INTE 4500 – Integrative Studies Capstone

Course Syllabus – Fall 2017

| Course description | Outcomes | Term | Instructor information | Class meetings | Text | |Evaluation | Grading | Mid-term progress report | Course schedule | Course policies | Important

dates |

Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center 255, (678) 466-5445,

disabilityservices@mail.clayton.edu.

Course Description:

Number and Title:

INTE 4500

Integrative Studies Capstone

Credit Hours:

3.0 semester credit hours (3-0-3)

Catalog Description:

This course is a capstone experience normally taken in the senior year. The

focus is on the design and execution of integrative research. Students will work

on case problems appropriate to their career plans and prepare written and/or

oral reports on their proposed solutions. This seminar will provide the opportunity

for individual student and program assessment.

Course Prerequisites and Co-requisites:

• Integrative Studies Major

• Completion of CRIT 1101 – Critical Thinking with a grade of C or better

• Completion of 90 semester credit hours or more

Computer Requirement:

Each CSU student is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a

notebook computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software

requirements for the student's academic program. Students will sign a statement

attesting to such access. For further information on CSU's Official Notebook

Computer Policy, please go to http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/policy.Liberalhtm.

Computer Skill Prerequisites:

• Able to use the WindowsTM operating system

• Able to use Microsoft WordTM word processing

• Able to send and receive e-mail using OutlookTM or Outlook ExpressTM

Able to attach and retrieve attached files via email

• Able to use a Web browser and access to Desire2Learn.

Major Student Activities:

You will be required to submit a two to three page essay (double-spaced, 12

point font, 1 inch margins). The essay should include at least 2 pages of detailed

responses to specified questions after completion of specified reading selections.

In depth research will be completed in preparation for a 5-7 page research paper.

All assignments are due by midnight on the dates specified. Findings of

research will be shared in an annotated bibliography or literature review. Also, a

topic must be submitted prior to research in consultation of required faculty

mentoring.

Program Learning Outcomes:

The capstone combines traditional academic content, with an emphasis on

communication and critical thinking, and a research learning component.

This INTE 4500 course is required for the B.S. degree program of Integrative

Studies.

Course Outcomes:

1. Communicate ideas and the results of your work with clarity, concision, and precision.

2. Engage in questions of ethics and recognize the responsibilities of interdisciplinary studies

3. Use creative and critical thinking skills and knowledge of interdisciplinary studies to effectively contribute to a problem-solving team.

4. Accommodate individual differences (cultural, socioeconomic, global, etc.) in your decisions and actions.

5. Engage in self-assessment, reflection, and analysis.

Instructor Information:

Instructor:

Vangela Humphries, M.Ed.

Phone: (678) 466-4707

Fax: (678) 466-4797

E-mail: VangelaHumphries@clayton.edu

Office:

Faculty Hall, Room #131-E

Office hours:

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

9:00 am – 12:30 pm

Appointment needed for other times.

Class Meetings:

There are no class meeting times; you will submit all assignments: essay,

topic for research, literature review or annotated bibliography and research

paper in the dropbox of Desire2Learn (D2L). The discussion posts must be

submitted on the discussion board before the designated deadline.

You can gain access to Desire2Learn, by signing on to the SWAN portal and

selecting “D2L” on the top right side.

If you experience any difficulties with Desire2Learn, email or call The HUB at

TheHub@mail.clayton.edu or (678) 466-HELP.

You will need to provide the date and time of the problem, your SWAN

username, the name of the course that you are attempting to access, and your

instructor's name.

Textbook Information: Allen F. Repko and Rick Szostak, Interdisciplinary

Research: Process and Theory – 3rd Edition.

Text Coverage: Chapters 1-8, 10-12

Evaluation:

Mission and Goals 5 points

Case Analysis 5 points

Faculty Mentoring 5 points

Research Topic 5 points

Annotated Bibliography or Literature Review 20 points

Research Paper 30 points

Discussion Question #1 5 points

Quiz 15 points

Discussion Question #2 10 points

Total 100 points

Course Requirements:

o Students must identify two different specialty areas, such as your

elected concentration or minor.

o Students must attend one session with a faculty member to

complete faculty mentoring. The meeting should take place prior to

the research topic deadline. The contact information of your faculty

mentor will be emailed to you. If you are completing the degree

program 100% online, a webcam meeting, email and/or phone

session will suffice.

o Students must activate their “CSU” account, and should check it at

least twice each week. The course instructor will post important

messages in Desire2Learn. Please note that you should submit

all assignments via Desire2Learn.

o Success in INTE 4500 demands a basic level of computer skill.

