MS and PhD Programs in Transnational,
Cultural and Community Studies
Presentation to Faculty Council
September 9, 2013
Miren Uriarte, CPCS and Peter Kiang, CEHD
for the TCCS Faculty Planning Group
Mission
The TCCS MS and PhD programs direct themselves
to the preparation of high-level professionals and
scholars capable of addressing the challenges posed
by the dimensions and characteristics of global
population movements and their impacts on the
individuals and communities in the sending and
receiving societies involved.
Why TCCS?
 Regional and National Need
 Institutional Priorities
 Institutional Capacities
Regional and National Need
 Dimensions of immigrant flows
 Characteristics of the flows
 Origins of the migrants
 Emerging efforts at immigrant integration
 Growing demand for scholars and professional
practitioners with skills and capacity to work
effectively with or conduct research about
these populations
Institutional Priorities and Capacities
 Priority: Expand graduate programs in areas of
institutional strength
 Battelle Report (2007)
 2011 Strategic Plan
 Capacities: UMB uniquely suited to deliver these
programs
 Number of faculty with expertise in these areas
 Undergraduate programs in areas akin to TCCS
 Established Research Institutes focused on these
populations
Perspectives
 Transnational — global grounded in local
 Transdisciplinary — holistic vision and
methodological complexity
Audience: MS in TCCS
 Practitioners
 Aiming to work with immigrant/refugee populations in
the U.S. or abroad, including service providers,
community planners, policy advocates, and leaders of
community-based and non-governmental
organizations, government agencies, and foundations
 Graduate pathways for outstanding undergraduate
ethnic studies students
 Continuing into PhD programs in a variety
of disciplines
Audience: PhD in TCCS
 Seeking academic careers in the U.S. and
abroad
 Seeking high-level professional careers in
U.S. and international foundations, nonprofit organizations, governments and
private enterprises
Knowledge and Skills:
MS in TCCS
 Knowledge about the processes of migration, entry,
adaptation, settlement and community formation of
contemporary transnational immigrant groups
necessary planning, development, and advocacy.
 Expert grasp of the processes and methods for working
successfully across disciplinary and cultural boundaries
 Working effectively in teams on problem-centered
projects
Knowledge and Skills:
PhD in TCCS
 Conduct academic research on the themes of TCCS
 transdisciplinary
 engaged research methodologies.
 Conduct analyses and evaluations of the impact of
policies, programs and practices in the United States
and in other areas of the world.
Courses, Credits and Years of
Coursework
MS
PhD
(including
capstone)
(not including
dissertation)
Total Number of Courses:
11
22
Total Number of Credits:
37
63*
Years of Coursework
2
3
* Total number of credits for PhD is 75
Curriculum and Sequencing: MS
(Handout 1)
 Key Features
 CORE Components in Theory and Methods
 Research Practice (TRIP)
 Professional Seminar
 Capstone Project
Curriculum and Sequencing: PhD
(Handout 1)
 Key Features
 CORE Components in Theory and Methods with an
array of Electives
 Ample hands-on Research Practice (TRIP and PhD
Practicum)
 Student-designed Concentration
 Professional Seminars
 Comprehensive Portfolio
 Dissertation Seminar
Admissions Targets and Requirements
Target
Requirements
MS
PhD
20 students
6 students
Apply directly to MS
Program
Apply directly to PhD
program
Apply from MS in TCCS
• Undergraduate
GPA of 3.25
• GRE verbal &
quantitative
scores in top 25%
• University
required TOEFL
score for foreign
students
• Statement of
intent
• Writing sample
• 2 Letters of
recommendation
• Undergraduate GPA
of 3.25
• GRE verbal &
quantitative scores
in top 25%
• University required
TOEFL score for
foreign students
• Statement of intent
• Writing sample
• 3 letters of
recommendation
• Completion of TCCS
MS program courses
with a GPA of 3.25
• Completion of the
Concentration
Project as Capstone
• Letter of
recommendation
from TCCS faculty
• Approval of the
Academic Affairs
Committee
Other Program Components
 Monitoring of Student Progress
 Advising and Mentoring Students
 Research and Teaching Assistantships
Programs’ Organization
 Reports to Dean of Graduate Studies and
Interdisciplinary Programs
 Program Director
 TCCS Executive Committee
 Academic Affairs Committee
 Admissions Committee
 Personnel Committee
 Advisory Committee
Resources: Faculty and Staff
 Faculty come from across the UMB campus (CLA, CPCS,
CEHD).
 Core Faculty : 2 new hires (100% in the program)
6 assigned to the program at least 50%
 Affiliated Faculty teach specific courses
 Professional Staff Person
Resources : Assistantships
 PhD students will be offered Research and Teaching
assistantships
 TAs will teach undergraduate students in departments
affiliated with the program
 RAs will work with Institutes or individual faculty
 Funding
 First 3 years through university funds or faculty/Institute
funded research
 Will be supported in obtaining external funding for Years
4 and 5.
Assessment and Accountability
 Goals, Objectives (see Handout 2)
 Annual Assessment: Executive Committee will assess
the progress towards these goals and objectives each
year. Special attention to:
 obtaining needed resources,
 implementation of the curriculum
 effectiveness of the marketability in admissions
 retention to completion of MS and PhD
 AQUAD Review: All programs in the University are
evaluated every 7 years.