Syllabus

Schedule

Course Schedule:

Each week opens on Wednesday at 12:01 AM Eastern Time (ET). Each week closes on Wednesday at 11:59 PM ET, with the exception of Week 16, which ends on Sunday. 

Week 1: Jan 17 – Jan 24
Week 2: Jan 24 – Jan 31
Week 3: Jan 31 – Feb 7
Week 4: Feb 7 – Feb 14
Week 5: Feb 14 – Feb 21
Week 6: Feb 21 – Feb 28
Week 7: Feb 28 – Mar 6
Week 8: Mar 6 – Mar 10
Week 9: Mar 13 – Mar 20
Week 10: Mar 20 – Mar 27
Week 11: Mar 27 – Apr 3
Week 12: Apr 3 – Apr 10
Week 13: Apr 10 – Apr 17
Week 14: Apr 17 – Apr 24
Week 15: Apr 24 – May 1
Week 16: May 1 – May 5

Week 1 – Formulating Research Objectives

Learning Objectives:

• Formulate research objectives
• Critique research objectives

Assigned Reading and Multimedia: 

• Lecture – Formulating Research Questions
• Bloom’s Taxonomy of Measurable Verbs

Assignments

• Discussion: Introductions
• Schedule 1:1 with Instructor

Week 2 – Justifying Your Research Study

Learning Objectives:

• Describe principles of a Cochrane review
• Identify steps of a comprehensive literature review
• Revise research objectives
• Identify key elements of an introduction
• Justify research objectives

Assigned Reading and Multimedia: 

• Lecture – Justifying your Research Objectives (Writing your Introduction) 
• Lecture – Conducting a Comprehensive Literature Review
• Overview of Cochrane Reviews

Assignments

• Discussion: Introduction Outline
• Written Assignment: Revised Research Objectives
• 1:1 with Instructor

Week 3 – Synthesizing A Literature Review

Learning Objectives:

• Conduct a comprehensive literature review

Assigned Reading and Multimedia: 

• None

Assignments

• Written Assignment – Literature Review

 

Week 4 – Identifying the Target Audience and Journals

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the target audience for a research study
• Evaluate authorship on a research study publication

Assigned Reading and Multimedia: 

• ICMJE authorship guidelines

Assignments

• Discussion: Target Audience and Two Example Journals

Week 5 – Formulating & Drafting a Research Methodology

Learning Objectives:

• Formulate research study methodology
• Use appropriate epidemiological terminology to describe research study methods
• Compose the methods section of a research study publication

Assigned Reading and Multimedia: 

• Lecture – Formulating Research Methodology and Writing the Methods Section of a Research Publication

Assignments

• Peer Exchange 1: Draft Methods

Week 6 – Finalizing Methodology and Writing an Analytic Plan

Learning Objectives:

• Complete a research study methodology
• Formulate research analytic plan

Assigned Reading and Multimedia: 

• Lecture – Formulating an analytic plan
• Khan Academy: Probability and Statistics (not required, for your reference)

Assignments

• Methods and Analytic Plan
• 1:1 with Instructor

Week 7 – Conducting your Analysis 

Learning Objectives:

• Revise research study methods
• Revise research analytic plan
• Prepare primary or secondary dataset for analysis
• Analyze qualitative or quantitative data

Assigned Reading and Multimedia: 

• None

Assignments

• Discussion: Analysis Challenges

Week 8 – Writing the Results of your Research Publication 

Learning Objectives:

• Construct informative tables and figures

Assigned Reading and Multimedia: 

• Lecture – Writing the Results Section of Your Research Publication
• The Beauty of Data Visualizations

Assignments

• Tables and Figures
• Discussion: Analysis Challenges

Week 9 – Submitting Your Written Results Section

Learning Objectives:

• Compose research study results
• Draft and submit your written results section

Assigned Reading and Multimedia: 

• Use the course materials from Week 8 as a resource in writing your results section

Assignments

• Submit a first draft of your written results section

Week 10 – Writing Week and 1:1 with Your Instructor

Learning Objectives:

• Finalize your Results section and your tables and figures
• Work to revise and edit other sections of your research paper as needed

Assigned Reading and Multimedia: 

• None

Assignments

• 1:1 with Instructor

Week 11 – Revising your Results and Creating Cohesion

Learning Objectives:

• Revise research study results

Assigned Reading and Multimedia: 

• Effective Transitions
• The Science of Scientific Writing (Optional)

Assignments

• Written Assignment: Revised Results

Week 12 – Writing Week 

Learning Objectives:

• Prepare a draft report of a program evaluation

Assigned Reading and Multimedia: 

• None
• Work week – no Assignments this week

Week 13 – Submit Draft ILE Report

Learning Objectives:

• Prepare a final draft of a report of a program evaluation
• Understand the benefits of clear, engaging data visualization
• Present evaluation results using a variety of data visualization techniques

Assigned Reading and Multimedia: 

• Chart Chooser by Evalu-ate
• Do’s and Don’ts for Data Visualization by Evalu-ate

Assignments

• Draft ILE Report

Week 14 – Abstract Writing and Presentation Slides

Learning Objectives:

• Identify key components of an abstract
• Write an abstract using APHA guidelines

Assigned Reading and Multimedia: 

• Abstract Writing
• APHA guidelines for abstract writing and submission

Assignments

• Abstract
• Presentation Slides
• 1:1 with Instructor

Week 15 – Submit ILE Report

Learning Objectives:

• Prepare a final report of a program evaluation
• Conduct an oral presentation

Assigned Reading and Multimedia: 

• None

Assignments

• Final ILE Report and Abstract
• Presentations

Week 16 – Poster

Learning Objectives:

• Compare the new APHA recommended poster format and the traditional APHA poster format
• Create a poster for your ILE Report using the APHA recommended “better-poster” format

Assigned Reading and Multimedia: 

• How to Create a Better Poster in Less Time
• How do I create a QR code for my poster?

Assignments

• Poster

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 Public Health page

UNE Libraries:

• Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Brightspace.
• Public Health Databases: https://library.une.edu/library-materials/find/research-by-subject/public-health/
• Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.

UNE Student Academic Success Center

UNE's Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of free online services to support your academic achievement. Writing support, ESOL support, study strategy and learning style consultations, as well as downloadable resources, are available to all matriculating students. The SASC also offers tutoring for GPH 712 Epidemiology, GPH 716 Biostatistics, GPH 717 Applied Epidemiology, GPH 718 Biostatistics II, and GPH 719 Research Methods. To make an appointment for any of these services, go to une.tutortrac.com. For more information and to view and download writing and studying resources, please visit:

• UNE Student Academic Success Center

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

AMA Writing Style Statement

The American Medical Association Manual (AMA) of Style, 11th edition is the required writing format for this course. Additional support for academic writing and AMA format is provided throughout the coursework as well as at the UNE Portal for Online Students.

Online resources: AMA Style Guide

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

Course Evaluation Policy

Course surveys are one of the most important tools that 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.

Late Policy

Students are responsible for submitting work by the date indicated in Brightspace.

Quizzes and Tests: Quizzes and tests must be completed by the due date. They will not be accepted after the due date.

Assignments: Unless otherwise specified, 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.

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 https://www.une.edu/studentlife/plagiarism.

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.