Course Directory

Assessment of Prior Learning
Field Study Courses
Directed Study Courses
Special Outside Training
Research Preparation Courses
Dissertations, Theses and Senior Projects
Comprehensive Final Examinations

Field Study Courses

Field study courses are designed for upper division and graduate students wishing to acquire advanced professional competencies and practical knowledge of the discipline through supervised practice, internship, apprenticeship, field exploration, laboratory experience, advanced professional experience, a student-directed project, or other appropriate field investigation. The field study is intended to expose the student to cases and situations which are representative of the role and function of an independent practitioner in the field of study. The course may be repeated in non-duplicative areas with permission of the primary mentor. Standardized course modules are provided at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The course may be repeated by enrolling for the next number in the sequence.

FLD 790-799: Field Study in XXX (1-6 credits)
Graduate students investigate core aspects of the discipline within the professional environment through close contact with practitioners and real world situations. Students may pursue field study through a supervised practice, apprenticeship, professional practice, advanced field study or other external exploration under the direction of a qualified mentor and an approved field site sponsor. Graduate students participate in the field study for a minimum of 50 contact hours per Akamai University semester credit. The field placement is expected to afford students appropriate practical hands on experience and in-depth knowledge of their professions. Students complete a daily journal and prepare a scholarly paper summarizing their findings for the field study. This course may be repeated using the next number in the course sequence and inserting the correct academic concentration. [open to graduate students only]

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Special Outside Training
Akamai University students are permitted to access superior quality outside training programs as an integral part of their program of studies. Outside training must be undertaken through eligible education and training institutions with close facilitation by Akamai University instructors. Eligible outside training allows our students to add in a significant manner to their advanced knowledge, academically and professionally, through hands-on or face-to-face training under the leadership of qualified trainers.

Outside training may include attendance (as well as presentation) at professional conferences, seminars, workshops and symposia including small-scale gatherings for the purposes of exchanging advanced level professional, research and academic information and for planning and think-tank activities. Students may attend retreats and closed gatherings for intensive interaction relative to special areas of academic and professional interest.

Special training may also include formally structured, externally administered training and supervised apprenticeships for professional and academic development.

Credit may be awarded for outside training via the University's processes of direct credit transfer or assessment of prior learning.

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Research Preparation Courses

Within certain limitations, the following research preparation courses are available across the University. Students are asked to consult with their primary mentor in selection of research coursework.

RES 500: Survey of Research Methods (3 credits)
This course inspects he foundational techniques of scholarly research. Topics explore sources of scholarly research literature, proper methods for evaluating research reports, fundamentals of qualitative and quantitative research methods.

RES 502: Understanding Research Journal Articles (3 credits)
This course empowers students in assessing the effectiveness of research papers from professional journals. Topics investigate the rigor or various research methods, replicability, bias and validity issues, and the appropriateness of statements of findings and recommendations from research. Students study effectiveness and problems in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data from studies and investigate the applicability and generalization of findings and the proper manner of presenting the details of their own research studies.

RES 504: Introductory Research Statistics (3 credits)
This course covers the basic statistical concepts, theory and methods in statistical research. Topics include variables, graphs, frequency distributions, measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion, probability theory, binomial, normal and Poisson distributions, statistical sampling theory, and statistical decision theory.

RES 506: Advanced Research Statistics (3 credits)
This course covers parametric and nonparametric hypothesis testing. Topics include sampling theory, Chi-square test, least squares regression, correlation theory, non-linear regression, analysis of variance, Student's t-test, and various methods in nonparametric analyses.

RES 508: Qualitative Research (3 credits)
This course provides detailed study of qualitative research methods. Topics survey historical and theoretical foundations of qualitative research, explore major qualitative research strategies, and build an understanding of the art and science of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting qualitative information. The course provides background on applied qualitative research, the politics and ethics of qualitative inquiry, and the major paradigms that inform and influence qualitative research.

RES 510: Participatory Action Research (3 credits)
This course provides the foundational principles of participatory action research. Topics survey theoretical foundations of action research, the methodology and applications of PAR in contemporary culture. Students assess the rigor and usefulness of participatory action research in addressing major world problems.

RES 512: Effective Data Analysis (3 credits)
This course examines modern scientific data analysis including the elements of effectiveness in study design, data gathering, processing of statistics and interpretation of findings.

RES 520: Social Science Research Methods (3 credits)
This course examines essential issues in social science research. Topics include assessment of data gathering techniques using selected case studies from journal articles. Students learn to measure attitudes and performance, use tests in data gathering, contrast and compare uses of statistical and qualitative methods, and evaluate focus group research.

RES 524: Techniques in Transpersonal Research (3 credits)
This course offers an exploration of qualitative research methods that are specific to studies in the transformative and spiritual dimensions of human experience. Topics investigate ways of knowing such as intuition, direct knowing, emotional and bodily cues, dreaming, and other internal phenomena. Students apply transpersonal methods to the research process, and contrast transpersonal methods to traditional empirical methods.

RES 526: Biological Illustration (3 credits)
This course investigates in detail the skills of drawing and painting by hand or camera lucida, photographic methods, video and digital imaging in biological illustration.

