Seminars and Graduate Skills Courses

A seminar series with invited speakers on a variety of topics in environmental sciences.

A seminar series with invited speakers on a variety of topics in natural resources.

A seminar series with invited speakers on a variety of topics in wildlife sciences.

Details the preparation of manuscripts for thesis chapters and submission to peer-reviewed journals. Exercises include identifying scope, unique requirements for manuscript parts, use of graphing and reference database tools, editing and peer reviewing. Two 75 min classes per week, first half of semester. Second half of semester involves weekly writing workshops to finalize projects. Entry into class requires possession of analyzed dataset.

Principles of graphics design for science, including the graphical presentation of data for printed and electronic journals, poster presentations, and oral presentations. Students will analyze published scientific graphics as well as learn to design their own graphs based on data from their graduate research or other sources.

This course will provide research tools to students interested in local and community administration. Topics will include research design, inferential statistics, regression analysis, binary dependent variable modeling with application to policy analysis and performance measurement, and program evaluation.

This course reviews the foundations of qualitative design, investigating the history, philosophy, key concepts and terms, and nature of qualitative research. Examples of different types of qualitative research and assessment issues will be discussed, specifically focusing on the main qualitative traditions (case study, phenomenology, ethnography, narrative, historical, and action research). Topics will include: conceptualizing research questions, reviewing the literature, selection of appropriate design and methods of data collection, positionality, logic and coherency of research procedures/methods; interpretation of findings, establishing quality and rigor; research writing and reading, Institutional Review Board policies with respect to human subjects; and ethical issues. Students will read and evaluate qualitative research, conduct components of qualitative research, and identify methodological elements and issues.

The overall goal of the course is to prepare students to apply quantitative research methodology in education. Topics include understanding applied experimental, quasi-experimental and behavioral designs, survey design, measurement and instrumentation, sampling, item analysis, reliability analysis, and validity assessment.
Prereq: ED 571.

This course builds and expands on ED 574 Survey of Qualitative Research and examines qualitative research designs and the use of theory in qualitative research. The course will introduce ethnography, phenomenology, case study, narrative, historical and action research designs. Each design will be explored through four overarching theoretical lenses (organizational, economic, critical, and learning), allowing students to understand the role of theory in guiding and informing research design and methods. The aim of the course is to give students the tools to conceptualize their thesis or dissertation work.
Prereq: ED 574 or Permission.

This course builds and expands on ED 589 Theoretical Applications and Design of Qualitative Research and is designed for graduate students who intend to conduct qualitative research. This course is an advanced seminar to assist in developing skills in data analysis and the presentation of qualitative research findings. It will focus on contemporary discourse among qualitative researchers concerning the analysis of qualitative data. Theoretical foundations learned in ED 574 and ED 589 will be revisited as participants examine the ways in which theory informs and guides analysis and interpretation. Assignments are designed to facilitate the interaction between data, analysis, writing, and the literature.
Prereq: ED 574 and ED 589.

A seminar series with invited speakers on a variety of topics in geography.

This doctoral level course involves learners in an examination of the philosophical foundations, epistemological assumptions, and methodological frameworks of educational and social science research. Given the current acknowledgement of the importance of perspective and point of view in inquiry. readings in gender, class, and ethnic identity will be included.
Prereq: Enrollment to a doctoral program.