EDC 505 : Seminar in the Preparation of Master's Thesis and Project Fall 1999
California State University, Sacramento
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Catalog Description:This seminar is designed to extend research knowledge. provides direction, library/professional counseling resources, exposure to sample theses/projects using APA style. Reviews research methodology and a review of the literature from the counseling perspective.
Course Objectives:
The overall goal for this course is the successful completion of Chapters 1 and 2 of the thesis/project, including the Reference section.
KNOWLEDGE OBJECTIVES:
1) Know the primary components of technical/scholarly writing and understand the differences between scholarly writing style and literary writing.
2) Understand the distinctions between thesis and project, and determine which format is most appropriate for the study you wish to pursue.
3) Be able to identify and distinguish between quantitative and qualitative research methods.
4) Understand the importance of research in furthering the field of counseling.
SKILL OBJECTIVES:
1) Identify and appropriate topic for study.
2) Develop the introductory chapter.
3) Define the parameters of the study and conduct a thorough literature review.
4) Formulate the research question(s).
5) Select and explain appropriate methodology and research design.
6) Articulate rationale for choices and procedures.
7) Demonstrate the ability to conceptualize, organize, and write in APA style.
ATTITUDE OBJECTIVES:
1) Attain comfort with reading, discussing, and critiquing scholarly readings and research.
2) Gain an appreciation of counseling research and its importance in furthering our understanding of human beings and the change process.
WEEK ONE
INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW; DISTINCTION BETWEEN THESIS AND PROJECT, HOW TO DEVELOP TOPICS FOR RESEARCH, QUALITATIVE VS. QUANTITATIVE METHODS
WEEK TWO
SCHOLARLY AND TECHNICAL WRITING SYTLE: HOW IT DIFFERS AND WHY. HOW TO LEARN TO DO IT.
WEEK THREE
MEET WITH INSTRUCTOR RE: POSSIBLE TOPICS. BRING WRITTEN ABSTRACT OF PROPOSED TOPIC WHICH INCLUDES PURPOSE, STATEMENT OF PROBLEM .
WEEK FOUR
LIBRARY ASSIGNMENT: SELECT TWO RECENTLY COMPLETED THESES OR PROJECTS. READ WITH AN EYE TOWARDS FORMAT, CHAPTER ORGANIZATION, APA STYLE.
WEEK FIVE
MEET WITH INSTRUCTOR RE: REVISED AND REFINED TOPIC.
WEEK SIX
READ ON COURSE WEBSITE MATERIALS ON "HOW TO DO A LITERATURE REVIEW" BEGIN YOURS!!!
WEEK SEVEN
PREPARE TWO PAGE OUTLINE SUMMARIZING CONTENT AREAS TO BE INCLUDED IN LIT REVIEW. BRING TO INSTRUCTOR FOR FEEDBACK
WEEK EIGHT
PROCEED WITH LIT REVIEW. FOCUS ON PROFESSIONAL JOURNALS FOR RESEARCH INFORMATION.
WEEK NINE
BRING FIRST DRAFT OF COMPLETED LIT REVIEW TO INSTRUCTOR. MINIMUM OF 15 PAGES, WRITTEN IN APA FORMAT.
WEEK TEN
REFINING THE LIT REVIEW. BASED UPON FEEDBACK AND CRITIQUE, REWORK AND POLISH CHAPTER 2.
WEEK ELEVEN
MOVING "BACKWARDS" TO CHAPTER 1. READ MATERIAL ON WRITING CHAPTER 1 ON COURSE WEBSITE. BEGIN APPLYING YOUR SELECTED TOPIC TO CHAPTER 1 OUTLINE.
WEEK TWELVE
BRING INITIAL DRAFT OF CH 1 TO INSTRUCTOR FOR FEEDBACK
WEEK THIRTEEN
FOCUS ON METHODOLOGY. READ APPROPRIATE INFORMATION ON WEB. CONTINUE REFINING CHAPTER 1.
