Syllabus for APS-700

MASTER PROJECT IN APPLIED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Master Project in Applied Science and Technology is designed to provide a guided in-depth experience in defining, measuring, analyzing, improving, and controlling a significant opportunity or challenge relevant to the learner’s applied science or technology workplace or profession. The learner will be expected to acquire knowledge, apply real-life experience and conduct research to make recommendations that are based upon solid data and benchmarking.

COURSE TOPICS

COURSE OBJECTIVES

After completing this course, you should be able to: 

  1. Select a project topic and formulate a research question that furthers the knowledge within a field relevant to the student’s field.
  2. Create a thorough literature review to summarize the results of the review in an evaluative manner.
  3. Conduct a comprehensive study in accordance with the scientific practices pertaining to the methods chosen.
  4. Design a well-argued study to make a contribution to the chosen research field.
  5. Evaluate and judge others’ research in a constructive and critical manner.
  6. Explain the results of a scientific study to an audience outside of the specific area of expertise.
  7. Assess and judge ethical issues and federal requirements in research and prepare.

COURSE MATERIALS

You will need the following materials to complete your coursework. Some course materials may be free, open source, or available from other providers. You can access free or open-source materials by clicking the links provided below or in the module details documents. To purchase course materials, please visit the University's textbook supplier.

Required Textbook

COURSE STRUCTURE

The Master Project in Applied Science and Technology is a six-credit online course, consisting of eight  modules. Modules include an overview, topics, study materials, and activities. Module titles are listed below.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

For your formal work in the course, you are required to participate in online discussion forums, complete written assignments, and complete a capstone research project. See below for more details.

Consult the Course Calendar for assignment due dates.

Discussion Forums

You are required to complete six online discussion activities. The online discussion activities are on a variety of topics associated with the courses modules. There is also an ungraded but required introduction forum in Module 1.

Located within the Evaluation Rubrics section of the course website is the online discussion forum rubric used to aid in the grading of all online discussion assignments.

For posting guidelines and additional help with discussion board assignments, please see the Student Handbook located within the General Information section of the course website.

Written Assignments

You are required to complete seven written assignments of which only four will be graded. The others will be graded as complete/incomplete. The written assignments are on a variety of topics associated with the course modules. 

Each module’s written assignments have been specifically designed to guide the research process and provide valuable feedback as you complete the different phases of your research.  

You will be required to compile your answers, findings, and feedback from the written assignments and then customize it to fit the structure and the instructions provided on pages 175-189 of the textbook as you assemble your research report. 

Evaluation rubrics for the written assignments can be found within the written assignment submission links in Moodle.

Peer Review Assignments

You are required to complete four peer review assignments. You will complete a peer review on Written assignments 1, 2, 5, and 7. See each module for more detail.

"As a peer reviewer, your job is not to provide answers. You raise questions; the writer makes the choices. You act as a mirror, showing the writer how the draft looks to you and pointing out areas which need attention." - S. Williams (Univ. of Hawaii at Manoa Writing Program)

Located within the Evaluation Rubrics section of the course website is the peer review assignment rubric used to aid in the grading of all peer review assignments.

Capstone Research Project

A capstone research project is required for this course. The project consists of a final paper (50% of your grade), a presentation of the report’s findings (15% of your grade), and a presentation discussion (5% of your grade).

To aid in your project’s development, course module written assignments and peer reviews have been specifically designed to guide the research process and provide valuable feedback as you complete the different phases of your research. The final challenge of the process will be your ability to compile your answers, findings, and feedback from the written assignments and peer reviews and customize it to fit the structure and the instructions provided on pages 175-189 of the textbook as you assemble your final paper.

Once you have completed your final paper you are required to present it in a video presentation. You will upload your presentation to a discussion forum and answer questions from your classmates.

See the Module 8 section of the course website for more details. Evaluation rubrics for the Final Paper and Project Presentation can be found within the assignment submission links in Moodle. The online discussion forum rubric located within the Evaluation Rubrics section of the course website will be used to grade the Project Presentation Discussion Forum.

GRADING AND EVALUATION

Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:

All activities will receive a numerical grade of 0–100. You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted. Your final grade in the course will be a letter grade. Letter grade equivalents for numerical grades are as follows:

A

=

93–100

B

=

83–87

A–

=

90–92

C

=

73–82

B+

=

88–89

F

=

Below 73

To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of C or higher on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., assignments, discussion postings, projects, etc.). Graduate students must maintain a B average overall to remain in good academic standing.

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

First Steps to Success

To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:

Study Tips

Consider the following study tips for success:

ACADEMIC POLICIES

To ensure success in all your academic endeavors and coursework at Thomas Edison State University, familiarize yourself with all administrative and academic policies including those related to academic integrity, course late submissions, course extensions, and grading policies.

For more, see:

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