Course Description (Catalog)

Transcription

1 School of Public Service and Health Course Number: EDMG699 Course Name: Master's Capstone Seminar in Emergency and Disaster Management Credit Hours: 3 Length of Course: 16 weeks Prerequisite: Completion of the Graduate in Emergency Management program of study Course Description Course Scope Course Objectives Course Delivery Method Course Resources Evaluation Procedures Grading Scale Course Outline Policies Academic Services Selected Bibliography Course Description (Catalog) This course is available to graduate students majoring in emergency and disaster management. Students may enroll in this course or take the comprehensive examination option. This course will involve a major research paper or thesis option that demonstrates understanding of the program objectives. The research paper and thesis option will demonstrate understanding of social science research methodology. A Research Manual with explicit guidance for the research paper and thesis option will be available. Students electing this option must use this as one of the graduate electives. The student shall select their research paper or thesis option professor from designated APUS faculty. Students should confer with the professor overseeing the research paper or thesis option to determine which exit option is the best for the student s needs. Course Scope

2 EDMG699 Master's Capstone Seminar in Emergency and Disaster Management provides the student with an alternative to the traditional Graduate Comprehensive Examination. This course will involve a major research paper that demonstrates understanding of the program objectives. The paper will be pages and demonstrate understanding of social science research methodology. Students electing this option must use this as one of the graduate electives. A major portion of this seminar will deal with the ethics and procedures for research on human subjects and the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process that protects human subjects, the researcher, and the university. Submission of a master's capstone research study is the last step in a program leading to the award of an American Public University System (APUS) master's degree. Students must follow the APUS Capstone Manual (2012 edition). Students should confer with the instructor overseeing the research paper to determine if a capstone paper is the best option for the student. Because all completed capstone papers are made available for public use through the APUS Online Library, the capstone manual has been established to provide guidelines for uniformity in the physical format of the final manuscripts and reports. The regulations included in the capstone manual, however, supersede any style manual (APA Style in the case of Emergency and Disaster Management) instructions. The student s work on a master's research study carried out under the direction of an APUS instructor who supervises both intellectual content and format of the study. Students are urged to consult with their instructor early in the study process regarding both the subject and the general plan for investigation or creative activities. Designated style manuals in the department where the thesis is being conducted shall be used in all master's research studies. Students should not use master's research studies previously filed nor out-of-date APUS regulations for format examples because changes are made from time to time. Students are responsible for following the requirements in effect when their master's research study is filed. Questions that arise in the preparation of final manuscripts or reports, but which are not covered in this publication, should be discussed with your instructor. Early consultation with your instructor is particularly helpful if after you have read these regulations carefully, there are questions about special material or about the need for permission to reproduce copyrighted material to be used in your research study. Course Objectives After successfully completing this course, you will be able to

3 Apply classic problem statement, hypothesis, data collection, analysis, synthesis, conclusions, and recommendations research structure to a real, significant problem in the field of Emergency and Disaster Management. Apply a systems analysis or other comparably powerful approach approved by instructor to Disaster and Emergency Management. Relate the multidimensional impact of local, state, and federal disaster response on the economy, public systems, national and local infrastructure, and the environment. Interpret as required to support the project the myriad of political, regulatory, and legal issues surrounding disaster and emergency management. Describe and assess the National Emergency Powers. Learning Objectives: Demonstrate the qualitative and/or quantitative research skill of the student. Learn how research contributes to the disaster and emergency management body of knowledge. Course Delivery Method This course delivered via distance learning will enable students to complete academic work in a flexible manner, completely online. Course materials and access to an online learning management system will be made available to each student. Online assignments are due by Sunday evening of the week as noted and include Forum questions (accomplished in groups through a threaded forum), examination, and individual assignments submitted for review by the Faculty Member). Assigned faculty will support the students throughout this sixteen-week course. Course Resources Required Course Textbooks: None. There are no actual course readings. This is a Master s Capstone class where the student is expected to write a qualitative or quantitative research paper. Developing a bibliography and evaluating sources are key parts of this course. Refer to the Selected Bibliography area of the course syllabus for links to appropriate formatting locations. Required Readings: Student-found sources for their research.