INTE 4500 requires that you are able to send and receive e-mail;

that you have a basic understanding of word processing; that you

are able to access and use Internet resources; and that you have a

basic understanding of file management. If you do not possess

these skills prior to entry into the course, then you should enroll in

an appropriate workshop offered by the Hub. Information

concerning these workshops can be found on the Hub homepage.

Course Outline

Week 1 Welcome and Syllabus Review

Week 2 Readings: Chapter 1 and 2 Introducing Interdisciplinary Studies Introducing the Disciplines and Their Perspectives

Week 3 Mission & Goals Due on August 31

Week 4 Readings: Chapter 3, 4 and 5 Drawing on Disciplinary Insights Identifying Relevant Disciplines Conducting the Literature Search

Week 5 Case Analysis Due on September 14

Week 6 Readings: Chapter 6 and 7 Developing Adequacy in Relevant Disciplines Analyzing the problem and Evaluating Insights

Week 7 Discussion #1 – Due on September 28

Week 8 Faculty Mentoring Due - October 5

Week 9 Topic of Research Due – October 12

Week 10 Readings: Chapters 8 and 10

Understanding Integration Creating Common Ground Between Insights: Concepts and/or Assumptions

Week 11 Quiz on Chapters 1-7 – Due on October 26

Week 12 Readings: Chapter 11 Creating Common Ground Between Insights: Theories

Week 13 Discussion #2 – Due on November 9

Week 14 Literature Review or Annotated Bibliography Due on November 16

Week 15 Thanksgiving Holiday

Week 16 Readings: Chapter 12 Constructing a Comprehensive Understanding

Week 17 Research Paper – Due on December 7

o Mission and Goals: Reading selections of Chapters 1-2. At

minimum, the essay should include one page of a narrative

description of the following:

1. Explain how the chapter reading has helped you articulate

your interdisciplinary academic area of study.

2. Share your professional and academic plans after

graduation.

3. Share why Integrative Studies is a better fit for you than a

traditional discipline.

Your essay must be a doubled -spaced Word document

(12point font, 1-inch margins) posted in the assignment box

of Desire2Learn. Failure to submit the essay in a timely

manner will result in a lowering of the final course grade.

This assignment has a maximum of 5 points.

o Case Analysis: At minimum, the response should include one

page of a thorough explanation to the requirements listed in D2L.

The case analysis is an opportunity to engage in a real-life

event. After completion of the analysis, the student should

see the relevance of the material in question.

Your response must be a doubled -spaced Word document

(12point font, 1-inch margins) posted in the assignment box

of Desire2Learn. Failure to submit the essay in a timely

manner will result in a lowering of the final course grade.

This assignment has a maximum of 5 points.

o Faculty Mentoring: Review the faculty bios in the content and news section in D2L, and then rank your desired mentor on a scale of ‘1 to 3’ with ‘1’ being the highest. Email me in D2L with your preferred selection. It’s highly suggested that you meet with your assigned mentor prior to submission of your second assignment. You can discuss career goals, graduate school and/or research opportunities. This assignment has a maximum of 5 points. Confirmation of attendance will be provided to me by your assigned mentor, and then your grade for the assignment will follow. If you do not select a mentor by the designated date and complete one mentoring session by the deadline posted in the calendar and the announcement section of D2L, a zero will follow.

o Research Topic: Reading selection of Chapters 3, 4 and 5. At a

minimum, your topic of research should be one to two sentences.

The topic should explore the 2-3 specialty areas and begin a scope

of your concerns and/or issues. The topic can highlight the affects

in the career or education world as it relates to your specialty

area(s). Consider a complex problem or question that require

insight from one or more disciplines. Examples are listed in the

content section of D2L.

Failure to submit the topic in a timely manner will result in a lowering of the final course grade. This assignment has a maximum of 5 points.

o Literature Review or Annotated Bibliography: Reading

selection of Chapters 8 and 10. The literature review should be at

least two pages with a focus on your specific topic of interest and a

critical analysis of the relationship among different works, relating

the research to your topic. Include a critical and inclusive review

related to the relevant topic. "Critical" means that the literature

review reveals problems, contradictions, controversies, strengths,

next steps, and potentials in the theories. "Inclusive" means that

there is an active evaluation relevant to the topic. There should be

a review of at least 3 different journals, websites, books and/or

articles.

