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Syllabus

EDU 812 – Dissertation Seminar I – Fall B 2021

Credits - 3

Description

This course is the first of two courses (EDU 812 & EDU 813) designed to provide an opportunity to craft the dissertation proposal draft. This course returns to the preliminary draft of chapter 2 (from EDU 807) and, through the process of peer review, grows the chapter into a more finalized product. In addition, students begin their first draft of chapter 3 (methodology) and seek to engage their research problem, purpose statement and research questions in Chapter 1.

Materials

Required Readings:

American Psychological Association. (2019). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). ISBN: 978-1433832154. E-text: 978-1433832185 

Anfara, V. & Anfara, N. (2014). Theoretical frameworks in qualitative research. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications. ISBN 978-1452282435. (An earlier or later edition may be used)

Creswell, J. W. & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. (5th ed.). CA: SAGE Publications. ISBN 9781506386706

Ravitch, S.M. & Carl, N.M. (2021). Qualitative Research – Bridging the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological. (2nd ed.) SAGE Publications. ISBN: 9781544333816, 1544333811, E-Text: 9781544333809, 1544333803

Ravitch, A. & Riggan, M. (2016). Reason and rigor: How conceptual frameworks guide research. (2nd ed). CA: SAGE Publications. (ISBN 978-1483340401, E-Text 978-1483346977) (An earlier or later edition may be used)

Required Resources:

UNE Doctor of Education Program Handbook Guidelines and Best Practices

Grammar, Usage and Mechanics (GUM) Guidance

Supplemental Materials:

Bloomberg, L. & Volpe, M. (2018). Completing your qualitative dissertation: A road map from beginning to end (4th ed). Sage Publications. (ISBN 978-1544336527, E-text 9781544336510) (An earlier edition may be used)

Boote, D. & Beile, P. (2005). Scholars before researchers: On the centrality of the dissertation Literature Review in Research Preparation. Educational Researcher, 34(3), 3-15. (An earlier or later edition may also be used.)

Creswell, J. & Guetterman, T. (2019). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (6th ed). Pearson ISBN 978-0134519364. E-text 978-0134546568 (Optional- Instructor course ID: generic16649) (An earlier edition may be used)

Patten, M.L. & Newhart, M. (2018). Understanding research methods an overview of the essentials. (10th ed.). Routledge Publications. ISBN: 9780415790536, 0415790530, E-Text: 9781351817370, 135181737X

Roberts, C. & Hyatt, L. (2019). The dissertation journey. CA: Corwin Press. (ISBN 978-1506373317, E-text PDF Available) (An earlier edition may be used)

Salkind, N. & Frey, B. B. (2019). Statistics for people who (think they) hate statistics. (7th ed). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. (An earlier edition may be used)

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

  1. Describe the title, research questions, problem statement, and purpose of the study to ensure alignment.
  2. Use the approved Dissertation Outline to finalize a solid Table of Contents.
  3. Follow the Dissertation Outline to finalize a complete Chapter One, Introduction.
  4. Follow Dissertation Outline to finalize a complete Chapter Two, Literature Review.
  5. Utilize previous knowledge of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods to finalize a methodology and begin a draft of Chapter Three.

Course Outcomes:

This is the first of two 3-credit courses combined to provide students with the skills necessary to prepare a final solid draft of the first three chapters based on their approved topic. Final sign off on the topic and methodology choice will be done in EDU 812. Alignment of topic with problem, purpose, research questions, title, and thematic “buckets” needed in the literature review is reinforced using the Alignment Tool, as is the Five Chapter Dissertation Outline to be found in the Doctor of Education Program Handbook-Guidelines and Best Practices. Chapters 1 and 2 will be submitted in EDU 812 as will the Introduction of Chapter 3. IRB and CITI training will also be a priority in EDU 812. 

