FAQs and Site Help
What prerequisites are required to enroll?
To qualify for admissions at CCNH you must have a high school diploma, G.E.D., or the equivalent. Click here to view prerequisites specific to each program. Scroll to your program(s) of interest.
How do I complete a program with you? Do I need a computer or a proctor? Do I have to come there to complete my program?
Some courses will require that a proctor be present.
Courses are to be completed within a 16 week term. A computer is highly recommended but not required. CCNH offers a unique combination of focus, structure, support, flexibility, and communication. Although you will work independently, you will have an assigned program advisor that can assist you when questions arise. Click here to learn more about distance education.
If I have previous college education, will it transfer to CCNH?
If you have prior college education, you may be able to transfer some of your credits to CCNH. Click here for more information about transferring credits.
How can I be sure I am receiving a quality education with CCNH?
Clayton College has been awarded the Quality Standards Certification by the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), the nation’s premier distance learning professional association. USDLA/QS certification is “a standards based program that recognizes excellence across a range of distance learning settings,” according to Dr. John Flores, USDLA Chief Executive Officer. Clayton College is certified as an Alternative and Continuing Education provider under the Quality Standards program.
The National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP) has approved graduates of the CCNH Master of Science in Holistic Nutrition program for eligibility to apply for a national board credential and to become registered with the organization. The International Organization of Nutritional Consultants has approved the CCNH Master of Science in Holistic Nutrition. Because the International Iridology Practitioners Association (IIPA) has approved the Clayton College iridology program, graduates of the CCNH program (who are current members of IIPA) are immediately eligible to take the IIPA certification examination. Upon successfully passing the exam, they can use the designation CCI and “Certified Comprehensive Iridologist.”
Additionally, CCNH holds membership in numerous natural health and holistic nutrition related professional organizations and is also licensed by the Alabama Department of Post-Secondary Education.
What are the laws in my state? How do I practice? Do I need a license?
Students are responsible for determining the legal issues involved in conducting a natural health practice in his or her state. The laws differ in each state or locality and our policy is to not offer detailed legal information. An excellent resource for learning more about state laws and the practice of natural health or holistic nutrition is the Coalition for Natural Health.
Will I qualify to become credentialed with any professional organizations? Which ones?
Clayton College programs provide graduates with the eligibility to seek certification or other professional credentials from a number of national organizations. Click here for more information.
How can I subscribe to Clayton College e-mails?
Check out the Subscription Center to select from the list of Clayton College e-mails that are available to you. Trouble receiving e-mail is sometimes due to e-mail security settings. Please check your settings to make sure you are able to receive mail from the college’s following addresses: webmaster@ccnh.edu and webct@ccnh.edu. Adding these addresses to the Address Book or Contacts section is recommended.
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Who will help me if I need assistance during my studies?
You will be assigned a program advisor who will assist you throughout your term and will be your contact person should any questions arise. You will be able to view graded assignments and print grade reports or unofficial transcripts from the CCNH Web site.
Where will I order my books?
You will order and purchase your textbooks and course study guides from our educational partner, ED MAP. ED MAP offers excellent customer service and reasonable prices in a secure online environment.
What kind of services will I have when I become a student?
Services that are available to students include live weekly chats with academic staff or guest speakers, and online testing. Students also have access to MyCCNH — a place to check grades, access ED MAP, print grade reports, update directory information, e-mail program advisors, and control e-mail subscriptions.
One of many student services is the access to the Natural Standard© database. This is an international research collaboration that synthesizes data on complementary and alternative therapies. It uses a comprehensive methodology and reproducible grading scales to offer research information that is evidence-based, consensus-based, and peer-reviewed. The best way to learn more about Natural Standard© and to get an idea of what to expect is to visit their Web site and view the demo. GO to: www.naturalstandard.com and click on the link to the left that reads Demo.
What is a dissertation?
