INTS 4391-001: INTERDISCIPLARY RESEARCH CAPSTONE
MWF 9-9:50 am, Fall 2011
Instructor: Cindy Atha-Weldon, PhD
Office Number: UH 512
Office Telephone Number: 817-272-0815; 817-272-5008
Email Address: ; Please use the UTA email option in Blackboard for all communication for this class [Plagiarism Quiz score is an exception]
Office Hours: Monday 9-10:30 am or by appointment made through Blackboard
Section Information: INTS 4391-001
Time and Place of Class Meetings: MWF 9-9:50 am UH 004
Description of Course Content: “As the final course in the interdisciplinary studies sequence, the senior capstone research project students to demonstrate mastery of the interdisciplinary process by applying it to a complex issue with a focus on the student’s stated career/academic goals, Degree Title, and Areas of Concentration.” At least 9 peer-reviewed journal articles must be used.
Student Learning Outcomes: Mission of the INTS Program:
Interdisciplinary Studies is a recognized and growing set of ideas, practices, and organizations. The interdisciplinary studies program (INTS) at the University of Texas at Arlington enables students to build rigorous and coherent personalized degree plans guided by professional advisors. The INTS curriculum immerses students in current movements in interdisciplinary thinking, learning, and problem-solving. The faculty is dedicated to developing the field through excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, and professional affiliation.
Measurable Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will demonstrate the ability to:
· research, write, and present senior-level integrative work that demonstrates mastery of the interdisciplinary research process with appropriate format (APA)
· identify the parts of a problem, question, or issue that is appropriate for interdisciplinary inquiry and that relates to the student’s professional or academic goals
· develop a scholarly Problem Definition
· identify the germane disciplines and their insights that relate to the problem
· conduct research through peer-reviewed literature to reveal pertinent insights
· evaluate the scholarly merit and relevance of each insight
· critically probe the disciplinary insights into the problem to identify sources of conflict
· demonstrate the ability to create or discover common ground
· integrate conflicting insights into the problem
· demonstrate the ability to develop an understanding of a problem that is more comprehensive than is possible using single-subject approaches
· test the understanding by proposing a new policy/plan/program that will solve the problem through some relevant implementation
Prerequisites: For students who entered the INTS program under catalogues prior to the 2005-07, successful completion of INTS 2301 with a grade of “C” or better is required, senior standing, and Advisor approval. For all other students, a “C” or better in 4301 is required. It is assumed that all students have mastered basic computer, oral, and writing skills as evidenced in written assignments completed in INTS 2301 or 4301 and in ENGL 1301 & 1302 and in the computer and oral proficiency classes.
Required Textbooks and Other Course Materials:
· Repko, A. (2008). Interdisciplinary research: Process and theory. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. [new text not required since students already have this edition]
· APA Pocket Guide (there will be a new APA format guide in Blackboard and links to materials and library); all other materials will be on Blackboard as well.
Descriptions of major assignments and examinations: All written assignments must be submitted as an email attachment in Blackboard (unless otherwise instructed; Safe Assign will be used). Assignments must be typed in Times Roman 12 point font & conform to new APA standards. Blackboard will be used for many announcements, library handouts and for supplemental information. Quizzes are mostly designed from Repko chapters and PowerPoints available under Blackboard; they will be taken through Blackboard. Class discussion will be encouraged to build a cooperative learning community to increase the amount of informational resources available to all students. Many of you have great ideas to contribute to the Capstone adventure.
Attendance: Attendance is essential in order to do well in this class; it is considered to be part of the class participation grade, and signatures will be taken some class days. Throughout the semester, there will be “in the field” days and workshops for groups so that students may visit the library, writing center, or conduct their research. The instructor will be available by appointment or email for guidance (individual or group) during those times. No grade deductions will be taken for most absences; yet, some class sessions (librarian visit, group project presentations, guest speakers, etc.) may be mandatory and are counted in grading. Priority for appointments and emails will be given to those who attend class regularly or who have documented absences.
Grading: Course Requirements & Grading Policy:
Activity Due / Maximum Points / % of Total Grade10 QUIZZES in Blackboard Weekly / 100 points each (X .20) / 20 %
INTRODUCTION
/ 100 points (X .10) / 10 %
DISCIPLINARY INSIGHTS & COMMON GROUND
/ 100 points (X .35) / 35 %
FINAL INTEGRATION with CONCL
/ 100 points (X .30) / 30 %
COGNITIONS / 100 points (X .05) / (05 %)
TOTAL POINTS: / 100%
The grading scale is as follows: Blackboard will have an Overall Grade Column for Percentages
A= 90-100 percent B= 80-89.95 percent C= 70-79.95 percent
D= 60-69.95 percent F= below 59.95 percent (where were you?)
Grade Grievances: The instructor does not “give” students grades. Rather, the instructor interprets a student’s work in order to assign the grade that has been earned. Students are always welcome to discuss with the instructor the grade earned and ways that the student might have earned a better grade. In the event that this discussion does not address the student’s concerns, the student may contest his/her grade with the instructor in accordance with UTA policies. In the event that the student wishes to contest his/her grade, the student must follow the procedure specified in the “Student Grievance Procedure Related to Grades” in the university’s online catalogue at http://www.uta.edu/catalog/general/academicreg.
