Critical & Creative Thinking Program
Student Handbook

Table of Contents

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," "science in a changing world," "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.
  • 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
  • Students may begin with the certificate and apply to transfer later to the Master's program, or vice versa.
• Taking single courses before applying or matriculating (= registering for a "non-degree course")
• Application Procedures, Info, Tuition & Fees
• Resources and Assistance:
  • Graduate Assistantships | Student services (ID, online grades, email, etc.) | Facilities
• Notes for Newly Admitted Students
  • CCT Community Directory | Information Form for CCT Community Directory | Registering for courses | Student advising | Transfer Credit Approval Form for graduate courses taken elsewhere or at UMB before matriculating
• Profiles of CCT Faculty (with rooms & office hours)
  
• The Program Coordinator is the faculty member who directs and oversees all aspects of the program. (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 143-09, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125-3393 ( Directions)
  

Moving along through the programs of study

• Course planning, including worksheet for students to submit.
• Course Descriptions, Foundation Courses, Electives, and final Required Courses (with syllabi linked to website)
• Scheduled course offerings
  • Winter/Spring 2009 | Summer 2009 | Fall 2009
    
  • Future offerings of courses (provisional)
• A set of steps to prepare CCT students to complete a synthesis during their final semester (or very soon after)
• Research and Study Competencies to develop before the final Required Courses
• 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. Program coordinator "registers" you for this before add/drop date; afetr then, submit form and check including late fee.
• Options and rationale for pre-capstone courses and capstone synthesis.
• Forms and information related to the steps involved in synthesis projects
• Graduation
• Reflecting on Your Developing Practice (during the program and at the end)
  • The Rs of the CCT experience
  • Exit self-assessment
• Forms