Doctoral Degrees at Cal State

Contrary to your editorial (Nov. 21), “New Standards on Campus,” the California State University should be allowed to offer doctoral degrees in areas of demonstrated need.

The University of California opposes the plan only because doctoral studies have been the exclusive domain of UC and the university fears competition and duplication from the California State University. The apprehension is unwarranted.

The CSU is fully capable of offering doctoral programs. In fact, San Diego State University has been offering joint doctoral degrees for several years.

Secondly, allowing the CSU to offer doctoral degrees in areas of demonstrated need is fiscally sound.

For example, in San Diego County there is demonstrated need for a doctoral program in educational administration. Currently, San Diego educators desiring such an advanced degree cannot pursue it because no program exists in the local area.

San Diego State, however, has an already established and recognized graduate program in education. The university could feasibly develop such a doctoral program to meet the needs of these educators.

Allowing San Diego State to establish a program would be educationally and fiscally sound. It would be fiscally unwise, however, for taxpayers to invest millions in the University of California at San Diego to develop and duplicate an education program already in existence 20 minutes away.

The University of California and the Legislature, in reexamining the Master Plan for Higher Education, should allow the CSU to offer doctoral degrees in areas where there a “demonstrated need.”

ROBERT DeKOVEN

La Jolla