Negotiating Graduate School: A Guide for Graduate Students

Negotiating Graduate School, Second Edition provides realistic answers to the questions and concerns most often raised by students in graduate school. Incorporating three decades of personal experience working with master′s and doctoral candidates, Rossman addresses such critical issues as the research proposal, forming a committee, preparing for comprehensive written and oral exams, avoiding emotional letdowns, defending the thesis or dissertation, and publishing a dissertation. In addition to addressing the needs of graduate students in traditional settings, this revised edition includes new information responding to the concerns of graduate students in online or distance education programs. In addition, it contains many new URLs and reflects the influence of the Internet on graduate education.

Dr. Mark H. Rossman has been advising graduate students for his entire academic career of more than 30 years. He is Senior Faculty at Capella University and has served Capella University as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Associate Vice President for Residencies. He was Professor and former Chair of Education at Walden University and National Specialization Lecturer and Dissertation Advisor at Nova Southeastern University. He has been Professor of Education and Director of Graduate Studies at Ottawa University, Associate Professor of Adult Learning and Head of the Department of Higher & Adult Education at Arizona State University, and Assistant Professor and Head of Adult Education at the University of Massachusetts. He has chaired doctoral dissertation committees and master′s thesis committees for more than 150 graduates and has served on 300+ graduate committees. His graduates have received recognition for outstanding dissertations at Capella University, Nova Southeastern University and Walden University. He has received two awards as an outstanding dissertation advisor. Among his other honors and awards are the Distinguished Service Award from the Commission on Adult Basic Education, a Certificate of Commendation from the Mountain Plains Adult Education Association, a Fellowship from the Salzburg Seminar in American Studies, recognition as a Visiting Scholar from the University of Kent in Canterbury, England, and a Master of Humane Letters honorary degree. He is the author or coauthor of 8 books, 10 evaluative reports, and 40 chapters or articles. He has produced one film, nine self-contained instructional modules, and two audiovisual tape curriculum units. He has served on the editorial boards of four professional associations and has presented 77 papers in 12 states and seven foreign countries.