RES 527: Biological Modeling (3 credits)
This course explores the analytical and quantitative approaches to the study of biological systems. Topics include fitting data to models, dynamics of systems, transects, random sampling, coring, volumetric measurements, tracking and global positioning. This course presents different mathematical and statistical approaches including deterministic, chaotic, stochastic as well as discrete and continuous models.

RES 528: Environmental Science Research Methods (3 credits)
The course investigates the application of knowledge and understanding to problems of original research in environmental studies. Topics distinguish and interpret the differences among research paradigms and methods. Students review essential principles of ecological problems and how they are approached, the minimal requirements of experimental design in ecology, trade-offs in ecological experimentation. Students analyze current literature, critique existing research methodologies and studies, develop practical research skills, and formulate approaches to scholarly research., and prepare a scholarly paper.

RES 529: Calculus for Environmental Science (3 credits)
This course covers the fundamental topics of derivatives and integrals with emphasis on methods and applications. It is especially directed towards environmental studies in order to provide a valuable and useful device to help solve problems.

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Dissertations, Theses and Senior Projects

At Akamai University, the final project is the capstone of the degree program at all degree levels. At the undergraduate level, students pursue a senior project as the final academic course in their program. A project proposal is an integral part of the senior project. At the graduate level, a special research proposal course precedes the actual conduct of research (and preparation of the manuscript).

RES 490: Senior Project (6 credits)
The six-credit Senior Project is undertaken at the completion of the undergraduate program. It is intended to provide you with an opportunity to investigate an area of special interest in your academic concentration, which has potential for advancing your profession development. The senior project takes the form of a scholarly paper of at least 50 pages in length.

RES 885: Thesis Proposal (2 credits)
This course is required of all Masters students designed to guide them through the formal research proposal process for their final projects, including the development of the research methodology, data gathering device and data analysis techniques. Students also prepare annotated bibliographies of the major scholarly works underlying their project.

RES 890: Thesis (4 credits)
This course governs the conduct of the thesis project for the Masters level student. The Masters thesis is the demonstration of the mastery of a body of knowledge in a given field and is presented in a manuscript usually 75 or more pages in length. The final project may take any of several forms, depending upon the field of study and the expectations of faculty. This may be quantitative or qualitative research, participatory action research, or a major project demonstrating excellence. Master's students may re-enroll for this course for no-credit, as needed.

RES 985: Dissertation Proposal (4 credits)
This course is required of all Doctoral students to guide them through the formal research proposal process for their final projects, including the development of the research methodology, data gathering device and data analysis techniques. Students also prepare annotated bibliographies of the major scholarly works underlying their project.

RES 990: Dissertation (8 credits)
This course governs the conduct of the dissertation project for the Doctoral level student. The dissertation is a major undertaking that is a demonstration of mastery of a field of study and an original contribution to the field usually 150 or more pages in length. The final project may take any of several forms, depending upon the field of study and the expectations of faculty. This may be quantitative or qualitative research, participatory action research, or a major project demonstrating excellence. Doctoral students may re-enroll for this course for no-credit, as needed.

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Comprehensive Examinations

All students participate in University administered comprehensive examinations as a required element of their degree programs. Final examinations include both written and oral components. The written portion, designed by the primary mentor (with other faculty assistance), is open book style with selected essay questions presented to the student by email. The questions are designed to require the student to creatively respond to the subject matter, addressing real world problems and situations, through reflection, decision making, and problem solving, drawing upon the competencies acquired within the subject matter concentration. The students written responses are expected to include effective citations and references to the academic literature. The oral component of the examination is usually conducted by telephone conference and is designed to permit a careful review of the students responses on the written portion. A students participation in the final examination follows completion of all academic requirements. At the graduate level, students participate in a second comprehensive examination following the review of their major project manuscript. This oral review of the final project is usually conducted by telephone conference and is designed to permit a careful review of the students project and written manuscript.

EXM 490: Comprehensive Examination-Bachelors Students (no-credit)
Undergraduate students complete this final examination at the end of their academic program. The examination usually includes both written and oral components and is confined to the programs of studies completed by the student.

EXM 885: Comprehensive Examination-Masters Students (no-credit)
Masters students complete this comprehensive examination as a required element of their academic program, prior to undertaking the thesis. The examination usually includes both written and oral components and is confined to the programs of studies completed by the student.

EXM 895: Oral Review of Thesis-Masters Students (no-credit)
This examination is an oral review of the Masters thesis conducted by the graduate committee immediately following their reading of the thesis manuscript.

EXM 985: Comprehensive Examination-Doctoral Students (no credit)
This is the traditional comprehensive examination of doctoral students (including students completing the combined Masters/Doctoral program) conducted by the graduate committee immediately following completion of the academic coursework and prior to undertaking the dissertation. The examination usually includes both written and oral components and is confined to the programs of studies completed by the student.

EXM 995: Oral Defense of Dissertation-Doctoral Students (no credit)
This examination is an oral defense of the Doctoral dissertation conducted by the graduate committee immediately following their reading of the dissertation manuscript.

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