GRADUATE PROGRAM IN COEXISTENCE AND CONFLICT

HS212f – Practicum Structure and Design Professors: Theodore Johnson and Sandra Jones

Class Time: Fall 2014, Second Module, Wednesdays, 9:00 am – 11:50 am Location: G3

Contact information for Prof. JohnsonFall Office Hours: Monday 2 – 4 pm, Wednesday 2-4 pm.Office: Heller-Brown 353,Email: tjohn@brandeis.eduPhone: x 65023

Sandra Jones : x 68578 Office 107 joness@brandeis.edu

Course OverviewThe completion of a practicum, followed by its submission, evaluation and presentation, is the “capstone” of the COEX and dual master’s programs at the Heller School. In order to give students a clear set of guidelines around this process, this course is designed for and limited to COEX and dual students as a pre-requisite to selecting, planning and designing a practicum to fulfill the degree requirements. The course does not address COEX Research Methods – which is a separate course taught in the spring. The Practicum Design Course will meet weekly for seven weeks in three-hour sessions with a mixed content including presentations by: Heller faculty, practitioners from humanitarian organizations, governmental agencies, career counselors and planning professionals, former students and other subject matter experts who will provide students with clear and rigorous guidance towards making a wise practicum selection that will meet their needs, capabilities and future career plans.

This class is not graded. It is meant to be an intensive time for you to receive instruction on how to secure and make the most out of your practicum experience. While you will not be graded, you must complete all assignments to receive credit.

You should also use this as a time to be mentored. Meet with as many people individually as you can, the course instructors, students who have undergone practicum, experts in your chosen topic, and employees of organizations you would like to work with.

Please note: as part of the Research Methods course (spring) you will finalize your practicum choices and produce a practicum proposal.

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The Heller School for Social Policy and Management

Course Goals and Objectives

Goal 1. Students will understand what is required to fulfill the Three Practicum Options for a COEX or Dual degree.

Learning Objectives: Students will learn how to do the following:1) Identify and explain the three options for a COEX/Dual practicum, and the

perceived benefits and challenges of each option. 2) Design and diagram the steps required for a specific practicum; i.e., 1) a draft

schedule of activities including target dates, 2) a letter of interest or intent, 3) a resume or CV tailored to the practicum, 4) a letter of recommendation, 5) compliance steps with IRB (if applicable), 6) a draft budget.

3) Understand the role of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the Practicum Advisor towards fulfilling practicum requirements.

Goal 2. Students will identify a range of local, national, and internationally based agencies and organizations that offer practicum opportunities to COEX and dual degree candidates.

Learning Objectives: Students will learn how to do the following:4) Identify their personal areas of interest, skills and abilities, and how they

translate into a potential fieldwork placement. 5) Work with the instructors and Heller Career Development to create

professional portfolios.6) To develop and present one’s best “elevator” introductory speech, to aid in

networking and securing a practicum.

Goal 3. Students will value and understand the experiences of Heller alums, faculty and professionals from the field to be better prepared to pursue fieldwork.

Learning Objectives: Students will learn how to do the following:1) Define and describe a structured methodology for conducting field research or

engaging in a constructive field experience or internship.2) Identify and respond to challenges or changes, whether academic, personal or

ethical, that frequently occur in the field. 3) Appreciate that each field experience can be seen as a challenge as well as an

ongoing learning opportunity.4) Recognize that field experience is a building block to one’s professional

portfolio.5) Develop an effective relationship with an organization – from first steps to

finalizing a practicum.

Goal 4. Students will develop the skills and capacity to synthesize a set of learning and management objectives for effective fieldwork as well as professional development.

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Learning Objectives: Students will learn how to do the following:1) Identify the key components of an effective budget including travel and living

expenses.2) Identify sources of funding through scholarships, grants or fellowships. 3) Prepare a draft operational and logistical plan for the practicum period.4) Design and draft their own letters of recommendation.

DisabilityIf you have a documented disability on record at Brandeis University and require accommodations, please bring it to the instructor’s attention prior to the second meeting of the class. If you have any questions about this process, contact Mary Brooks, disabilities coordinator for The Heller School at maryeliz@brandeis.edu.