The annotated bibliography is a brief summary of 3 to 5 sentences

detailing the assessment of the research source with some criticism

of it. Does it seem like a reliable and current source? Why? Is the

research biased or objective? Are the facts well documented? Who

is the author? Is she/he qualified in this subject? Is the source too

general or specific? There should be a review of at least 6 different

journals, websites, books and/or articles.

If you need additional information about annotated bibliographies

and literature reviews, review these websites.

http://olinuris.library.cornell.edu/ref/research/skill28.htm

Annotated Bibliography

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/01/

Annotated Bibliography

http://www.d.umn.edu/~hrallis/guides/researching/litreview.html

Literature Review

Failure to submit the literature review or annotated bibliography in a

timely manner will result in a lowering of the final course grade.

This assignment has a maximum of 20 points.

o Research Paper: At a minimum of 5-7 pages with details of your

research findings in MLA format. The descriptive research requires

you to explore and identify social issues within your specialty areas.

Ensure there is sufficient research completed to identify a

connection between the aspects of your topic studied by several

academic areas. Include research findings from at least 3 different

sources taken from your literature review or annotated bibliography.

The research paper should include 3 of the following parts. A title

page with your approved topic listed, body of research with a

minimum of 3 pages and a bibliography or works cited page. The

paper should be in MLA format with 1 inch margins, 12 font and

double spaced. Number all pages at the top right hand corner

including the title page. You can review your latest grammar book

or MLAformat.org for more details.

The bibliography or works cited page must include the authors that

have been referred, for their research pertaining to specific topics

of inquiry, and whose numbered references are provided in the

main body. Every reference must be provided with the name of the

authors, name of the journal or book in which it was published,

along with its volume and issue number, the year of publishing, and

the page number.

Your research allows you to explore, interpret, and evaluate

sources related to a specific topic. Spend time investigating and

evaluating sources with the intent to offer interpretations of the

texts reviewed.

Provide details based off what you learned through research. Share

your in-depth discussion, explanation and elaboration on your

chosen topic. If there are two different perspectives you want to

share as it relates to your specialty areas, share the strategies and

your unique perspective. Make a connection between the variables

or concepts.

Your research paper should be based on an opinion that you hold

with research supporting an argument or provide elaborative

details on your topic based on your research findings. You should

think about a problem that needs a solution, an issue in today’s

society, or even a question you would like to answer. Then use

your research to offer a solution to the problem, or provide an

opinion of the issue with sources to support, or an answer to your

question.

Listed below are a few examples of research interests with two

different specialty areas included in each.

1. Health and fitness is omitted in today’s medicine, and the

inclusion will help solve many ailments without heavy

dosage of medicine.

2. In America, there is a lack of women in government and

politics.

Both examples include two different specialty areas that can be

researched and evaluated. The first example is more of an

argumentative research to follow of which health and fitness will be

reviewed to assess ailments in comparison to medicine. The

second example is a descriptive research of which in-depth

discussion and elaboration will take place as it relates to women

and their omission in government roles.

The research for both should address the issues, resolutions and

your unique perspective with supporting documentation from your

earlier research sources. As you introduce your topic of research,

include its background and previous developments in the

associated field. Present your investigation, observation and

analysis in the body of research. You should summarize your

logical interpretation of your research to prove or disprove a line of

thought.

Failure to submit the research paper in a timely manner will result in

a lowering of the final course grade. This assignment has a

maximum of 30 points.

o Discussion Questions: The post should include a detail

explanation with suitable relevance to the question. Respond to 2

classmates including your interpretation or inquires.

Discussion #1: Identify at least two insights from two relevant

disciplines for the preselected topic. Share the similarity and/or

differences between the disciplines as it pertains to the topic. Draw

your perspective of the various critical approaches to develop a

more comprehensive understanding. The preselected topic is listed

in D2L.

Failure to post in a timely manner will result in a lowering of the final

course grade. This assignment has a maximum of 5 points.

Discussion #2: There should be strategies gained from the chapter

readings with browsing, probing, skimming, assessing and

consulting experts to decide if your topic is researchable in an

interdisciplinary sense. You should now have a method of

demonstrating an effective way to review what authors have written

about your topic. Share which approach you will take to gather

information relevant to your topic from multiple disciplines and why.

Failure to post in a timely manner will result in a lowering of the final

course grade. This assignment has a maximum of 10 points.

