Syllabus

Doctorate in Social Work

DSW 820 – Doctoral Proposal Building and Defense

Credits - 3

Description

This course is designed to guide doctoral candidates through the essential processes of developing, refining, and defending their research project proposals. Students will engage in a comprehensive exploration of proposal writing, focusing on critical components such as problem statement formulation, literature review synthesis, research design, methodology selection, and ethical considerations. In addition to proposal development, the course will prepare students for the defense process. Participants will practice presenting their proposals, receiving constructive feedback from peers and faculty, and honing their skills in responding to inquiries and challenges during defense sessions.By the end of the course, students will have a well-crafted doctoral project proposal and the confidence to defend their work, positioning them for success in their doctoral journey and future academic endeavors.

Materials

Textbooks from previous courses:

DeCarlo, M., Cummings, C., & Agnelli, K. (2021). Graduate research methods in social work: A project-based approach. Open Social Work Education.

Machi, L.A. & McEvoy, B.T. (2026). The literature review: Six steps to success. (5th ed.). Sage Publications.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Core Skills and Expertise

Upon completion of this course, scholar-practitioners will:

  1. Advance practice through innovative approaches (Core Expertise & Skill 1)
  2. Use and critically evaluate research and knowledge (Core Expertise & Skill 2)
  3. Engage in scientific inquiry that reflects doctoral-level scholarship (Core Expertise & Skill 3)
  4. Develop practice-informed, research-informed knowledge through a variety of channels, such as professional presentations (Core Expertise & Skill 4)
  5. Provide leadership in social work practice and/or education (Core Expertise & Skill 5)
  6. Develop and maintain substantive expertise in one or more areas of social work practice (Core Expertise & Skill 6)

Assignments

Discussions 

  • Discussions include introductions, an article summary, and opportunities to ask questions and support other scholar-practitioners.

Research Project Timelines

  • Timelines with tasks and goal deadlines assist with project management in Weeks 1 and 16

Research Proposal Template

  • Weekly assignments build the Research Proposal Template to include: Problem Statement and Scope, Literature Review, Research Design, Research Methodology, Ethical Considerations, and a Conclusion. Each assignment must achieve a “Met” on the assignment rubric to move to the next template section. 

Bulleted References List

  • A Reference list of 5-10 sources with one to two bulleted sentences connects each source to the final doctoral project.

Updated Ethical Considerations 

  • Review and update the Reflexivity Statement and Ethical Considerations written in DSW 811. 

Research Proposal Presentation 

  • A Research Proposal Presentation Draft of up to 15 slides is submitted for advisor review and then used for the proposal defense in Week 12.

Final, Revised Research Proposal (template)

  • All Research Proposal sections are revised based on feedback and proofread before submission.

Research Proposal Defense

  • The proposal defense presentation is a demonstration of readiness to engage in research as a principle researcher. Committee members will evaluate the scholar practitioner’s expertise and skills along with the key research areas. 

IRB Packet Assignment

  • This assignment includes an IRB application from the UNE IRB forms webpage, a CV copy, and a copy of the CITI Training Certification from DSW 810.

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Grade ItemPoints
Acknowledgment of Academic Engagement1
Week 1 Discussion3
Week 1 Task List and Timeline2
Week 2 Problem Statement and Scope3
Week 3 Discussion: Article Summary3
Week 4 Literature Review3
Week 5 Research Question Review3
Week 6 Sampling and Recruitment Strategies3
Week 7 Research Methodology3
Week 8 Updated Ethical Considerations writing piece2
Week 8 Updated Ethical Considerations on proposal template3
Week 9 Final, Revised Research Proposal (template)25
Week 10 Research Proposal Defense Presentation Draft7
Week 12 Research Proposal Defense 25
Week 14 IRB Application Packet10
Week 16 Research Project Timeline3
Total100

Grade Scale

Grade Points Grade Point Average (GPA)
A 94 – 100% 4.00
A- 90 – 93% 3.75
B+ 87 – 89% 3.50
B 84 – 86% 3.00
B- 80 – 83% 2.75
C+ 77 – 79% 2.50
C 74 – 76% 2.00
C- 70 – 73% 1.75
D 64 – 69% 1.00
F 00 – 63% 0.00

Schedule

Course Dates: January 14 – May 8, 2026

Course weeks run from 12:00 AM ET on Monday through 11:59 PM ET on Sunday, with the exception of Week 1, which starts on Wednesday and week 16, which ends on Friday.