Drop Policy: Students may drop or swap (adding and dropping a class concurrently) classes through self-service in MyMav from the beginning of the registration period through the late registration period. After the late registration period, students must see their academic advisor to drop a class or withdraw BEFORE DROPPING ANY COURSE, YOU MUST MEET WITH YOUR ADVISOR TO DISCUSS HOW THIS DECISION MAY IMPACT GRADUATION. The last day to drop with a “W” is November 04, 2011. I cannot just do this for you. You must take the initiative and complete a Drop Form that you can obtain from the INTS Office or online. Be certain to retain a copy of this form (the yellow copy) for your records as it will be the only proof that you have in fact dropped the course. Students will not be automatically dropped for non-attendance. Repayment of certain types of financial aid administered through the University may be required as the result of dropping classes or withdrawing. For more information, contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships (http://wweb.uta.edu/ses/fao).
Americans with Disabilities Act: The University of Texas at Arlington is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of all federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). All instructors at UT Arlington are required by law to provide "reasonable accommodations" to students with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. Any student requiring an accommodation for this course must provide the instructor with official documentation in the form of a letter certified by the staff in the Office for Students with Disabilities, University Hall 102. Only those students who have officially documented a need for an accommodation will have their request honored. Information regarding diagnostic criteria and policies for obtaining disability-based academic accommodations can be found at www.uta.edu/disability or by calling the Office for Students with Disabilities at (817) 272-3364.
Academic Integrity: At UT Arlington, academic dishonesty is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in any form, including (but not limited to) “cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts” (UT System Regents’ Rule 50101, §2.2). Suspected violations of academic integrity standards will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. Violators will be disciplined in accordance with University policy, which may result in the student’s suspension or expulsion from the University.
Student Support Services: UT Arlington provides a variety of resources and programs designed to help students develop academic skills, deal with personal situations, and better understand concepts and information related to their courses. Resources include tutoring, major-based learning centers, developmental education, advising and mentoring, personal counseling, and federally funded programs. For individualized referrals, students may contact the Maverick Resource Hotline by calling 817-272-6107, sending a message to , or visiting www.uta.edu/resources.
Late Work Policy: Unrestricted Tardiness is unfair to students who meet the deadlines. Students entering the academic or corporate world must become familiar with deadlines. To prepare students for reality after graduation, the following policy concerning late papers will be vigorously enforced. For Quizzes there is a 7 day window for taking any Quiz; there should be no reason for any requests for excuses unless there is a serious reason that can be documented. For all other assignments, there will be 7 points subtracted per day for the first three days (20 pts total; better late than never). After 72 hours, exceptions will be made only when students present documentation of an unforeseeable, significant, and unavoidable situation that prevented their completion of the assignment. Examples of such documentation include but are not limited to police reports documenting a major traffic accident or victimization by crime, jury duty, or records of hospitalization or medical treatment for serious illness or injury. This evidence must be presented as promptly as possible after the missed assignment. Please place documents in an envelope, address to Dr. Cindy Atha-Weldon with the student name on the outside, and take to the main office to be placed in faculty mail box. Please do not take up class time or send emails for these situations unless you are ready to document the reason. Email me after you have done so or alert me that the documents are forthcoming. If you know in advance of a due date that you will be unable to turn in an assignment for an acceptable reason, please report to the instructor ahead of time. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE SEMESTER; there will not be time to meet when the grading period begins.
Incompletes: For an Incomplete,a student (1) must havesatisfactorilycompleted most of the required work (@ 50% minimum), (2) must document extreme need, (3) must notify the instructor why s/he is unable to attend class and complete assignments, and (4) must contract with the instructor to make up all missed work. Please promptly place documents in an envelope, address to Dr. Cindy Atha-Weldon, and take to the main office to be placed in her mailbox. Examples of extreme need include car accidents, weather crisis, loss of job, and severe health problems. These must be documented. Not showing up for several class periods for no specific reason does not qualify a student for an Incomplete. Students should keep in mind that an Incomplete is not a “get out of normal class requirements card.” If, for some reason, a student is granted an incomplete, s/he is required to make up ALL missed work prior to the end of the next long semester. This “making up” includes participating in ALL missed class activities. Absenteeism will negatively affect the student’s grade. The Instructor will specify in the contract the work that must be completed. The student is responsible for collecting all class materials before the end of the semester. (Military exceptions may apply)
Absences for Military Service: Per UTA policies, absences for military deployment will be excused without penalty, but students must meet the instructor to agree to a plan to complete course work if significant time will be missed due to deployment. Where possible students should provide documentation listing all relevant facts of deployment, including but not limited to dates, duration, and expected ability to attend to course work while deployed.
Active Learning Measures in 4391:
· Students will identify a research problem of personal interest and apply a unique set of perspectives and scholarly insights to investigate it and proposing a better understanding of it.
· Inquiry Methods will take precedence over lecturing; students can expect to be called on in class
· Students will be expected to come to class prepared participate in class discussions
· Students will keep current on assigned readings and their careful reading and study of class texts will be evaluated through quizzes
· Students will be encouraged to attend the instructor’s office hours and/or workshops to discuss their projects
A note on classroom behavior: An environment of distraction compromises learning for all students. Those not intending to engage in active learning are responsible for not interfering with the learning of others. To that end,
· Cell phones will be absolutely banned. [sit at the back and step out if there is a reason]
o Class will not proceed if cell phones are in use or out in plain sight.
o Cell phones are not note taking devices.
· I reserve the right to demand that laptops be closed at any time in furtherance of the objectives of active learning and discussion
o Laptops are note-taking devices, but may also be distraction devices.
o I will ban laptops outright if I hear complaints about improper laptop use in class (Facebook, videos, online poker, making LOLcats, IM, etc.)
o Students should be prepared to take notes on paper in this case.
· Reading books for other classes, newspapers, or other non-related reading materials will be banned
· I will pause class until disruptive behaviors cease. Repeated violations will be referred to Student Conduct.
Submission Procedure for Written Work