POLITICAL SCIENCE 4953
SENIOR SEMINAR
Spring semester 2005, T 2:00-4:40, SH121
Instructor, Dr. Mike Sharp
Office: SH 308; Ph. (918) 456-5511, x3530; E-Mail,
sharp@nsuok.edu
Hours: 8:00-10:00 M; 9:00-11:00 and 1:00-2:00 T;
3:30-5:30 W; 3:30-4:30 Th (BA)
and by arrangement.
Course Objectives:
The senior seminar is designed to provide a capstone experience which
will allow students to draw upon their acquired knowledge in political
science by exercising their critical thinking ability while expanding
their research and writing skills. Students will identify a
research topic, develop a preliminary
prospectus, conduct a literature review and pursue the research to
fruition in the form of a major research paper. A designated
professor will direct the initial stage of research development.
Individual students then will be assigned to the immediate supervision
of the faculty specializing in the area of research for the conduct and
reporting of the project. At faculty discretion, meritorious
research projects may be proposed for conference presentation or
publication.
Course Format:
Successful completion of the senior seminar is dependent upon
establishing and maintaining a rigorous schedule for the completion of
individual stages of the research project. For this reason the
following time table is established.
Week one------Course introduction and orientation
Week two------Identification of research topic
Week three-----Presentation and discussion of preliminary research
prospectus
Week four------Presentation and discussion of literature review
Week five------Assignment of supervising faculty
Week six-------Research under supervising faculty
Week seven----Continued research under supervising faculty and class
discussion of progress
Week eight-----Research under supervising faculty
Week nine------Continued research under supervising faculty and class
discussion of progress
Week ten-------Research under supervising faculty
Week eleven----Continued research under supervising faculty and class
discussion of progress
Week twelve----Research under supervising faculty
Week thirteen---Continued research under supervising faculty and class
discussion of progress
Week fourteen--Research under supervising faculty
Week fiftine-----Research under supervising faculty
Week sixteen---Formal presentation of research project to class/faculty
Special Considerations:
If any member of the class feels that he/she has a disability
and needs
special considerations please advise the instructor of such disability
at the first class attended. If any student encounters particular
difficulty with any aspect of the material being covered, s/he is
encouraged to seek individual assistance from the instructor at the
designated office hours
listed above or by special appointment as arranged.