AIC offers unique grad program

Date: 12/15/2008

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD American International College (AIC) has enrolled 17 students into its new doctoral program, the only one in the region that offers specializations in Teaching and Learning, and Educational Leadership and Supervision.

Craig Greenberg, the college's director of public relations, said, "So far the reaction [to the new program] has been tremendous."

The academic program is designed for mid-career educational practitioners who already hold an accredited master's degree, but Greenberg added the degree program would also be helpful to people who are not necessarily teachers, but work in education-related jobs.

The program is aimed at producing applicants for future positions as teacher leaders at the pre-K to higher education levels, as well as future principals and superintendents, according to Ronald Holzman, dean of special academic projects at AIC.

Last month the first cohort of students started, Greenberg said. There will be another group beginning in March. The program takes four years -- other doctoral programs take as long as seven years -- three of which are class work, while the final year is spent writing the dissertation, Greenberg added.

"There are projected shortages of teachers and administrators, in areas that include special education, foreign languages, bilingual education and counseling and with normal attrition there is going to be a greater demand for well prepared teachers and administrators," Holzman said.

Greenberg said the program is similar to ones offered by Harvard, Seton Hall and Columbia universities. The New England Association of Colleges and Schools accredits it.

"What makes our program unique is the fact that it's an independently focused doctoral program," Nicholas Young, associate dean of doctoral education at AIC, said. "Candidates have elected to study in a low-residency, mentored-model doctoral education program."

Greenberg said the program is essentially taught on weekends.

Holzman said, "When I first started as a school superintendent, a typical vacancy might have 40 to 50 qualified applicants. Now you are fortunate to have 15 to 20 applicants. It is a stressful position that requires a lot of hard work and professional preparation, but we feel we can provide the guidance, inspiration and preparation needed to be successful in upper level education positions."