A EdD dissertation is a formal, written report of a research effort. It presents objective, rational documentation in support of a particular idea, argument, or perspective on a problem or issue worthy of research. Graduate students are required to develop an original idea about a topic, justify the need and significance of the research, and provide sufficient documentation from the research and theoretical literature to support the premise. The term “original” indicates that the idea, research, and development of the problem must be the student’s own work, although it may build on the ideas and research of others. Standard scientific research design allows for collection of quantifiable data through experimentation, surveys, interviews, or other accepted research methods. Other methods of research allow for “philosophical or theoretical research”, such as historical, evaluative, or social action perspectives.
Students should thoroughly review the Research and Dissertation Guidelines, which are part of the research coursework, for detailed information.
A dissertation must show ability to conduct independent research and skill in organization. The writing of the dissertation is developed through a series of Capstone courses. This series of courses provides the process of writing a prospectus in which the intended topic, the research problem, and the type of research are described. The continuation and expansion of the prospectus from CAP 797 into the complete proposal becomes the first three chapters of the dissertation for CAP 798. These courses must be submitted for approval before implementing the research design. CAP 799 includes the culmination of the dissertation and its defense.
How do I choose a topic?
A sample list of completed Dissertation Topics and Dissertation Abstracts is available to enrolled students on the CCNH website. This includes recent dissertation topics completed by students, and approved by the dissertation committee as the final step toward graduation from the Ed.D. program. This is not an all-inclusive list; it is designed to trigger the student’s thought process. Another way to determine a topic is to think through coursework already completed, considering which areas were the most enjoyable and meaningful. Another way to approach the choice of a topic is to identify areas which have obvious gaps in the body of knowledge and need additional research.
How long should the dissertation be?
A minimum of 75 pages.
Who do I contact for dissertation questions?
Janice Martin, Professor of Doctoral Research, is available by phone or e-mail to answer questions.
When do I begin the dissertation process?
After completing all pre-requisites, phase I, and phase II core curriculum courses, Ed.D. students may begin the dissertation research process. Specified research courses at the end of Phase II are designed to begin assisting students in the initial steps of the research process. These beginning steps include choosing and finalizing a topic, searching the literature, and presenting references in APA style. The coursework in the Research and Dissertation Guidelines CAP 797, CAP 798, and CAP 799, provide information, support, and instruction to walk student researchers step-by-step through the research and writing of the dissertation.
Where do I find research material and sources?
There are several valid research links available from the CCNH website in the Library Resources, in addition to numerous journals and books at local libraries. As long as validity can be established, both hard copy and internet research are acceptable. There are, however, special considerations in using internet research. These considerations and issues are covered in CCNH research coursework.
Are CCNH graduates’ dissertations ever published?
CCNH does not routinely publish student dissertations. With written permission of the student, some dissertation abstracts may be placed on the CCNH website. In addition, exceptional dissertations may be placed on the website, again with written permission of the student, to serve as examples of excellent research and writing. Students may independently seek publication of the dissertation on their own.
Do I own the rights to my dissertation?
CCNH considers student research and reports, including doctoral dissertations, to be the property of the student. As such, all intellectual property rights, including but not limited to, copyright interests in and to the student research and reports, shall be vested in the student. Should CCNH wish to publish or otherwise use student research and reports or a portion thereof, it will do so only after obtaining written permission from the student.
The students area of the Web site won’t accept what I think is my username and password. I am getting an “Invalid username or password” message. What should I do?
Only students and graduates have access to the password protected areas of the Web site. If you are getting this message, you will need to e-mail the Webmaster as advised. Be sure to include your name and student ID number in the email. In return, the Webmaster will send you an e-mail with your login information or a login creation e-mail. A note about mail accounts: Occasionally, AOL users have trouble receiving mail due to security settings. Please check your settings to make sure you are able to receive mail from the college’s following addresses: webct@ccnh.edu, jphillips@ccnh.edu, register@ccnh.edu, ccnhtextbooks@ccnh.edu, webmaster@ccnh.edu, cyber@ccnh.edu, and dch@drclaytons.com. Hotmail and Yahoo both offer junk mail protection. If you use one of these services, please be sure to add the above addresses to your acceptable contacts list so you can receive mail from CCNH.
