Graduate Studies Reports Access

Graduate Course Proposal Form Submission Detail - IDS6918
Tracking Number - 4755

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Current Status: Approved by SCNS - 2014-12-01
Campus: Tampa
Submission Type: New
Course Change Information (for course changes only):
Comments: to GC. Form has variable in required fields. Need to revise - emailed faculty 10/28/13. updated. Back to GC 3/20/14. Approved. Eff 11/1/14


Detail Information

  1. Date & Time Submitted: 2013-05-21
  2. Department:
  3. College: CS
  4. Budget Account Number: 390500
  5. Contact Person: Carl Herndl
  6. Phone: 9749557
  7. Email: cgh@usf.edu
  8. Prefix: IDS
  9. Number: 6918
  10. Full Title: Directed Independent Research
  11. Credit Hours: 1-3
  12. Section Type: Z - Directed Individual Study
  13. Is the course title variable?: N
  14. Is a permit required for registration?: Y
  15. Are the credit hours variable?: Y
  16. Is this course repeatable?: Y
  17. If repeatable, how many times?: 0
  18. Abbreviated Title (30 characters maximum): Directed Research
  19. Course Online?: B - Face-to-face and online (separate sections)
  20. Percentage Online: 0
  21. Grading Option: S - S/U Only
  22. Prerequisites:
  23. Corequisites:
  24. Course Description: Research projects or certain aspects of research carried out by student(s) under the supervision of an instructor intended to help students acquire skills in applying research principles and obtaining practice in rigorous data collection and research.

  25. Please briefly explain why it is necessary and/or desirable to add this course: Needed for new program/concentration/certificate
  26. What is the need or demand for this course? (Indicate if this course is part of a required sequence in the major.) What other programs would this course service? The MA in Global Sustainability has recently moved to the College of Sustainability which was established in Jan 2 2013. This is part of an effort to establish the standard courses in every academic program. This course is the basic directed research course for the College.
  27. Has this course been offered as Selected Topics/Experimental Topics course? If yes, how many times? No
  28. What qualifications for training and/or experience are necessary to teach this course? (List minimum qualifications for the instructor.)
  29. Objectives: By the end of the semester, the student will have:

    1. identified a research topic for study;

    2. completed a comprehensive review of the relevant literature;

    3. developed a finite set of significant research questions;

    4. conceptualized and designed a methodology to address the research questions;

    5. written a comprehensive research proposal;

    6. Gathered and Analyzed the data necessary to address the research questions;

    7. Written a research report in the appropriate professional style.

  30. Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course, the student will be able to:

    1. conceptualize a research project that makes an original contribution to the scholarship;

    2. local, critically review and synthesize the relevant published literature and use this to frame the research project;

    3. develop a research methodology that is robust and appropriate for the research questions;

    4. gather and analyze appropriate data;

    5. submit IRB forms (if necessary);

    6. develop a professional research report.

  31. Major Topics: Major topics to be taken up in the course include:

    1. developing a viable research question;

    2. conducting a literature review in order to frame a research project;

    3. research design;

    4. data analysis;

    5. writing a research report.

  32. Textbooks: Although there are no standard textbooks assigned for all directed research. It is expected that students will use the qualitative or quantitative research texts form previous courses or texts stipulated by the individual directed research supervising professor.le
  33. Course Readings, Online Resources, and Other Purchases: Again, there are no standard readings for directed research since topics can vary a great deal. However, supervising faculty will provide suggestions for books and articles as they develop the project with individual students.
  34. Student Expectations/Requirements and Grading Policy: Students will be expected to read, pursue research and gather data, to analyze data and write at a level appropriate to professional publication in appropriate journals. Grading will be on the S/SU system.
  35. Assignments, Exams and Tests: Directed research will not entail exams or tests. It will require written documents for literature reviews, research proposals and research reports.
  36. Attendance Policy: Course Attendance at First Class Meeting – Policy for Graduate Students: For structured courses, 6000 and above, the College/Campus Dean will set the first-day class attendance requirement. Check with the College for specific information. This policy is not applicable to courses in the following categories: Educational Outreach, Open University (TV), FEEDS Program, Community Experiential Learning (CEL), Cooperative Education Training, and courses that do not have regularly scheduled meeting days/times (such as, directed reading/research or study, individual research, thesis, dissertation, internship, practica, etc.). Students are responsible for dropping undesired courses in these categories by the 5th day of classes to avoid fee liability and academic penalty. (See USF Regulation – Registration - 4.0101,

    http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/ogc%20web/currentreg.htm)

    Attendance Policy for the Observance of Religious Days by Students: In accordance with Sections 1006.53 and 1001.74(10)(g) Florida Statutes and Board of Governors Regulation 6C-6.0115, the University of South Florida (University/USF) has established the following policy regarding religious observances: (http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/gc_pp/acadaf/gc10-045.htm)

    In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USF to suspend normal operations. During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: Blackboard, Elluminate, Skype, and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It’s the responsibility of the student to monitor Blackboard site for each class for course specific communication, and the main USF, College, and department websites, emails, and MoBull messages for important general information.

  37. Policy on Make-up Work: Since directed research is individual, there are no exams and tests, and scheduling is flexible, there is no standard policy for make-up work.
  38. Program This Course Supports: MA in Global Sustainability
  39. Course Concurrence Information:


- if you have questions about any of these fields, please contact chinescobb@grad.usf.edu or joe@grad.usf.edu.