KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE COURSE PROPOSAL OR REVISION,
Cover Sheet (10/02/2002)
Course Number/Program Name INCM 9230/International Conflict Management
Department College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Degree Title (if applicable) Ph.D. in International Conflict Management
Proposed Effective Date Fall 2010
Check one or more of the following and complete the appropriate sections:
X New Course Proposal
Course Title Change
Course Number Change
Course Credit Change
Course Prerequisite Change
Course Description Change
Sections to be Completed
II, III, IV, V, VII
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
Notes:
If proposed changes to an existing course are substantial (credit hours, title, and description), a new course with a
new number should be proposed.
A new Course Proposal (Sections II, III, IV, V, VII) is required for each new course proposed as part of a new
program. Current catalog information (Section I) is required for each existing course incorporated into the
program.
Minor changes to a course can use the simplified E-Z Course Change Form.
Submitted by:
Approved
Linda M. Johnston, Ph.D.
Faculty Member
_____
Date
Not Approved
Department Curriculum Committee Date
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Not Approved
Department Chair
Date
School Curriculum Committee
Date
School Dean
Date
GPCC Chair
Date
Dean, Graduate College
Date
Not Approved
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Vice President for Academic Affairs Date
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President
Date
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE COURSE/CONCENTRATION/PROGRAM CHANGE
I.
Current Information (Fill in for changes)
Page Number in Current Catalog
Course Prefix and Number
Course Title
Credit Hours
Prerequisites
Description (or Current Degree Requirements)
II.
Proposed Information (Fill in for changes and new courses)
Course Prefix and Number INCM 9230_____________________________
Course Title Advanced Qualitative Methods
Credit Hours 3-2-4
Prerequisites INCM 9103 Qualitative Methods
Description (or Proposed Degree Requirements)
This course will cover advanced topics beyond those covered in INCM
9103: Qualitative Methods such as phenomenology, grounded theory, and
content analysis. The lab component will involve projects interpreting and
applying these techniques using software for qualitative analysis (e.g.
NVIVO8) and/or practical field experience.
III.
Justification
This course provides the student with advanced knowledge to excel in
research methods after completion of Qualitative Methods.
IV.
Additional Information (for New Courses only)
Instructor:_ Richard Engstrom, Ph.D.
Text:
Prerequisites: INCM 9103 Qualitative Methods
Objectives:
 Discuss the role qualitative research plays in social science.
 Understand the methodological issues that would lead one to use a qualitative
approach to research.
 Successfully design and implement a research project using modern, qualitative
methods.
 Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of their research design, and defend it when
critiqued.
 Explain the results of the research project, in both oral and written form.
Instructional Method
-Class lecture, discussion, projects
Method of Evaluation
- Tests,
V.
research paper, oral presentation, and participation.
Resources and Funding Required (New Courses only)
Resource
Amount
Faculty
Other Personnel
Equipment
Supplies
Travel
New Books
New Journals
Other (Specify)
TOTAL
Funding Required Beyond
Normal Departmental Growth
The costs are included in the overall cost for the new Ph.D. program and are not separate.
VI. COURSE MASTER FORM
This form will be completed by the requesting department and will be sent to the Office of the
Registrar once the course has been approved by the Office of the President.
The form is required for all new courses.
DISCIPLINE
COURSE NUMBER
COURSE TITLE FOR LABEL
(Note: Limit 16 spaces)
CLASS-LAB-CREDIT HOURS
Approval, Effective Term
Grades Allowed (Regular or S/U)
If course used to satisfy CPC, what areas?
Learning Support Programs courses which are
required as prerequisites
INCM
9230
Advanced Qualitative Methods
3-2-4
Fall 2010
Regular
APPROVED:
________________________________________________
Vice President for Academic Affairs or Designee __
VII Attach Syllabus
INCM 9230: Advanced Qualitative Methods
Ph.D. Program in International Conflict Management
Kennesaw State University
I. Professor Contact Information
Dr. Richard N. Engstrom
Room 2040B, Social Sciences Building
rengstro@kennesaw.edu
678-797-2930
II. Course Pre-requisites, Co-requisites, and/or Other Restrictions
INCM 9103
III. Course Description
In this course, students will learn to apply qualitative methods to research questions. The class will begin by
discussing when and why qualitative methods are appropriate for research questions. The class will then read and
discuss examples of recent qualitative case studies, focusing on their methodologies, strengths and weaknesses.
This is followed by a debate between two sets of authors over the characteristics of good qualitative research. King,
Keohane, and Verb’s book, Designing Social Inquiry, critiques standard qualitative methods and argues that insights
from quantitative social science are needed to improve case study research. George Alexander and Andrew Bennett
counter King, et al.’s claims, and argue that small-n qualitative research has the ability to both develop and test
social science theories. Students will produce a research paper, using qualitative methods, and will structure their
research design and methods to address the critiques in the debate over what defines good qualitative research. In
addition to the three-hour per week class meeting, students will attend a one-hour per week lab session. Lab
sessions will focus on the research project, and will address the practical issues of planning, field work,
interviewing, and analysis, as they conceptualize, implement, and interpret their research.