**Please Note: CCNH is not responsible for troubleshooting non www.ccnh.edu Web or Internet problems in Firefox, Internet Explorer, AOL or other applications.**
I am having trouble accessing, browsing, and/or completing a form on the CCNH Web site. What do I do?
If the previous solutions do not correct the problem that you are having, please e-mail the Webmaster. Be sure to include your name, student ID number, operating system, and Web browser in the e-mail.
I have stopped receiving e-mail from CCNH. How can I receive them again?
Check the Subscription Center to ensure that you have elected to receive e-mails that are provided by CCNH. Trouble receiving mail is sometimes due to e-mail security settings. Please check your settings to make sure you are able to receive mail from the college’s following addresses: webmaster@ccnh.edu, and dch@drclaytons.com. Adding these addresses to the Address Book or Contacts section is recommended.
What is cache and how do I “dump” it?
Pronounced cash, it is a special high-speed storage mechanism. It can be either a reserved section of main memory or an independent high-speed storage device. Memory caching is effective because most programs (including browsers like Internet Explorer) access the same data or instructions over and over. By keeping as much of this information as possible, the computer can access Web pages and applications more quickly. It is essential to dump your cache periodically so you can always access the most recent version of a Web page. To empty cache:
What are cookies and why do I need to accept them?
A cookie is essentially a message given to a Web browser by a Web server. The browser stores the message in a text file. The message is then sent back to the server each time the browser requests a page from the server. The main purpose of cookies is to identify users and possibly prepare customized Web pages for them. The next time you go to the same Web site, your browser will send the cookie to the Web server. The server can use this information to present you with custom Web pages, such as MY CCNH. The process for changing cookies settings varies from browser to browser. In most cases you will need to access the menu via Tools › Options, or Edit › Preferences. If you need more help setting up cookies, please use the browser’s help to learn more about performing this simple task.
What browsers will optimize this Web site?
The CCNH Web site is best viewed with Firefox or Internet Explorer 7.0 — the most recent Internet Explorer browser. Both are free to download and easy to install, and both will greatly enhance your overall Internet experience (especially the Firefox browser — it is fast, safe, and easy to use). Also, both browsers allow for easy updating and importing of bookmarks/favorites.
In order to continue to improve our site and the services we offer, we have had to begin using some technologies that older browsers such as IE 6.0 cannot process.
I use the Internet Explorer version 6 browser, and when I go to the CCNH Web site, I can’t see the left side of the screen. What is wrong?
The issue you have noticed is caused by Internet Explorer version 6. To resolve this issue, upgrade to Internet Explorer 7. If you are unable to upgrade Internet Explorer, you can install Mozilla Firefox and then use Firefox to log onto www.ccnh.edu.
How do I create a zip file?
Using a PC
To create a new Zip file, open WinZip in the WinZip Wizard mode. (If the WinZip Wizard does not open by default, just click the Wizard button in the toolbar.) You will be asked “What do you want to do?” Simply select “Create a new Zip file” and click Next. The WinZip Wizard will guide you through the entire process.
When you become more familiar with Zip file operations, you can also try the WinZip Classic interface. The Classic interface offers many advanced features that are not available in the WinZip Wizard. Using the Classic interface, you can split large Zip files into smaller parts to overcome e-mail and other size limits; view, extract, and run individual files in a Zip file; remove files from an existing Zip file; encrypt your confidential files so that they can’t be used without a password; and much more. To try the Classic interface, simply click the WinZip Classic button in the WinZip Wizard. Extensive program help is available for every aspect of WinZip Classic operation.
Using a Mac (OSX)
To create a compressed file, either Control-click on the file and choose Create Archive (which is Apple-speak for “make a compressed ZIP file”). Or you can click on a file, then go to the Action menu (the button that looks like a gear up in the Finder window’s toolbar), and choose Create Archive from there. Either way, it quickly creates a new file, with the file extension “.zip.” This is the compressed file.
You can also compress several different files (like three, for example) into one single archive file — just Command-click (or Shift-click contiguous files) on all the files you want included, then choose Create Archive of X Items from the Action menu. A file will be created named “Archive.zip” (that’s it!).
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