 

Assignments

Grading Policy

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

Grade Breakdown

AssignmentPoints
Weeks 1, 4, 5, 7, 8 Discussions (5 at 3 points each15
Week 1 - Alignment Tool5
Week 1 - Dissertation Topic Approval5
Week 2 - Chapter 1 Draft10
Week 2 - Table of Contents5
Week 3 - Chapter 2 Draft 10
Week 4 - Midterm Self-Reflection3
Week 6 - CITI Training4
Week 6 - Final Draft of Chapters 1 & 230
Week 7 - Chapter 3 Introduction and Final Methodology Approval10
Week 8 - Student Self-Reflection3
Total100

The criteria for all courses in the Ed. D. program are described in the modules and/or rubrics. Assignments will include guidelines with rubrics, descriptions of expectations, or examples, and include point values. Coursework will be assessed and graded using individual evaluation protocols that are provided for the three major assignments. Final “grades” will reflect the following schema:

  • High Pass (HP): Work that exceeds all or most of the criteria of the respective assignment. To receive a high pass the work must demonstrate exceptional command and display of all or most required elements;
  • Pass (P): Work that meets all requirements and expectations as specified in assignments, and is fully satisfactory in every respect;
  • Low Pass (LP): Work is deemed unsatisfactory.

Grade Scale: 95 = HP; 80-94 = P; 70-79 = LP.

Note** The instructor will determine if an assignment may be revised and resubmitted for rescoring. Candidates may proceed to subsequent courses in the curriculum with one LP grade, and although there is no failing grade, a second LP course grade results in termination from the doctoral program.

All assignments are to be completed in a timely manner with appropriate accuracy, detail, thought and reflection fitting of doctoral-level degree candidates. All assignments (done in writing or with other media applications) are graded on the basis of faculty assessment of your ability to accurately apply concepts from readings, organization, and mechanics. See the appendices for grading rubrics. Please note that you must save all submitted documents in Microsoft Word in order for them to transmit successfully. All work must be properly identified and include author(s)’ name(s). Submit all written work in APA style (Refer to the APA Publication Manual for guidance; Purdue OWL is an excellent, user-friendly resource).

Schedule

Course Schedule at a Glance

  • Week 1: Oct 20 – Oct 24
  • Week 2: Oct 25 – Oct 31
  • Week 3: Nov 1 – Nov 7
  • Week 4: Nov 8 – Nov 14
  • Week 5: Nov 15 – Nov 21
  • Week 6: Nov 22 – Nov 28
  • Week 7: Nov 29 – Dec 5
  • Week 8: Dec 6 – Dec 12
Week  Assignments
1

Week 1 Discussion – initial post is due Friday by 11:59 ET, with secondary responses due 11:59 pm ET Sunday.

Alignment Tool – assignment must be submitted by 11:59 ET Friday.

Dissertation Topic Approval – assignment must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET Friday.
2

First Draft of Chapter 1 – assignment must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET Sunday.

Table of Contents – assignment must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET Sunday.
3 First Draft of Chapter 2 – assignment must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET Sunday.
4

Week 4 Discussion – initial post is due Friday by 11:59 ET, with secondary responses due 11:59 pm ET Sunday.

Midterm Self-Reflection – assignment must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET Sunday.
5 Week 5 Discussion – initial post is due Friday by 11:59 ET, with secondary responses due 11:59 pm ET Sunday.
6

CITI Certificate – assignment must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET Sunday.

Final Draft of Chapters 1 and 2 – assignment must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET Sunday.
7

Week 7 Discussion – initial post is due Friday by 11:59 ET, with secondary responses due 11:59 pm ET Sunday.

Chapter 3 Introduction and Final Methodology Approval – assignment must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET Sunday.
8

Week 8 Discussion – initial post is due Wednesday by 11:59 ET, with secondary responses due Friday by 11:59 pm ET.

Student Self-Reflection – assignment must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET Sunday.

 

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 Education page

UNE Libraries:

UNE Student Academic Success Center

The Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of services to support your academic achievement, including tutoring, writing support, test prep and studying strategies, learning style consultations, and many online resources. To make an appointment for tutoring, writing support, or a learning specialist consultation, go to une.tutortrac.com. To access our online resources, including links, guides, and video tutorials, please visit:

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.

Policies

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 Turnitin Student quick start guide.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs

Course Evaluation Policy

Course surveys are one of the most important tools the University of New England uses for evaluating the quality of your education, and for providing meaningful feedback to instructors on their teaching. In order to assure that the feedback is both comprehensive and precise, we need to receive it from each student for each course. Evaluation access is distributed via UNE email at the beginning of the last week of the course.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

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

Attendance Policy

Online students are required to submit a graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. If a student does not submit a posting to the graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET, the student will be automatically dropped from the course for non-participation. Review the full attendance policy.

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.

Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures

The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Graduate and 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 student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.

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.