RequirementsAttendance, Punctuality, and Active ParticipationYou are required to attend every class barring documented illness. Please also arrive on time at the beginning of class. If you know you will be absent or late for a legitimate reason, make sure to let the instructors know. Should you miss more than two classes, unfortunately, you will not qualify for credit. Attendance is more than just coming to class. You are expected to actively participate.

Assignments and ReadingsReadings and links assigned in Latte are meant to enhance your learning and guide you in the practicum process. Please be sure to read them. In order to ensure active participation and discussion, make sure you complete the assignments listed below in advance of each class. From time to time, you will be called upon to discuss readings in class and to participate in individual or group presentations. Therefore come to class prepared to engage in well-informed discussions. You will of course enjoy complete academic freedom in the classroom, within the limits defined by mutual respect.

Writing Requirements, and Academic IntegrityThe writing requirements listed below are intended to encourage you to approach reading materials critically, to foster improved research and writing skills, and to serve as a basis for contributing to class discussion and a diversity of ideas and opinions. You are expected to devote careful attention to the technical quality of your written work, as well as its substance. Honesty matters in all academic work, and is strictly enforced by the instructor. (See: http://www.brandeis.edu/studentaffairs/srcs/ai/top10students.html)

We cannot insist enough on the fact that all written work for this course must include appropriate citations of sources used. See section 56c (“Avoid Plagiarism”) of the Concise English Handbook. See http://www.brandeis.edu/studentaffairs/sdc/ai/index.html: ‘Truth even unto its

Innermost Part’ and in particular the section dealing with citations. http://brandeis.libguides.com/content.php?pid=10580&sid=99216

The university policy on academic honesty is distributed annually, as section 5 of the Rights and Responsibilities handbook. Academic integrity is critical in all that you write and say, and transgressions are treated severely. Instances of alleged dishonesty will be

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forwarded to the Office of Campus Life for possible referral to the Student Judicial System. Potential sanctions include failure in the course and suspension from the university. If you have any questions about this, do not hesitate to talk to your instructor, and to seek guidance.

Individual Written and Group AssignmentsExcept as stated otherwise, all your written assignments must be typewritten, double-spaced in 12-point font, (except for resumes or curriculum vitae) and submitted electronically via Latte to the instructor, as a Microsoft Word attachment, either before class, or after class as mentioned below. All in-class assignments can be handwritten. Submit your written assignments on time in order to receive credit for the course.

Written Assignments:During the course there will be a variety of written assignments intended to help you move towards securing your practicum.

Below are the written assignments in chronological order and their due dates:

Completed Resume or Curriculum Vitae: 11/12 – Submit in class a draft resume or CV for peer and instructor review. 11/19 – Submit a revised resume (via e-mail, or in class) based on the feedback

from 11/12.o The instructors and Career Development will review the resumes and

identify changes needed.

Completed Elevator Speech and Presentation: 12/10 – You will be asked to present your best elevator speech in class on this

date.o You will receive peer feedback in class, and written feedback from the

instructors after class. Instructions for assignment:

o In 90 seconds present your best elevator speech/pitch. Think of it as a pitch of your professional profile. How you present yourself will depend on your chosen practicum option.

Internship Option: Choose an organization and a practicum (internship) you

would like to apply for. In four minutes, explain succinctly your background and

skills, how you would apply those skills to this particular organization/internship, what you could offer the organization, and how this practicum will enhance or add to your skillset.

Master’s Paper Option: Choose an organization you could partner with for

research.

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In four minutes, explain succinctly your background and skills, how you would apply those skills to research in this particular organization, what you could offer the organization, and how this research practicum will enhance or add to your skillset.

Thesis Option: Chose a preliminary thesis topic, and an expert in the field

on your particular topic you might want to interview. In four minutes, explain succinctly your thesis topic, how

your thesis will expand knowledge in the field, how your background and your skills relate to, or will help you complete the thesis, and how the thesis will enhance your career goals or add to your skill set.

Final Assignment: Due Dec 17th.

Practicum Portfolio: The final assignment for this class will be the submission of a portfolio of documents, which will ready you for securing a practicum position or conducting research. The guidelines for this assignment will differ depending on which practicum option you choose. The due date is December 17th. You will receive in return written feedback on your portfolio submission over the course of December and January.

