handbook

Student Handbook

Critical & Creative Thinking Program

(covering regular CCT studies and the Science in a Changing World track)

Table of Contents

The information in this handbook updates and supplements the latest Graduate Bulletin entry for CCT. It is arranged in an order that takes you through the sequence of issues you may have from when you are first interested in the program to when you are ready to complete your studies.
Guidance for students in the Science in the Changing World graduate track is in the process of being written and added. In the meantime, SICW students should read this in conjunction with the webpage for the track.
If you are reading a printed version of this handbook there will be some slightly mysterious text that indicates links on the web-version to material located elsewhere in the handbook.

Search for info within the handbook:
Overview of Program

Joining the CCT Program

• Welcome letter to new or prospective students
• Programs of Study
  • Master of Arts, with student-defined specialty areas such as:
    • "creative thinking at work," "gifted and talented education," "critical and creative thinking in literature/arts/music," "dialogue and collaboration in organizational change." Areas of specialization may be constructed through cooperation with other UMass Boston graduate programs, such as Instructional Design, Special Education, Public Policy, and Dispute Resolution; and
    • a distinct Science in a Changing World track with different core courses.
  • Graduate Certificate, which accommodates general studies, as well as the following targetted themes or foci:
    • Creative Thinking at Work | Science in a Changing World | Gifted and Talented Education
    See also distinct Science in a Changing World track with different core courses.
  • Students may begin with the Certificate and apply to transfer later to the Master's program, or vice versa.
• Scheduled course offerings (see below)
• Taking single courses before applying or matriculating (= registering for a "non-degree course")
• Application Procedures, Info, Tuition & Fees, Graduate Assistantships
• Profiles of CCT Faculty (with rooms & office hours)
• Profiles of Science in a Changing World Faculty
• The Program Coordinator is the faculty member who directs and oversees all aspects of the program, including the Science in a Changing World track. (The Program Coordinator is the same person as the Program Director or GPD = Graduate Program Director.)
• Program Ofice cct@umb.edu, Wheatley Hall, Second Floor, Room 157, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125-3393 ( Directions)

Moving along through the programs of study

• Notes for Newly Admitted Students
  • CCT Community Directory | Information Form for CCT Community Directory | Sign up to be able to use CCT and other umb.edu wikis
    
    Registering for courses | Student advising | Transfer Credit Approval Form for graduate courses taken elsewhere or at UMB before matriculating
• Resources and Assistance:
  • Graduate Assistantships | Student services (ID, online grades, email, etc.) | Facilities
• Course Descriptions, Foundation Courses, Electives, and final Required Courses (with syllabi linked to website)
• Scheduled course offerings
  • Fall 2011 | Spring 2012 | Summer 2012
  • Future offerings of courses (provisional)
• Entrance interviewwith your general advisor and other faculty members (before or soon after admission), At this time we encourage you to
  • Explore and become familiar with the resources available in the website (http://www.cct.umb.edu), handbook (http://www.cct.umb.edu/handbook.html), and wiki (http://www.cct.umb.edu)
  • Submit provisional plan , for taking courses
  • Make your own connections among ideas and experiences from different courses by starting a Reflective Practice/Metacognitive Portfolio, http://www.cct.umb.edu/rpp/
  • Participate in monthly CCT Community (aka CCT Network) activities
  • Join the social network site (email the program for details) in order to connect with alums and other members of the wider CCT community whose interests you share or are intrigued by
  • Take steps to acquire Research and Study Competencies progressively over the course of your studies
  • Make use of writing support groups, tutors, coaches, and editors so you can develop and convey your ideas strongly on paper (unless you already do).
• Academic Policies and Procedures(on leave, incompletes, etc.)
  • Program Fee must be paid for students to keep their file active in semesters when they are taking a course. You "register" for this before add/drop date; after then, submit form and check including late fee.
• Forms
• Mid-program check-in
  • Two weeks after the end of the semester in which you take their fifth course towards the CCT M.A. you should submit your Reflective Practice/Metacognitive Portfolio thus far and evidence of Research and Study Competencies you have acquired.
    • The CCT faculty will review these and meet with you to make recommendations (which may include suggesting that you put a hold on taking courses in order to finish incompletes and/or spend a semester improving writing skills and acquiring more )
  • A set of steps to prepare CCT students to complete a synthesis during their final semester(or very soon after), including
    • Options and rationale for pre-capstone courses and capstone synthesis.
    • Forms and information related to the steps involved in synthesis projects
  • The Rs of the CCT experience, to help reflect on Your Developing Practice
• Exit self-assessment
• Graduation

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Last update 6 Jan. '11