COUC 870 Advanced Research Seminar

This course is designed to assist doctoral students in clarifying, developing, and completing their dissertations by examining both the methodological and practical issues involved in research designs and advanced data analysis procedures. Under the supervision of the instructor, students will present their own dissertation research ideas to the seminar participants for discussion, critique, and advice. Specific attention will be given to insuring that students craft research questions that build upon previous research and select an appropriate research design and analytic strategy. Concerns about research quality and rigor will be addressed in detail. Additionally, institutional guidelines regarding thesis and dissertation policies and procedures, the Human Research Review Committee application, publication options, timelines, committee membership, etc., will be reviewed.

The advanced doctoral student is in a position of synthesizing and integrating his/her previous learning skills with the prospect of conducting original research in their field of interest. This course is designed to enhance their research skills by drawing together the knowledge, insights, and skills of his/her previous learning and combining this knowledge with advanced research design methodology and statistical analysis. In the process of dialoguing with other students and critiquing their research questions, research methodology, and data analytic strategies, each student will also present his or her research questions and dialogue with the class and the professor to develop the core knowledge and skills needed to produce a dissertation that will make a meaningful contribution to the research, theory, and practice of professional counseling within a Christian worldview.

Method of Instruction: This 16 week course is delivered using an in-person synchronous format. The student attends 36-40 hours of classroom-based instruction at our campus in Lynchburg. In addition to the one week of synchronous class time, the student is expected to complete additional work digitally both pre- and post-intensive over the duration of the semester.

Readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will share information about the general topic direction in which he or she plans to conduct research. Each thread must be at least 200 words and include 3 scholarly references. (CLO: A, B, C, H)

The student will make notes on 75 scholarly, peer-reviewed articles prior to attending the intensive. (CLO: A, B, C, G, H)

In a doctoral level course, in-class class participation is essential to the student’s development as a scholar. The student will participate in all in-class activities and submissions. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H)

The student will complete a quiz that requires the student to submit either Chapter 2 of the manuscript, or Chapters 1–3 of the manuscript. This upload will not initiate a formal review of the manuscript; however, this manuscript upload will provide evidence of progress within the course, and track progress within the program. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H)

Quiz: Dispositions Reflection

The Quiz: Dispositions Reflection will ask the student to rate himself/herself on the nine dispositions required for this program by our accrediting bodies. This quiz consists of 9 multiple-choice questions and 1 essay question, allows for one attempt, and has a time limit of 1 hour.