4 Additional Resources: Students are expected to use the APA Style (Sixth Edition) guidance materials in the APUS Online Library or to obtain an official APA Manual (Sixth edition, third printing). Evaluation Procedures Reading Assignments: Not applicable Supplemental Readings: Will be evaluated for analysis and synthesis when presented as part of the literature review assignment or in other assignments; will not be graded separately. Forum Assignments: The week 1 forum will be graded on a scale of for participation, logic, grammar, spelling, and length. It will also be graded for responsiveness to other students forum posts. There are no other forums in EDMG699. Homework Assignments: The homework assignments represent progressive steps towards a complete draft paper. Assignments 1, 2, and 3 will be returned without a grade for revision and resubmission if unacceptable. Assignments 4 through the draft paper will be graded on a scale of for logic, clarity, writing, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and APA formatting. At the instructor s discretion, the student may be asked to revise and resubmit any of these assignments. Exams/Quizzes: Not applicable Field Experience Assignments: Not applicable Final Project: The final project will be graded on a scale of for logic, clarity, writing, grammar, punctuation, spelling, APA formatting, and conformity to the library s requirements in the APUS Capstone Manual (Chapter II, Chapter VI, and appendices). At the instructor s discretion, the student may be asked to revise and resubmit any of these assignments. Item Maximum Score % of course grade Week 1 Forum Introduce 100 1% Yourself Prospectus % Not Research on Human Subjects form OR IRB application %

5 Outline/Mind Map % Annotated Bibliography % Research Hypothesis % Literature Review % Research Methodology % Rough Draft % Final Paper % TOTAL 100% 16 Week Course Outline Please see the Student Handbook to reference the University s grading scale. Weeks Topic(s) Milestones Week 1 - Introduction forum Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Research Paper Prospectus Institutional Review Board (IRB) Institutional Review Board (IRB) See Appendix 1 of the Capstone Manual for the required format for your prospectus. Submit Prospectus by the end of Week 1. The prospectus should include your specific topic, your main intended research method(s), and your proposed research hypothesis(es), and if appropriate, research questions. Your instructor may respond with advice to modify, refine, or narrow these items to facilitate a successful research project. Read APUS Institutional Review Board (IRB) materials (located in Resources). Submit Not Research on Human Subjects form OR Submit draft Institutional Review Board (IRB) Application by the end of Week 2. Submit **COMPLETED** Institutional Review Board (IRB) Application by the end of Week 3. You may not do any data collection beyond library research until you have

6 the instructor s approval of your IRB application. In rare cases, the instructor may choose to submit the application to the university s IRB. Week 4 Research Paper Outline Submit Outline or Mind Map by the end of Week 4 for instructor s review and approval. Week 5 Annotated Bibliography Submit Annotated Bibliography by the end of Week 7. Think of the annotated bibliography as your reading notes. It will not be attached as a whole to your final paper but you will almost certainly use passages from it when you write your final paper, especially the introduction and methodology sections. Week 6 Research Paper Hypothesis Submit final Research Hypothesis and/or Problem Statement by the end of Week 6. Week 7 Week 8 Literature Review Methodology Submit Literature Review by end of Week 7. Your literature review will become part of your final paper. Submit complete written section Research Methodology by the end of Week 8. It should include your discussion of how you will collect and analyze your data. Week 9 Instrumentation and Measurements Submit draft Survey Instrument (if any) by end of Week 9. This may be an interview script, questionnaire, survey form, or other structured tool for collecting data. This item is for the instructor s review but not for grading. Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Rough Draft Rough Draft Rough Draft Work on rough draft of complete paper. You may submit your rough draft at any time during weeks 10, 11, or 12. You must submit a rough draft for the instructor s review and comment. Work on rough draft of complete paper. You may submit your rough draft at any time during weeks 10, 11, or 12. You must submit a rough draft for the instructor s review and comment. Submit complete rough draft by the end of Week 12.

