Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study

The Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (C.A.G.S.) is designed for individuals with professional experience who wish to develop and expand their skills beyond the master's level in their field. Of the program requirements, twelve credits of coursework offered at the Cambridge campus are incorporated into the Degree Plan, two semesters of a 3-credit interdisciplinary seminar for post-master's degree candidates, and six credits of research and evaluation coursework.

This program is appropriate for women and men whose fields of study are non-traditional or interdisciplinary; for people whose schedules allow for only limited attendance at a course based on-campus program; or for those with unique professional or personal situations which make systematic independent study their preferred mode of education. For example, students have successfully created and completed degrees in fields including, but not limited to: museum education, holistic health, global education, journalism, eco-psychology, and integrative psychotherapy.

Students develop a provisional Degree Plan as part of the application process. Upon acceptance, the degree plan becomes the student's program of study. Students carry out their graduate studies over a period two to three years, with advisement from their Faculty Advisor.

Course Descriptions

GSDMD 7002
Self Designed
Students work with their faculty faculty advisor to design a 2-credit independent study that supports their Degree Plan. Components may include reading, research, creative and experiential academic activities.

GSDMD 7003
Self Designed
Students work with their faculty faculty advisor to design a 3-credit independent study that supports their Degree Plan. Components may include reading, research, creative and experiential academic activities.

GSDMD 7005
Self Designed
Students work with their faculty faculty advisor to design a 5-credit independent study that supports their Degree Plan. Components may include reading, research, creative and experiential academic activities.

GSDMD 7006
Self Designed
Students work with their faculty faculty advisor to design a 6-credit independent study that supports their Degree Plan. Components may include reading, research, creative and experiential academic activities.

GSDMD 7008
Self Designed
Students work with their faculty faculty advisor to design a 8-credit independent study that supports their Degree Plan. Components may include reading, research, creative and experiential academic activities.

GSDMD 7009
Self Designed
Students work with their faculty faculty advisor to design a 9-credit independent study that supports their Degree Plan. Components may include reading, research, creative and experiential academic activities.

GSDMD 7500
Thesis
This course is intended to help students in constructing the culminating thesis of their Self Designed CAGS. This course will review graduate-level research methodology, interviewing skills, thesis formatting and mechanics, the responsibilities of second readers and team members, the use of critical reflection, and the construction of a proper “thesis” and “argument.” Students will be engaged with faculty and peer review to investigate and narrow the focus of their work.

EAGSR 8102
Interdisciplinary Seminar I
This seminar includes lectures and discussions by faculty, visiting faculty, and participants concerning advanced professional roles. The focus of the seminar is the teaching/therapy interface and how if affects each advanced professional in the human service field. Note Ph.D. candidates and C.A.G.S. students only. Usually offered in the fall semester.

EAGSR 8104
Interdisciplinary Seminar II
Participants in this seminar examine the political, economic, and sociocultural forces that impact upon and shape the roles of professional within institutions of social change. The seminar is structured around the consideration of a select number of critical issues and controversies surrounding professional work within institutions of social change. Presentations by invited professional practitioners supplement seminar readings and discussions. Ph.D. candidates and C.A.G.S. students only. Usually offered in the spring semester.

EAGSR 7101
Quantitative Research Methods I: Statistics for Research
This course is designed to introduce graduate students to basic statistical methods and involves two broad topics: descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. In addition, students are introduced to statistical model building through the technique of regression analysis and correlational analysis. While the course centers on parametric statistical techniques, a brief introduction to non-parametric statistical methods, such as the chi-square test, is included. Usually offered in the fall semester.

EAGSR 7102
Quantitative Research Methods II: Research Design
Discussion of a variety of experimental designs stressing applications to participant's research interests. Includes analysis of variance, multiple regression, and non-parametric analysis. Prerequisite EAGSR 7101. Usually offered in the spring semester.

EAGSR 7103
Qualitative Research Methods I
The purpose of this class is to learn to conduct qualitative social science research. Participants will read a variety of perspectives on the he philosophical bases as well as tools of the practice of qualitative data gathering and analysis. Each participant will engage in a small qualitative study that is consistent with her or his graduate study goals. The will choose a topic and research setting, negotiate research relationships, collect and analyze date, and present findings. Readings, analytic memos, interview transcriptions, and field notes will provide material for the class to work with as co-consultants. Formerly Qualitative Research Methods. Usually offered in the spring semester.

EAGSR 7104
Qualitative Research Methods II

This course combines theory and practice in advanced qualitative research methods. Participants will engage in ethnographic, case study, and other methods of qualitative analysis involving observation and interviewing. There will be emphasis on data collection, analysis, theory building, and presentation, so class members need to have a research site in place at the beginning of the semester. Coursework will involve historical/theoretical and exemplary readings, individual analytic memo writing,
group consultations, and completion of a research project. Prerequisite: EAGSR 7103. Usually offered fall semester.

EAGSR 8111
Issues in Research
This course provides a forum for the presentation and discussion of student and faculty research current at Lesley University, as well as a critical examination of a variety of research methods.

EEDUC 7102
Research in Reading
Research paper on a reading issue is completed concurrently as a library resources are discussed, research studies evaluated, and critical issues reviewed. Usually offered in the fall semester.