Internship Option:Please prepare one document that includes the following components:

1) Please identify and describe three organizations you would like to approach regarding a practicum and what kind (or type) of internship you would like to obtain with them.

2) Utilizing your elevator pitch, explain succinctly your background and skills, how you would apply those skills to this particular organization, what you could offer the organization, and how this practicum will enhance or add to your skillset.

3) Prepare a cover letter designed to apply for a practicum/internship with one of the organizations you identified.

4) Prepare a resume or CV tailored to apply for a practicum/internship with the organization you used for the cover letter.

5) Prepare your own letter of recommendation for the practicum/internship used for the cover letter and resume.

6) Prepare a budget for your practicum.7) Prepare a timeline of the steps you will undertake to secure a practicum including

your deadlines for achieving each step.

Master’s Paper Option:Please prepare one document that includes the following components:

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1) Please identify and describe three organizations you would like to approach regarding your research. Be detailed as to where within the organization your research could be housed and if it would add to existing research projects.

2) Utilizing your elevator pitch, explain succinctly your background and your skills, how you would apply those skills to this particular organization, what you could offer the organization, and how this research practicum will enhance or add to your skillset.

3) Using one of the organizations identified, prepare a cover letter designed to introduce you to the organization and pitch your research topic to them.

4) Prepare a resume or CV tailored to conduct research with the organization you used for the cover letter.

5) Prepare your own letter of recommendation in support of your research project at the organization you used for the cover letter and resume.

6) Prepare a budget for your research project.7) Prepare a timeline of the steps you will undertake to secure your research project

including your deadlines for achieving each step.

Thesis Option:Please prepare one document that includes the following components:

1) Please identify and describe your preliminary ideas for the thesis project, and three organizations or individuals who are experts on your topic that you could approach as part of your research.

2) Utilizing your elevator pitch, explain succinctly your thesis topic, how your thesis will expand knowledge in the field, how your background and your skills relate to, or will help you complete the thesis, and how the thesis will enhance your career goals or add to your skill set.

3) Using one of the organizations/experts identified, prepare a cover letter or e-mail designed to introduce yourself to the expert, pitch your research topic to them, and request an interview.

4) Prepare a resume or CV tailored to introduce yourself to the organization/expert in the cover letter.

5) Prepare your own letter of recommendation in support of the funding of your research.

6) Prepare a budget for your research project.7) Prepare a timeline of the steps you will undertake to secure your research project

including your deadlines for achieving each step.

All written assignments will be clearly announced in advance and all must be completed and evaluated in a timely manner in order to receive credit for the assignment.

Course Sessions

Session 1: October 22; The Three Practicum Options for COEX and the Dual Degrees

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This session will explain the three options for practicum (Internship, Field Research, and MA Thesis) and the relevant requirements, expectations and evaluation process for each option. The session will also include a presentation from the Heller Career Development office which will help students begin to self evaluate and situate themselves into groups which will drive their focus during the practicum course. Students should begin thinking not only of what they might want to do for a practicum, but who they are, what skills they have, and what they can offer an organization, developing their own personal “brand.”

Assignment: Please familiarize yourself with the APA Manual and the Practicum Handbook (on Latte).

Finalize your Heller Career Connect.com Profile

Username: UNET name

Password: Same as your Brandeis e-mail password

Session 2: October 29; How do I even begin this process?This session will start with a presentation from the Human Subjects in Research department at Brandeis regarding the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process, which is required for any student research involving human subjects. IRB is required for interviews, surveys, observations, experiments and other interactions, and ranges in complexity depending on the subjects of the research, their relative vulnerability, and the potential harm the research could cause vs. the knowledge gained. A more specific version of this presentation will be presented during the Research Methodology Course in the spring semester. The second half of the session will utilize the Career Development office to begin discussing two important issues; how do you begin to find a practicum, and how can you fund it? At the conclusion of the session we will have time for discussion of where each individual stands with their plans and how to move forward towards your goals.

Assignment: Prepare a list of questions for the following week to ask panelists on their field research. Begin working on your resume/CV that you will bring to class on November 12th.

