Main Content
Syllabus
The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.
HLS/PHP 594: Research Topics (3 credits): Supervised student activities on research projects identified on an individual or small-group basis.
Overview
In this course, you will utilize the information acquired from previous public health preparedness courses to design, carry out, and present a scholarly project. You will select the topic for the project. The presentation of your scholarly project will be in the form of a written paper. Your project and resulting paper must be original and contribute new knowledge to the field of public health preparedness. Your course instructor and/or chosen mentor will guide you through a step-wise process that culminates in the completion of your project. The project and paper can take one of four different forms. It can be: 1) a research project (e.g., an experimental, quasi-experimental, or non-experimental research project), 2) a systematic review of the literature on a particular study question, 3) an evaluation of an existing program, or 4) the creation of written plan for a program. An explanation of these four possibilities is presented below.
Scholarly paper based upon a research project. If you decide to conduct a research project, you will identify a problem to be studied, review the literature associated with the problem, collect data about the problem (quantitative &/or qualitative), analyze the data in order to either support or refute a pre-selected hypothesis or answer research questions, discuss your findings, present conclusions, and make recommendations based on your study.
Scholarly paper based upon the systematic review of the literature. If you decide to conduct a systematic review you will define a study question, create a strategy to identify appropriate literature, read and review the literature, extract the appropriate information from the literature, summarize the findings, present conclusions, and make recommendations based on your systematic review.
Scholarly paper that describes the evaluation of an existing program. If you decide to evaluate an existing program, you will provide a description of the program (via mission, goals, and objectives), explain the purpose of the evaluation, describe the methods and procedures used to evaluate the program, identify the logistics of carrying out the evaluation, and present the results of your evaluation.
A written plan for a new program. If you decide create a plan for a new program, you will conduct a needs assessment, create a program mission, goals, and objectives, develop an intervention, describe how the program will be implenented, and explain how the program would be evaluated.
Privacy Notice
For your privacy, the World Campus has chosen to limit course access to only those individuals that have a direct impact on your educational experience. In addition to the instructor, a teaching assistant may be assigned to the course to insure optimal faculty availability and access. At times, your course instructor may invite a guest lecturer in order to meet a specific educational goal or objective. Each course has one or two instructional designers to assist the instructor in managing both the course content and the online delivery. Finally, the Program Chair has course access for administrative and educational purposes. The Program Chair can serve as a valuable resource and mentor to both faculty and students. The Program Chair, in collaboration with your instructor, is ultimately responsible for overall course quality and for making sure that the academic integrity of the course is consistent with University and Program policies.
Course Objectives
At the end of this course, successful students will be able to:
- describe what constitutes a scholarly project and the steps necessary to complete a scholarly project.
- demonstrate, via a written paper, the fundamental principles and terminology associated with various types of scholarly projects.
- perform a literature search through the use of varied library resources, public domain repositories, and Internet search engines to support their scholarly project.
- develop and organize complex ideas in a logical, orderly, and well-written fashion.
- cultivate a professional appreciation for public health preparedness scholarly activity.
- have enhanced written communication skills.
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Library
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Requirements
For this course we recommend the minimum World Campus technical requirements listed below:
| Operating System | Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8*; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher *Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version |
|---|---|
| Processor | 2 GHz or higher |
| Memory | 1 GB of RAM |
| Hard Drive Space | 20 GB free disk space |
| Browser | We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or
Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion,
and for advice on downloading a supported version,
please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers.
Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled. Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses. |
| Plug-ins | Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe]
Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe] |
| Additional Software | Microsoft Office (2007 or later) |
| Internet Connection | Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required |
| Printer | Access to graphics-capable printer |
| DVD-ROM | Required |
| Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers | Required |
| Monitor | Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
Outreach Helpdesk
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Netiquette
Netiquette ("[inter]net" + "etiquette") is a special set of personal conduct rules for online communication and a topic worth reviewing. Remember, it is inappropriate to send offensive e-mail, chain letters or items that interfere with others' work. See these tips for guidance on the content of your postings and other online communications in this course.
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Course Schedule
Course Access
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Graduation
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.Grading Scale and Worth of the Assignments
Grades in this course are determined on total points earned in the course. All work will be graded on quality, promptness, and presentation. All worked turned in late will be marked down 3% (of the possible points) for each day after the due date. An assignment turned in on the due date but after the due time is considered late one day. Be aware that all assignments are "time stamped" when placed in a drop box. When using bibliographic entries in papers the APA style manual should be followed (see Publication Manual of American Psychological Association). The grading scale and the required assignments (see the Course Schedule above for a description of the assignments) are presented below.
| Grade | Percent | Points Needed for the Grade |
| A | 94 - 100% | ≥ 318 |
| A- | 90 - 93% | ≥ 304 |
| B+ | 87 - 89% | ≥ 294 |
| B | 84 - 86% | ≥ 284 |
| B- | 80 - 83% | ≥ 270 |
| C+ | 77 - 79% | ≥ 260 |
| C | 70 - 76% | ≥ 236 |
| D | 60 - 69% | ≥ 202 |
| F | < 60% | < 202 |
| Assignment Number | Assignment | Due Date | Point Value |
| #1a | PowerPoint® Profile Slide | 1-16-12 | 10 pts. |
|
#1b |
PowerPoint® Profile Questions PowerPoint® Profile Answers |
1-19-12 1-23-12 |
5 pts. 5 pts. |
| #2 | Initial Information | 1-23-12 | 10 pts. |
| #3 | Annotated Bibliography | 2-6-12 | 20 pts |
| #4 | Part I - Scholarly Paper | 2-20-12 | 20 pts |
| #5 | Part II - Scholarly Paper | 3-5-12 | 20 pts. |
| #6 | Part III - Scholarly Paper | 3-19-12 | 20 pts. |
| #7 | Part IV - Scholarly Paper | 4-2-12 | 20 pts. |
| #8 | Draft of Scholarly Paper | 4-16-12 | 20 pts. |
| #9 | Completed Scholarly Paper | 4-27-12 | 190 pts. |
| Total 340 pts. |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Graduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Unsatisfactory Grades
Unsatisfactory Grades All degree-seeking students in the MHS program who receive an F in the course will be reviewed by the Committee on Admissions and Academic Affairs, which has the final say regarding continued progress toward the degree, and under what conditions.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Turnitin
Turnitin is an electronic tool that Penn State students and faculty can use to check assignments for possible plagiarism issues. Since instructors use this tool to check written assignments, it may be valuable to you to check work before final submission. Here is a link for instructions and guidelines to Turnitin.
University Policies
Deferred Grades
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Accommodating Disabilities
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.