WEEK FOURTEEN
MEET WITH INSTRUCTOR ON METHODOLOGY. TURN IN FINAL REVISION OF CHAPTER 2.
WEEK FIFTEEN
WRITING DEFINITION OF TERMS; REFERENCE SECTION; ABSTRACTS
WEEK SIXTEEN
FINAL MEETING WITH INSTRUCTOR. COMPLETE DRAFT DUE.
Grades
A grade of SP (Satisfactory Progress) will be assigned when the student completes and receives approval for Chapters 1 and 2. By University regulation, Incompletes (I) cannot be given for this course. Students who do not satisfactorily complete the first two chapters will receive No Credit (NC) for the course and will be required to repeat EDC 505 prior to moving on to EDC 550/551.
During the second semester of work (550/551) students will be assigned to an individual faculty advisor to continue towards completion of the theis/project. Once students have received final approval for their work, the student's transcript will be changed to reflect a Credit (CR) for 505; a grade of Credit (CR) will also be given for 550/551. Because the Graduate School will allow no more than six units of credit to be assigned for thesis/project, any student not completing within the two semester time frame will be required to register for Special Problems (EDC 299) each semester until completion.
Reading Materials
Required: (also used in EDC 550/551)
American Psychological Association (1995). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (Fourth ed.). Washington DC: Author.
CSUS Graduate Center (1998). Guide for Thesis/Project. Sacramento, CA: California State University, Sacramento (you may elect to copy this from web: www.csus.edu/rgs/gradstud/gradctr.html)
Department of Educational Administration (1998). Thesis/Project Guide. Sacramento, CA: California State University, Sacramento.
You can purchase books through the Hornet Bookstore. Check their Distance and Distributed Learning page at http://www.bookstore.csus.edu/bookstore/distance/ for ordering information.
Other Materials
Each student needs an Internet account and access to a machine with a Web browser. Basic e-mail, netiquette, and file management skills are helpful.
Students will need an electronic mail account and computer access to the Web. All CSUS students enrolled in one or more units can create a SacLink account for electronic mail and Internet services. Although a home computer with a high speed modem running Netscape or Internet Explorer would be beneficial, students can use the Web from one of the campus student labs.
Computing RecommendationsYou should be comfortable using a computer and willing to browse the Web. This class requires online class participation on the Web assignments and electronic discussions.
You need:
- Macintosh compatible with System 7.1 or higher or Windows compatible Pentium Windows NT, or Windows 95.
- 16MB of RAM, preferably 32MB
- 19.6K or faster modem - preferably 28.8K
- Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape 3.0 (or higher)
- SacLink or other Internet Account
- Word processing skills
Students need an electronic mail account and computer access to the Web. All CSUS students enrolled in one or more units can create a SacLink account for electronic mail and Internet services. Although a home computer with a high speed modem running Netscape or Internet Explorer would be beneficial, students can use the Web from one of the campus student labs.
The online component of EDC 505 is being delivered via the Web-based course management system, WebCT. Your course environment is a closed, secure environment. Your class is only accessible to registered students, the instructor, and the WebCT administrator.You have been assigned a login ID and an initial password. Once you have successfully logged into EDC 505, Seminar in Preparation of Thesis/Project, you should use the WebCT password tool and change your password.
To access WebCT:
- Open your Web browser software -- Netscape or Internet Explorer.
- Type the URL http://www.courses.csus.edu:8900
- Select Course Listing
- Select Enter Your Course Category
- Enter your last name in ALL CAPITAL letters for your login ID.
- Enter the last four digits of your social security number as the initial password.
Note: You should change your password from the Student Tools" selection on the course homepage. Link to the "Contents" section for further information on WebCT.
OVERVIEW / INSTRUCTOR /RESOURCES
DEPARTMENT / CSUS
Page updated: June 22, 1999