KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE COURSE PROPOSAL OR REVISION,
Cover Sheet (10/02/2002)
Course Number/Program Name CRJU 8000 / MSCJ
Department
Sociology and Criminal Justice
Degree Title (if applicable) N/A
Proposed Effective Date Summer 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 __CRJU 8000_______________________
Course Title __Thesis
__
Credit Hours___3-0-3 (repeated across two semesters)________________
Prerequisites Eighteen (18) completed hours of core courses in the Criminal
Justice Graduate Program and permission of the MSCJ program director
Description (or Proposed Degree Requirements)
This course will result in a research paper or scholarly project developed
under the guidance of a graduate criminal justice faculty advisor.
III.
Justification
To complete the MSCJ program, MSCJ students are allowed to select
either a thesis option or the criminal justice policy research project. The
purpose of CRJU 8800 is to provide graduate students in the MSCJ
program the opportunity to conceptualize, design, conduct, present, and
disseminate an original research study in the field of criminal justice. The
knowledge and skills in completing a thesis is essential for students
planning to pursue a Ph.D. degree.
IV.
Additional Information (for New Courses only)
Instructor: TBD____________________________________
Text:
N/A
Prerequisites: Eighteen (18) completed hours of core courses in the Criminal
Justice Graduate Program and permission of the MSCJ program director
Objectives: The student should be able to conduct and complete the research
process in criminal justice by demonstrating the following competencies:
-
Demonstrate the ability to articulate a problem, topic, or research
questions within the field of criminal justice after review of the
literature.
Develop a hypothesis for a topic related to criminal justice.
Design an independent research study aimed at testing the chosen
hypothesis.
Select samples of the study using a systematic and random technique.
Gather and statistically analyze the data.
Demonstrate good writing and communication skills (i.e., writing
thesis chapters and conducting a thesis presentation).
Demonstrate how to write an academic research paper conforming to
the American Psychological Association style (APA).
Instructional Method
-
The student will conduct his/her thesis under the supervision of a
graduate faculty advisor and the oversight of a Thesis Committee.
Method of Evaluation
-
V.
The student will receive on-going feedback from the graduate faculty
advisor and approval of the Thesis Committee before and during the
defense of the research project.
Resources and Funding Required (New Courses only)
Resource
Amount
Faculty
Other Personnel
Equipment
Supplies
Travel
New Books
New Journals
Other (Specify)
existing
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
TOTAL
0
Funding Required Beyond
Normal Departmental Growth $0.0
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
Criminal Justice
CRJU 8000
Thesis
3-0-3 (repeated across two semesters)
Summer 2012
S/U
none
none
APPROVED:
________________________________________________
Vice President for Academic Affairs or Designee __
VII Attach Syllabus
Course Syllabus
CRJU 8000 (Thesis)
Instructor: TBD
Required Text: N/A
Prerequisite: Twenty-four (24) completed hours in the Criminal Justice Graduate Program.
Course description: This course includes thesis research, preparation and completion.
Course Objectives: The student should be able to conduct and complete the research process in
criminal justice by demonstrating the following competencies:
1. Demonstrate the ability to articulate a problem, topic, or research questions within the
field of criminal justice after review of the literature.
2. Develop a hypothesis for a topic related to criminal justice.
3. Design an independent research study aimed at testing the chosen hypothesis.
4. Select samples of the study using a systematic and random technique.
5. Gather and statistically analyze the data.
6. Demonstrate good writing and communication skills (i.e., writing thesis chapters and
conducting a thesis presentation).
7. Demonstrate how to write an academic research paper conforming to the American
Psychological Association style (APA).
Course Requirements/Assignments: The only requirement for this course is a thesis. The
student must consult with his/her advisor and thesis committee in order to conceptualize, design,
conduct, and disseminate an original research study related to an issue in criminal justice. The
student must present the study before the Thesis Committee.
Evaluation and Grading: The thesis will be graded using a holistic rubric, including originality of
research idea, research questions and hypotheses, theoretical framework, literature review, research
design and sampling, contribution to the field, written presentation, and oral presentation. The ratings are
“not meeting expectations,” “meeting expectations,” or “exceeding expectations.” To receive satisfied
grading, the student must meet or exceed expectations in all categories upon completion and approval of
the thesis.
Class Attendance and Participation: N/A
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.
Note: Section II A of the KSU Student Code of Conduct was modified beginning fall semester 2011 to
address problems with the misuse of electronic devices and the resubmission of the same work in two
classes. The revised section IIA reads as follows.
II A. Plagiarism and Cheating
No student shall receive, attempt to receive, knowingly give or attempt to give unauthorized assistance in
the preparation of any work required to be submitted for credit (including examinations, laboratory
reports, essays, themes, term papers, etc.). Unless specifically authorized, the presence and/or use of
electronic devices during an examination, quiz, or other class assignment is considered cheating.
Engaging in any behavior which a professor prohibits as academic misconduct in the syllabus or in class
discussion is cheating. When direct quotations are used, they should be indicated, and when the ideas,
theories, data, figures, graphs, programs, electronic based information or illustrations of someone other
than the student are incorporated into a paper or used in a project, they should be duly acknowledged. No
student may submit the same, or substantially the same, paper or other assignment for credit in more than
one class without the prior permission of the current professor(s).
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: KSU provides program accessibility and reasonable
accommodations for students defined as disabled under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or
the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. A number of services are available to help disabled students
with their academic work. In order to make arrangements for special services, students must visit the
Office of Disabled Student Support Services (located on the second floor of the Student Center) and
arrange an individual assistance plan.
Writing Center: KSU also offers a free service to all students with the goals of not only helping students
write better papers, but also making the students become better writers. I encourage you to visit their
office in the Humanities Building (Room 242) and talk to their personnel about your writing assignments.
You can also go to their website at http://www.kennesaw.edu/english/WritingCenter/ and click on the
“Make an Appointment” link.
Reading Schedule: N/A