CPSE 699-R: Thesis
Spring 2006
Place & Time: 5:30 – 7:00, Mondays, 160 MCKB
Instructor: Lane Fischer, Ph.D., 422-4200 (W), 489-8378 (H), 340-L MCKB
Background:
Historically in this department and still in most departments, thesis credits have been purchased by students to pay for faculty time supervising their research. Students would meet with their individual advisors with more or less regularity and work on their studies alone. Over the years I have noticed that this system was neither the most efficient for faculty nor the most effective for students. In 2004, I proposed that CPSE organize a more systematic way to support students through the thesis process. This proposal coincided with the university’s requirement that, in order to grant school psychology students an Ed.S., they would be required to complete a thesis. It also coincided with CPSE’s application for NASP accreditation which requires a three year program and a very strong preference for the Ed.S.
Purpose:
The purpose of this course is to provide training, information and group support that are commonly needed to complete a thesis.
Goal:
Each student will defend his/her thesis by the end of winter, 2007.
This will enable each student to engage unencumbered in internship in summer, 2007.
Process:
You will register for 2 credits of 699-R in spring, fall, and winter semesters. You will typically meet as a group with me once a week during those semesters for instruction, accountability, and support. Frequency and duration will depend on the needs at hand.
I will orient you to many of the facets of completing a thesis including:
Myths and realities about theses
IRB history and processes
Daily writing program
Thesis structure
Working with your committee and chair
Drafts and revision process
Prospectus defense
Reviews of literature
Data analysis
Final oral defense
Electronic submission of theses
I will track your progress. I will nudge you along with short term and mid-range goals.
I will train you in a daily writing program that has been shown to be very effective.
I will troubleshoot problems with each of you in class so that solutions generalize from one student to the other. We will adapt training to the needs at hand.
We will celebrate each other’s successes and support each other through the frustrations of completing a thesis. NGSLB = No Graduate Student Left Behind!
You will receive an ongoing “T” grade until you defend your thesis at which point your advisor will submit a grade change to a “P” for all previous “T” grades. If you defend before Winter, you still need to register for a final total of six 699-R credits which I will post as “P” grades.
This course is designed to support your success and is the second most fun course you will take in this program.