Week 1: Wednesday – Sunday
Week 2: Monday – Sunday
Week 3: Monday – Sunday
Week 4: Monday – Sunday
Week 5: Monday – Sunday
Week 6: Monday – Sunday
Week 7: Monday – Sunday
Week 8: Monday – Sunday
Spring Break Week Monday – Sunday
Week 9: Monday – Sunday
Week 10: Monday – Sunday
Week 11: Monday – Sunday
Week 12: Monday – Sunday
Week 13: Monday – Sunday
Week 14: Monday – Sunday
Week 15: Monday – Sunday
Week 16: Monday – Friday

Week 1: Introduction to the DWS Research Proposal and Expectations

  • Acknowledgment of Academic Engagement
  • Discussion: Introductions
  • Research Proposal Timeline
  • Share Your Research Proposal template

Week 2: Identifying a Practice Problem and Defining Its Scope

  • Discussion: Sharing of proposal Problem Statement and Scope (optional)
  • Problem Statement and Scope are added to Research Proposal template

Week 3: Conducting a Comprehensive Literature Review

  • Discussion: Article Summary
  • Discussion: Get Help, Give Help (optional)
  • Bulleted Reference List

Week 4: Continuing Work on the Literature Review

  • Literature Review is added to the Research Proposal template

Week 5: Finalizing the Research Question

  • Research Question Review

Week 6: Research Design: Sampling and Recruitment Strategies

  • Discussion: Questions on sampling and recruitment strategies (optional)
  • Sampling and Recruitment Strategies are added to the Research Proposal template

Week 7: Research Methodology

  • Discussion: Get Help, Give Help (optional)
  • Research Methodology is added to the Research Proposal template

Week 8: Ethical Considerations

  • Updated Ethical Considerations writing piece
  • Revised Ethical Considerations is added to the Research Proposal Template

Week 9: Putting the Pieces Together: Writing Your Proposal

  • Final, Revised Research Proposal (template)

Week 10: Preparing for Your Proposal Defense

  • Research Proposal Presentation Draft
  • Schedule defense date

Week 11: Practicing Your Proposal Defense

  • Preparation for the Research Proposal Defense 
  • No submissions this week.

Week 12: Defend Your Research Proposal

  • Submit revised Research Proposal Presentation prior to defense date
  • Research Proposal Defense

Week 13: Begin IRB Application

  • IRB Research Summary

Week 14: Finalize and Submit IRB Application

  • Submit all required elements of the IRB application

Week 15: Next Steps

  • Discussion (optional): Managing the DSW Project

Week 16: Developing a Project Timeline

  • Discussion (optional): Research Management
  • Research Project Timeline

Student Resources

Online Student Support

Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.

Questions? Visit the Student Support Social Work page

UNE Libraries:

Information Technology Services (ITS)

ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673

Accommodations

Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.

Online Peer Support

Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.

ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.

Career Ready Program

The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!

The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.

Policies

Essential Academic and Technical Standards

Please review the essential academic and technical standards of the University of New England School Social Work (SSW): https://online.une.edu/social-work/academic-and-technical-standards-une-online-ssw/

Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool

The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.

Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.

You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements

Confidentiality Statement

Student and faculty participation in this course will be governed by standards in the NASW Code of Ethics relating to confidentiality in sharing information from their placement sites and practice experiences. Students should be aware that personal information they choose to share in class, class assignments or conversations with faculty does not have the status of privileged information.

Late Policy

Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.

Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.

Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.

Attendance Policy

6- to 8-week courses: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

10+ -week courses: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures

The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.

UNE Online Student Handbook

UNE Course Withdrawal

Please contact your Enrollment and Retention Counselor if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. Tuition charges may still apply. Students are strongly urged to consult with Student Financial Services, as course withdrawals may affect financial aid or Veterans benefits.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.