7 Week 13 Final Paper Work on Final Paper. Week 14 Final Paper Submit FINAL PAPER by the end of Week 14. Week 15 Final Paper Revise and resubmit as required by instructor. End of week 16 Absolute deadline for acceptance of paper Obtain written approval or rejection of final paper. Policies Please see the Student Handbook to reference all University policies. Quick links to frequently asked question about policies are listed below. Drop/Withdrawal Policy Plagiarism Policy Extension Process and Policy Disability Accommodations Writing Expectations Writing of professional quality is expected; correct punctuation and spelling and proper grammar are required. The research paper must be submitted as a Word (.docx or.doc) file; PowerPoints and other presentation formats are not allowed. Citation and Reference Style Attention Please: Students will follow the APA Style (Sixth Edition) as the sole citation and reference style used in written work submitted as part of coursework to the University. Assignments completed in a narrative essay or composition format must follow the citation style cited in the syllabus. Written work includes all forums and assignments in this course.

8 Late Assignments Students are expected to submit classroom assignments by the posted due date and to complete the course according to the published class schedule. As adults, students, and working professionals, I understand you must manage competing demands on your time. Should you need additional time to complete an assignment, please contact me before the due date so we can discuss the situation and determine an acceptable resolution. Routine submission of late assignments is unacceptable and may result in points deducted from your final course grade. Netiquette Online universities promote the advancement of knowledge through positive and constructive debate both inside and outside the classroom. Forums on the Internet, however, can occasionally degenerate into needless insults and flaming. Such activity and the loss of good manners are not acceptable in a university setting basic academic rules of good behavior and proper Netiquette must persist. Remember that you are in a place for the rewards and excitement of learning which does not include descent to personal attacks or student attempts to stifle the Forum of others. Technology Limitations: While you should feel free to explore the full-range of creative composition in your formal papers, keep layouts simple. The Sakai classroom may not fully support MIME or HTML encoded messages, which means that bold face, italics, underlining, and a variety of color-coding or other visual effects will not translate in your messages. Humor Note: Despite the best of intentions, jokes and especially satire can easily get lost or taken seriously. If you feel the need for humor, you may wish to add emoticons to help alert your readers: ;-), : ), Disclaimer Statement Course content may vary from the outline to meet the needs of this particular group. Online Library The Online Library is available to enrolled students and faculty from inside the electronic campus. This is your starting point for access to online books, subscription periodicals, and Web resources that are designed to support your classes and generally not available through search engines on the open Web. In addition, the Online Library provides access to special learning resources, which the University has contracted to assist with your studies. Questions can be directed to librarian@apus.edu.

9 Charles Town Library and Inter Library Loan: The University maintains a special library with a limited number of supporting volumes, collection of our professors publication, and services to search and borrow research books and articles from other libraries. Electronic Books: You can use the online library to uncover and download over 50,000 titles, which have been scanned and made available in electronic format. Electronic Journals: The University provides access to over 12,000 journals, which are available in electronic form and only through limited subscription services. Tutor.com: AMU and APU Civilian & Coast Guard students are eligible for 10 free hours of tutoring provided by APUS. Tutor.com connects you with a professional tutor online 24/7 to provide help with assignments, studying, test prep, resume writing, and more. Tutor.com is tutoring the way it was meant to be. You get expert tutoring whenever you need help, and you work one-to-one with your tutor in your online classroom on your specific problem until it is done. Request a Library Guide for your course ( The AMU/APU Library Guides provide access to collections of trusted sites on the Open Web and licensed resources on the Deep Web. The following are specially tailored for academic research at APUS: Program Portals contain topical and methodological resources to help launch general research in the degree program. To locate, search by department name, or navigate by school. Course Lib-Guides narrow the focus to relevant resources for the corresponding course. To locate, search by class code (e.g., SOCI111), or class name. If a guide you need is not available yet, please the APUS Library: librarian@apus.edu. Turnitin.com Faculty may require assignments be submitted to Turnitin.com. Turnitin.com will analyze a paper and report instances of potential plagiarism for the student to edit before submitting it for a grade. In some cases professors may require students to use Turnitin.com. Typically the course professor will establish a Turnitin.com access code for his/her classes. If the code has not been established, those who wish to use Turnitin.com may ask their professor to establish the code. In EDMG699, students are REQUIRED to submit a Turnitin.com originality report with the final paper. Students are encouraged to use Turnitin on the draft paper to check their paraphrasing

10 and citations. The Turnitin course ID number and password appear near the top of the course home page in the classroom.