The Problem We have a series of three classes that our doctoral students who are doing qualitative research must complete before moving through the final steps of the program. As a faculty member on several dissertation committees, I am not seeing how students apply their course work to conceptualizing their preliminary examinations, proposals, and dissertation process. Summer 2008

Annotated List of Helpful Resources & References I was able to find several peer-reviewed articles that focused on revising doctoral programs. The programs are not similar, but the articles serve as a good background for thinking about the changes made in Ph.D. programs. Duke Research Nursing and Methods Class

Preliminary Results, Findings, Conclusions, & Implications Briefly describe some of your findings or conclusions. Briefly describe the implications of these findings for others (the "so what?"). What can others learn from your work? Spring 2009

Project Summary This is a study of student learning in a cross0departmental doctoral program. The program provides students with a sequence of three courses to prepare students to conduct qualitative research. It is time for the program to re-evaluate the course sequence. The re-evaluation will help clarify the goals and objectives of each class, and how the three classes should fit together. This project is a follow up to the recent program review that was completed by the UWM Graduate School Committee. Ongoing

Evidence of Student Learning & Methods of Analysis I will use the current conversations in the Urban Education Doctoral Committee to create questions for one on one interviews with PhD candidates who are in the final stages of their program, or who have recently completed the program. Semi-structured interviews will take place in the spring semester when many students are finishing their exams and proposals. I hope to conduct 7-10 taped recorded interviews. The interviews will be transcibed, coded, and analyzed with the help of other faculty members teaching doctoral level courses. Fall 2008

Career Relevance & Impact Two of my areas of research are curriculum implementations and qualitaitve research. The project is a good fit with my research interests and my teaching roles at UWM. Ongoing