ET 648 Course Syllabus

Department of Engineering and Technology
       Western Carolina University

Course:  ET 648 Research and Proposal Development for Thesis or Directed Project.

Instructor:  Dr. Aaron K. Ball             Office:  332 Belk
                     Email:  ballaaron@wcu.edu

Course Overview

The ET 648 project should be focused and applied.   Quantitative, empirical studies are highly recommended.  It will be up to the individual student to identify and refine a topic, conduct the experiment, analyze data, and generate professional reports.  While the topic can be across a wide variety of subjects, it should focus on your area of professional interest, be applied and contribute to a new body of knowledge.  Rather than just an academic exercise, beneficial outcomes should be generated by completing the project.

The following are key goals of the course:
• Develop the skills in carrying out research and data analysis.
• Implement project management skills for organization and time management
• Develop a professional writing process both to produce high-quality documents and to diagnose problems in documents.
• Learn how to conceptualize, develop, and manage larger, complex, and challenging writing tasks.
• Determine how to choose the most appropriate medium or combination of media to accomplish the goals of documentation.
• Polish a piece of writing through revisions to a professional level and learn how to work with reviewers.
• Deliver a professional report and research article (for submission).

Required Formats:   APA or IEEE as applicable.  Note:  Engineering Technology students should use APA, Electrical students will use IEEE format.

Responsibilities

    Instructor.  The instructor will provide general guidelines for carrying out a sound and
    reputable study, provide general formatting requirements for reports, and offer general
    recommendations for methodology and data analysis for students under the non-thesis option.
   Thesis students will work primarily with their major professor and committee.  The instructor will not select
    your project.  This is your directed project/thesis, and the instructor only provides direction
    and guidance.
    Students.  Students are responsible for identifying their research topic, requesting a
    mentor with expertise in the area of research, submitting a proposal for approval,
    carrying out the research and data collection, writing a final report of findings, writing
    a condensed research article, and submitting the article for publication.  You should
    contact (as soon as possible) a faculty member with expertise in the topic you choose,
    and request guidance and assistance to serve as a mentor.

Project Proposal

A preliminary project proposal is due within two weeks (for students beginning the MST program or students under the non-thesis option, and must include the sections shown in the proposal format section.

Proposal Format:  (For additional guidance in preparing the proposal, see the WCU current Graduate School's thesis guide!
 

     Statement of the problem  (Include background and need for studying the problem)
         Goals:
         Objectives:

     Literature Review
         (Identify typical sources of literature that will be reviewed, and provide one
          condensed review of a related study.  Focus on examples of other similar research
          studies that have been successful.)

     Project approach and methods
         (Outline what methods you will incorporate to carry out the project.  These methods
          should highlight the procedures of carrying out the study as well as the anticipated
          data analysis methods).

     Schedule
          (Develop a schedule of tasks and time line of completion of the project.  A Gantt
           Chart should be included with your proposal).
     Deliverables
         (Identify the actual deliverables that will be presented as a result of carrying out the
          project).

Evaluation for New Students and non-thesis students:

        Proposal                                      10%                Due in 2 weeks
        Literature Reviews                       20%                Due in 6 weeks
           (5 minimum, 1 peer)
        Written Report                             45%                Due by week 10
        Research Article                           25%                Due by week 12

Evaluation for continuing THESIS students:
        Continued research and the written thesis document will be evaluated by your major professor
        and thesis committee!
        The deliverables for the ET 648 class your research based professional article as a formal submission
        to an appropriate journal as approved by your major professor and thesis committee.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Western Carolina University is committed
to providing equal educational opportunities for students with documented disabilities.  Students
who require disability services or reasonable accommodations must identify themselves as having
a disability and provide current diagnostic documentation to Disability Services.  All information
is confidential.  Please contact Disability Services for more information at (828) 227-2716 or
144 Killian Annex.