IV. Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes
After successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
Discuss the role qualitative research plays in social science.
Understand the methodological issues that would lead one to use a qualitative approach to research.
Successfully design and implement a research project using modern, qualitative methods.
Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of their research design, and defend it when critiqued.
Explain the results of the research project, in both oral and written form.
V. Textbooks and Materials
George, Alexander L., and Andrew Bennett. 2005. Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences.
MIT Press.
King, Gary, Robert O. Keohane, and Sidney Verba. 1994. Designing Social Inquiry. Princeton University Press.
Silverman, David. 2001. Interpreting Qualitative Data: Methods for Analyzing Talk, Text and Interaction, 2nd ed.
Sage.
Selected published articles identified in the “Course Outline” section of the syllabus.
VI. Course Outline
Part 1: Overview of Qualitative Research
Week 1: Introduction
Week 2: The Qualitative Research Project
Almond, Gabriel A. and Stephen J. Genco. 1977. “Clouds, Clocks, and the Study of Politics,”
World Politics 29: 489-522.
Silverman: Chapters 1-3
Week 3: Conducting Qualitative Research
Silverman: Chapters 4-7.
Week 4: Case Studies
Joy Langston and Scott Morgenstern. 2009. "Campaigning in an Electoral Authoritarian Regime:
The Case of Mexico." Comparative Politics.
Gilley, Bruce. 2008. “Legitimacy and Institutional Change: The Case of China.” Comparative
Political Studies 41: 259-284.
Hayes, Jarrod. 2009. “Identity and Securitization in the Democratic Peace: The United States and
the Divergence of Response to India and Iran's Nuclear Programs” International Studies Quarterly
53: 977-999.
Part 2: King, Keohane, and Verba’s Critique and Remedy
Week 5: KKV, qualitative studies, case selection and causation
King: Chapters 1-4
Week 6: KKV, measurement, and error
King: Chapters 5 and 6
Week 7: Midterm Exam
Week 8: Paper Workshop
Students should come to class with a two-page statement describing their research question. We
will discuss issues such as case selection and techniques for comparison, as well as questions
about gathering evidence, in class.
Part 3: Alexander and Bennett’s New Approach to the Case Study
Week 9: Alexander and Bennett, defending the case study
Alexander: Chapters 1-3
Week 10: Alexander and Bennett, case study design and implications
Alexander: Chapters 4-6
Annotated Bibliographies Due
Week 11: Using Comparisons
Alexander: Chapters 7-9
Week 12: Process Tracing and Policy
Alexander: Chapters 10-12
Part 4: Conclusion and Student Research Projects
Week 13: Conclusions
Silverman: Chapters 8-10
Critical Literature Review Due
Week 14: Student Presentations I
Week 15: Student Presentations II
Papers Due
TBA: Final Exam
VII. Grading Policy
Grades will be calculated as follows:
Mid-term test: 25%
Final test: 25%
Oral Presentation: 15%
Research Paper: 25%
Student Participation: 10%
The research paper is a critical element of the course and should be taken very seriously. First, students will submit
a two-page statement describing their research question and explaining why it was selected. Next, students will
submit a list of at least 10 articles or three books on the topic and a brief abstract for each that presents the basic
argument, findings, and relevance for the student's question. Next, students will submit a critical literature review (810 pages). This will serve as the basis for a 15-minute in-class presentation. Finally, building on this discussion,
students will submit a 20-page research paper that includes a revised version of the literature review and the research
findings of an original research.
Grading scale: A: 90-100; B: 80-89; C: 70-79; D: 60-69; F: < 60
VIII. Academic Integrity
Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct, as published in the
Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs. Section II of the Student Code of Conduct addresses the University's policy
on academic honesty, including provisions regarding plagiarism and cheating, unauthorized access to University
materials, misrepresentation/falsification of University records or academic work, malicious removal, retention, or
destruction of library materials, malicious/intentional misuse of computer facilities and/or services, and misuse of
student identification cards. Incidents of alleged academic misconduct will be handled through the established
procedures of the University Judiciary Program, which includes either an "informal" resolution by a faculty member,
resulting in a grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a student to the Code of Conduct's
minimum one semester suspension requirement.
IX. ADA Statement
Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet the
course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible to arrange the necessary accommodations.
Students should present appropriate verification from KSU disAbled Student Support Services. No requirement
exists that accommodations be made prior to completion of this approved University process. Accommodations are
arranged on an individualized, as-needed basis after the needs and circumstances have been evaluated. The
following individuals have been designated by the President of the University to provide assistance and ensure
compliance with the ADA. Should you require assistance or have further questions about the ADA, please contact:
Carol Pope, Asst. Dir. for disAbled Student Support Services
770-423-6443, 770-423-6667F, 770-423-6480TTY
cpope@kennesaw.edu
disAbled Student Support Services Website
http://www.kennesaw.edu/stu_dev/dsss/dsss.html