Session 3: November 5; Things I wish I’d known before going into the field. In this session current students who are at the end of their project processes, along with faculty, will lead a reflective panel discussion on what would have made their field research process more effective. Hindsight is often said to be the best kind of learning. In this session, it is hoped that new students will have and gain the benefit of recent experiences from peers and colleagues. We will follow this session with a conference on the San Andrés Archipelago, which will illuminate how multi-disciplinary approaches; Conflict Resolution, International Law, and Development, can address complex questions in the field, and give you an idea of the type of projects you can engage in during your practicum.

Note: This class session may start at 8:30am, and will run into the COEX Wednesday Lunch Series.

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Assignment: Finalize your resume/CV and bring it to class on November 12th.

Session 4: November 12; Getting serious about your brand and the presentation of your self: We will start this session with an overview of how to give and receive feedback. Learning this process will help you more effectively incorporate constructive criticism into the refining of your practicum portfolio. The second half of the session will be guided by Career Development and will focus on those moments when you have met someone integral to your practicum, research or funding, and you only have a minute to impress them. How do you present who you are, your skills, and what you have to offer in an under a minute? The session will conclude with peer-to-peer and instructor feedback on your resumes.

Assignment: Turn in your resume/CV in class for peer review. Based on the review, revise your resume and submit it to the instructors next week.

Session 5: November 19; What about working with Organizations? In this session students will explore the opportunities and challenges of the Internship/Field Research organizational options. During the session, current students whose projects involved organizations, as well as representatives from two or three local organizations, will be invited to participate in a panel discussion. Potential organizations may include: Search for Common Ground, Mercy Corps, CM Partners, Oxfam and CDA. Students will be introduced to examples of past Terms of References (ToRs). We will also build in time during and after class for small group meetings with organization reps.

Assignment: Submit your revised resume. Begin working on your elevator speech for 12/10.

Session 6: December 3; Due Dates, Deadlines, Budgets and Putting it all together. In the first part of this session, all students will be made aware of the preliminary reporting and completion requirements for each practicum option and, moreover, the impact and consequences for not complying with such requirements. Another component of this session will focus on budget compilation and preparation for the proposed practicum. A good budget will go a long way to ensuring a successful practicum. We will also cover the components of writing your own letters of recommendation for funding. Finally, we will dedicate the rest of the session to looking at the final field reports of prior practicum students and presenting on the lessons learned.

Exercise during the session: Students will work in teams of 5 (self selected) to choose and read one field report of a former COEX or dual degree student. In addition, the student teams are to prepare a short presentation (4 minutes) summarizing three key points learned in their reading that would be helpful for their colleagues in preparing for the practicum.

Assignment: Continue working on your elevator speech for 12/10, and begin working on your final project.

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Session 6a. December 8th; Capstone Presentations. All COEX students are required to attend the COEX Capstone presentations on December 8th. Session 7. December 10; Final Presentations. In this session students will be asked to present their best elevator speech of 90 seconds as outlined in the assignments section. We will have time for feedback in class, and you will receive written feedback after class.

Assignment: Finish your final project for the course.

Final Assignment Due: December 17th.

Helpful Resources

American Psychological Association. Concise Rules of APA Style. (Sixth Edition) Washington DC: 2010.

American Psychological Association. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. (Fifth Edition). Washington DC: 2001.

Argyris, Chris. On Organizational Learning (Second Edition). Malden MA, Blackwell Publishing, 1999.

Browne, M. Neil, Stuart M. Keeley. Asking The Right Questions, A Guide to Critical Thinking (Eighth Edition) Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, Pearson Prentice Hall Publishers. 2007.

Drucker, Peter F. Managing The Nonprofit Organization, Principles and Practices. (First Edition) New York, Harper Collins Publishers. 1990

Emerson, Robert M, Rachel I. Fretz, Linda L. Shaw. Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes. Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1995.

Online Writing Laboratory (OWL), http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01 Accessed September 20, 2013.

Ragin, Charles C. Constructing Social Research, The Unity of Diversity of Method. Thousand Oaks, Pine Forge Press: 1994

Smyth, Marie and Gillian Robinson (Eds). Researching Violently Divided Societies, Ethical and Methodological Issues. New York, United Nations University Press: 2001

Turabian, Kate L. “Citation Style Guide”. In A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, (sixth edition) revised by John Grossman and Alice Bennett, 1996.

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