KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE COURSE PROPOSAL OR REVISION,
Cover Sheet (10/02/2002)
Course Number/Program Name CHEM 7000 – Research Skills and Ethics/ M.S.CHEM
Department Chemistry & Biochemistry
Degree Title (if applicable)
Proposed Effective Date August 2012
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:
Faculty Member
Approved
_____
Date
Not Approved
Department Curriculum Committee Date
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Not Approved
Department Chair
Date
College Curriculum Committee
Date
College Dean
Date
GPCC Chair
Date
Dean, Graduate College
Date
Not Approved
Not Approved
Not Approved
Not Approved
Not Approved
Vice President for Academic Affairs Date
Approved
Not Approved
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
___
Class Hours
____Laboratory Hours_______Credit Hours________
Prerequisites
___
Description (or Current Degree Requirements)
II.
Proposed Information (Fill in for changes and new courses)
Course Prefix and Number CHEM 7000
Course Title ____ Research Skills and Ethics
___________
Class Hours 3 ____Laboratory Hours___0____CreditHours____3____
Prerequisites Admission and enrollment in the Master of Science in Chemical
Sciences degree program.
Description (or Proposed Degree Requirements)
This course offers an exploration of the process and practice of research skills needed by a professional
scientist. Students will be exposed to basic safety and ethical issues involved in doing and reporting
scientific research. Topics include an introduction to resources and methods for searching the chemical
literature, univariate and multivariate techniques for analyzing laboratory data, writing grant proposals
and scientific reviews, and the proper use of a laboratory notebook.
III.
Justification
All graduate students need to be exposed to the concepts in this course in order to effectively carry out
research and understand the research process and factors involved in successful and ethical research.
IV.
Additional Information (for New Courses only)
Instructor: any faculty member in the Chem. & Biochem. Dept.
Text: Coghill, Anne M. and Garson, Lorrin R, Eds. The ACS Style Guide: Effective
Communication of Scientific Information, 3rd ed.; Oxford University Press: New York, 2006.
Prerequisites: Admission and enrollment in the Master of Science in Chemical
Sciences degree program.
Objectives:
1. Recognize and describe the content and organization of primary and secondary
sources of chemical information and proper use of a laboratory notebook.
2.
Utilize manual and on-line literature searching with SciFinder Scholar, Web of
Science, and PubMed to retrieve information such as that listed below.
a. Chemical and physical properties of substances
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
References for chemical reactions
CAS Registry Number ® of compounds
Complete bibliography of a particular author
Recent review articles on a subject
Current primary articles on a subject
3. Write a review paper of current research area in chemistry or biochemistry and be
able to appropriately prepare figures, tables, reaction schemes, and a bibliography
according to the format commonly used in chemistry or biochemistry journals.
4.
Be exposed to various types of data analysis and proper statistical treatment of
common types of data in chemistry and biochemistry.
5.
Design a research proposal, identify safety considerations, possible funding sources,
and write it in the form of a proposal for that funding agency.
6. Explain the process of the peer review system for scientific documentation and
identify peer-reviewed journals in their field.
7. Explain the importance of scientific integrity in the scientific community, discuss
several case examples and compose a well-reasoned response to an ethical problem in
doing or reporting scientific research.
Instructional Method:
Lectures and homework assignments will be given. Some topics will involve group discussion.
Method of Evaluation:
Students will do homework assignments (50%), search and read chemical literature to write a
review paper (25)%, and prepare an ethics response paper (25%).
V.
Resources and Funding Required (New Courses only)
Resource
Amount
Faculty
no new faculty needed, graduate TA’s will allow existing
faculty to teach graduate courses by alleviating the workload in the undergraduate
classes.
Other Personnel
Equipment
Supplies
Travel
New Books
New Journals
Other (Specify)
TOTAL
N/A
Funding Required Beyond
Normal Departmental Growth
N/A
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 30 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
CHEM
7000
Research Skills and Ethics
3-0-3
Fall 2012
Regular
N/A
N/A
APPROVED:
________________________________________________
Vice President for Academic Affairs or Designee __
VII Attach Syllabus
COURSE SYLLABUS
Research Skills and Ethics
INSTRUCTOR:
Dr. Jennifer Powers, Science 429
Phone: (770) 423-6256
Email: jpowers@kennesaw.edu
COURSE MATERIAL:
Book: The ACS Style Guide: Effective Communication of Scientific Information, 3rd ed,
Eds: Anne M. Coghill and Lorrin R. Garson
Oxford University Press, 2006.
