Curran Buck, Assistant Professor of Mathematics; Ph.D., New Hampshire. (1997)
• Mardie E. Burckes-Miller, Professor of Health Education; Ed.D., Oklahoma State. (1987)
• Gerard E. Buteau, Associate Professor of Education; Ed.D., Boston University. (1991)
• Joy Butler, Associate Professor of Health and Physical Education; M.Ed., Ph.D., Boston University. (1994)
• Patricia A. Cantor, Associate Professor and Chair, Education, and Coordinator of Early Childhood Studies and of Teacher Education; Ed.D., Boston University. (1990)
• Gerard J. Corcoran Jr., Professor of Music; Ed.D., Illinois. (1991)
• Elizabeth A. Cox, Assistant Professor of Theatre; M.Ed., Missouri; M.F.A., North Carolina. (1999)
• Irene Cucina, Assistant Professor of Health, Physical Education and Recreation; M.Ed., Cambridge College; D.P.E., Springfield. (1998)
• C. Lynn Davis, Assistant Professor of Education; M.Ed., Plymouth State; Ph.D., Lesley. (1995)
• Katherine C. Donahue, Associate Professor of Anthropology-Sociology; Ph.D., Boston University. (1992)
• Jeanne A. Dubino, Associate Professor of English; Ph.D., Massachusetts Amherst. (1993)
• Bonnie W. Epstein, Associate Professor of English; M.Ed., Plymouth State; Ph.D., Union (Ohio). (1994)
• Richard C. Evans, Professor of Mathematics; M.A.T., Brown; Ph.D., Wisconsin-Madison. (1970)
• Michael L. Fischler, Professor of Education; Ed.D., Colorado. (1970)
• Katharine G. Fralick, Associate Professor of Education and Coordinator of Childhood Studies; Ed.D., Boston University. (1986)
• Richard A. Fralick, Professor of Biology; Ph.D., New Hampshire. (1973)
• Grace M. Fraser, Associate Professor of Anthropology-Sociology and Department Chair, Social Science; Ph.D., Massachusetts. (1990)
• Gary E. Goodnough, Associate Professor and Coordinator, Counselor Education; M.Ed., Ph.D., Virginia. (1995)
• William C. Haust, Professor of Art Education and Department Chair, Art; M.F.A., Goddard; Ed.D., Nova. (1984)
• Kenneth H. Heuser, Professor of Education and Coordinator of Adminstration/Supervision and of Department Technology; Ed.D., Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (1970)
• Richard W. Hunnewell, Professor of Art History; Ph.D., Boston University. (1980)
• Marcel J. Lebrun, Assistant Professor of Curriculum and Instruction; M.Ed., Manitoba; Ph.D., San Jose (Costa Rica). (2002)
• Patricia L. Lindberg, Professor of Education and Coordinator of M.Ed. and of Integrated Arts M.Ed. programs; Ph.D., NYU. (1990)
• Barbara J. McCahan, Assistant Professor of Health and Physical Education and Department Chair, Health, Physical Education and Recreation; Ph.D., California. (1989)
• James J. McGarry, Professor of Psychology; Ph.D., Kent State. (1982)
• Mary E. McNeil, Professor of Special Education; Ed.D., Boston University. (2000)
• Gail Mears, Assistant Professor of Education and Faculty-in-Residence; M.Ed., New Hampshire; Psy.D., Antioch New England. (2000)
• Robert S. Miller, Professor of Education; Ph.D., Dartmouth. (1976)
• Daniel R. Perkins, Professor of Music; D.M.A., USC. (1991)
• Meg J. Petersen, Associate Professor of English; Ph.D., New Hampshire. (1991)
• Richard C. Pfenninger, Professor of Music; D.M.A., Temple. (1990)
• Nancy J. Puglisi, Coordinator of PATH Institute; M.Ed., Plymouth State; Ph.D., Union (Ohio).
• Leonard J. Reitsma, Associate Professor of Zoology; Ph.D., Dartmouth. (1992)
• Gary K. Richey, Associate Professor of Counselor Education and Coordinator of Special Education; Ph.D., Utah State. (1995)
• William J. Roberts, Professor of Mathematics; Ed.D., Massachusetts. (1971)
• Paul W. Rogalus, Associate Professor of English; Ph.D., Purdue. (1990)
• Leo R. Sandy, Professor of Counselor Education; Ed.D., Boston University. (1996)
• Jonathan C. Santore, Associate Professor of Music and Department Chair, Music, Theatre, and Dance; M.M., Texas at Austin; Ph.D., UCLA. (1994)
• Andrew J. Smythe, Assistant Professor of English; Ph.D., Saint Louis. (2002)
• Nancy C. Strapko, Associate Professor of Health Education; M.Ed., Trenton State; Ph.D., NYU. (1987)
• Robert F. Swift, Professor of Music; Ph.D., Rochester (Eastman). (1979)
• David C. Switzer, Professor of History; Ph.D., Connecticut. (1965)
• Warren C. Tomkiewicz, Professor of Natural Science Education; Ed.D., Boston University. (1988)
• Marianne M. True, Assistant Professor of Education; Ed.D., Sarasota. (1999)
• Mark P. Turski, Professor of Natural Science Education; M.Ed, Maine; Ph.D., Texas at Austin. (1991)
• Cynthia Vascak, Assistant Professor of Art Education; M.F.A., Boston University; Ph.D., New Hampshire. (1991)
• Susan H. Walsh, Instructor and Counselor, Plymouth Counseling Center; M.S.W., Boston University. (1994)
• Joan M. Wiegers, Artist-in-Residence, Dance; M.A., Goddard; M.F.A., SUNY College at Brockport. (1985)