Grading:

A 90 - 100

B 80 - 89

C 70 - 79

D 60 - 69

F below 60

Mid-term Progress Report:

A mid-term grade for the INTE 4500 course will follow.

The last day to withdraw without academic accountability is Friday, October 6, 2017.

Course Policies:

General Policy

Students must abide by policies in the Clayton State University Student

Handbook, and the Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities.

University Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend and participate in every class meeting.

Instructors establish specific policies relating to absences in their courses and

communicate these policies to the students through the course syllabi. Individual

instructors, based upon the nature of the course, determine what effect excused

and unexcused absences have in determining grades, and the students’ ability to

remain enrolled in their courses. The university reserves the right to determine

that excessive absences, whether justified or not, are sufficient cause for

institutional withdrawals or failing grades.

Missed Work

Without a valid excuse, zero points will post for missed assignments. With a valid

excuse and supporting documentation, late assignments will be accepted with a

deduction of points. Assignments submitted 7 days after the specified due date

won’t be accepted.

Discussion posts can’t be made up. Without a discussion post, zero points

will follow.

Academic Dishonesty

Any type of activity that is considered dishonest by reasonable standards may

constitute academic misconduct. The most common forms of academic

misconduct are cheating and plagiarism. All instances of academic dishonesty

will result in a grade of zero for the work involved. All instances of academic

dishonesty will be reported to the Office of Student Life/Judicial Affairs. Judicial

procedures are described at

http://adminservices.clayton.edu/judicial/.

Writing Assistance

The Writers’ Studio 224 is located in the Arts and Sciences Building, Room 224. The goal of the Writers’ Studio is to give rise to better writers, not just to better writing. People who love to write, people who struggle mightily with it, and people who fall anywhere else on the spectrum can find a place at The Writers’ Studio—a place for students to come for writing guidance and feedback. Each student may receive up to 90 minutes of assistance per day and 3 hours per week. Furthermore, both appointments and walk-ins are welcome. Here’s The Writers’ Studio’s contact information: Location: Arts & Sciences Building, Room G-224 Phone: 678.466.4728 Email: ws224@clayton.edu Website: http://clayton.edu/writersstudio There you can talk with trained writing tutors about your writing projects. They

are available to work with you at any stage of your paper, from generating ideas

to organizing your paper to understanding how to format it correctly. The service

is free; you may drop in and wait for a tutor or sign up for a regular appointment.

But remember: you, not your tutor, are ultimately responsible for the quality and

content of the papers you submit.

Aside from meeting with consultants one-with-one, you can also participate in

consultant-led writing workshops. In these workshops, consultants will guide you

in discussions and activities important to academic writing topics. Consultants

and student-writers will collaborate on ways to apply writing concepts and

strategies to specific writing situations. You will be identify, analyze, integrate,

and synthesize writing principles through a series of writing exercises.

Remember that we are here to collaborate with you as you develop your own

experiences as a student-writer.

Visit The Writers’ Studio at http://clayton.edu/writersstudio or schedule your appointment online at http://clayton.mywconline.com (Note: first-time users need to complete a one-time registration prior to using the online appointment website).

Disruption of the Learning Environment

Behavior which disrupts the teaching–learning process during class activities will not be tolerated. While a variety of behaviors can be disruptive in a classroom setting, more serious examples, includes belligerent, abusive, profane, and/or threatening behavior. A student who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction regarding classroom behavior and/or behavior while participating in classroom activities may be dismissed from class. A student who is dismissed is entitled to due process and will be afforded such rights as soon as possible following dismissal. If the student is found in violation, a student may be administratively withdrawn and may receive a grade of WF. More detailed descriptions of examples of disruptive behavior are provided in the Clayton State University Academic Catalog and Student Handbook starting on page 8.

Important dates:

Schedule for Assignments:

All assignments are due by midnight on the dates specified.

Assignments Due Date

Mission & Goals Thursday, August 31, 2017

Case Analysis Thursday, September 14, 2017

Discussion #1 Thursday, September 28 2017

Faculty mentoring Thursday, October 5, 2017

Topic of Research Thursday, October 12, 2017

Quiz Thursday, October 26, 2017

Discussion #2 Thursday, November 9, 2017

Lit. Review or

Annotated Bib. Thursday, November 16, 2017

Research Paper Thursday, December 7, 2017

Last day to withdraw without academic penalty: Friday,

October 6, 2017.

Last update: July 2017