Course Description: This course offers an exploration of the process and practice of research skills needed
by a professional scientist. Students will be exposed to basic safety and ethical issues involved in doing
and reporting scientific research. Topics include an introduction to resources and methods for searching
the chemical literature, univariate and multivariate techniques for analyzing laboratory data, writing grant
proposals and scientific reviews, and the proper use of a laboratory notebook.
Writing Help: The KSU Writing Center is a free service offered to all KSU students. Experienced, friendly writing
assistants work with you throughout the writing process on concerns such as topic development, revision, research,
documentation, grammar, and mechanics. Rather than edit your paper for you, writing assistants will help you learn
strategies to become a better writer on your own. For more information or to make an appointment (appointments
are strongly encouraged), visit http://www.kennesaw.edu/english/WritingCenter, or stop by Room 242 in the
English Building.
Online Library Catalog/Database Access: http://www.kennesaw.edu/library/
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Recognize and describe the content and organization of primary and secondary sources of
chemical information and proper use of a laboratory notebook.
2.
Utilize manual and on-line literature searching with SciFinder Scholar, Web of Science, and
PubMed to retrieve information such as that listed below.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Chemical and physical properties of substances
References for chemical reactions
CAS Registry Number ® of compounds
Complete bibliography of a particular author
Recent review articles on a subject
Current primary articles on a subject
3. Write a review paper of current research area in chemistry or biochemistry and be able to
appropriately prepare figures, tables, reaction schemes, and a bibliography according to the
format commonly used in chemistry or biochemistry journals.
4.
Be exposed to various types of data analysis and proper statistical treatment of common
types of data in chemistry and biochemistry.
5.
Design a research proposal, identify safety considerations, possible funding sources, and
write it in the form of a proposal for that funding agency.
6. 6. Explain the process of the peer review system for scientific documentation and identify
peer-reviewed journals in their field.
7. Explain the importance of scientific integrity in the scientific community, discuss several case
examples and compose a well-reasoned response to an ethical problem in doing or reporting
scientific research.
GRADING:
Grade will be determined by a variety of homework assignments and papers
Homeworks
50%
Written Review
25%
Ethics Response Paper
25%
Grading Scale:
90 - 100%
80 - 89%
70 - 79%
60 - 69%
< 60%
A
B
C
D
F
Attendance Policy: Lecture attendance is required, but not directly counted toward the grade.
Students are responsible for all material covered in class and announcements made.
ACADEMIC HONESTY: The policy on academic honesty is given in the college catalog and the
student handbook. It is summarized below. Students failing to adhere to this policy will be held
accountable. Cheating--in any form--is considered a serious offense and will be treated as such.
Academic Integrity Statement:
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.
Plagiarism: Copying or paraphrasing either all or a portion of another student’s homework, assignments,
or reports is improper and easily detected. Copying or paraphrasing without referencing a previously
published article is also plagiarism. Plagiarism is academic misconduct and will be handled through the
established procedures of the University Judiciary Program.
Disruption of Campus Life Statement: It is the purpose of the institution to provide a campus
environment, which encourages academic accomplishment, personal growth, and a spirit of understanding
and cooperation. An important part of maintaining such an environment is the commitment to protect the
health and safety of every member of the campus community. Belligerent, abusive, profane, threatening
and/or inappropriate behavior on the part of students is a violation of the Kennesaw State University
Student Conduct Regulations. Students who are found guilty of such misconduct may be subject to
immediate dismissal from the institution. In addition, these violations of state law may also be subject to
criminal action beyond the University disciplinary process.
Preview of Teaching Evaluation Questionnaire: The KSU faculty value student comments about the
course, instructor and materials, etc., which can be used to improve teaching and learning. A survey
consisting of the following questions will be distributed during the last two weeks of classes. Students
should consider them during the term and be prepared to answer them.
1. Identify the aspects of the course that most contributed to your learning (include examples of specific
materials, exercises and/or the faculty member’s approach to teaching, supervision and mentoring).
2. Identify the aspects of the course, if any, that might be improved (include examples of specific
materials, exercises and/or the faculty member’s approach to teaching, supervision and mentoring).