Course Descriptions

SBSF 8005 Foundations for Doctoral Study (6 cr.)
This course provides new students with an introduction to Walden University and the Knowledge Area Module (KAM)–based curricula. Course assignments and activities broaden students’ understanding of the reading, writing, and library research skills necessary to perform at a doctoral level and include the Professional Development Plan, Program of Study, and initial KAM Learning Agreement. (Students in selected doctoral programs/specializations are required to take this course immediately upon enrollment and must successfully complete it before proceeding with other course or KAM work.)

Core KAM I: Principles of Social Change (14 cr.)
KAM I offers students perspectives in the social and behavioral sciences and how they influence human values and lifestyles, communication, social networks, and forecasting alternative futures. Students begin to integrate theoretical constructs into practical applications for individual interest areas.

Breadth: SBSF 8110 Theories of Social Change (5 cr.)
Depth: SBSF 8120 Current Research in Social Change (5 cr.)
Application: SBSF 8130 Professional Practice and Social Change (4 cr.)

Core KAM II: Principles of Human Development (14 cr.)
Students examine basic theories and current research on biological, psychosocial, cognitive, and affective human development, including normal developmental patterns and crises that may occur. Students explore developmental questions in the context of both chronological time and underlying physical, social, and psychological experiences.

Breadth: SBSF 8210 Theories of Human Development (5 cr.)
Depth: SBSF 8220 Current Research in Human Development (5 cr.)
Application: SBSF 8230 Professional Practice and Human Development (4 cr.)

Core KAM III: Principles of Organizational and Social Systems (14 cr.)
This KAM provides an introduction to systems theories from various disciplines. The primary models of structured system theories are presented as a background and theoretical framework for the other knowledge areas. Also studied are theories that impact micro and macro levels of social, political, and economic systems.

Breadth: SBSF 8310 Theories of Organizational and Social Systems (5 cr.)
Depth: SBSF 8320 Current Research in Organizational and Social Systems (5 cr.)
Application: SBSF 8330 Professional Practice and Organizational and Social Systems (4 cr.)

HUMN 9000 Dissertation (30 cr.)
This course offers doctoral students the opportunity to integrate their Program of Study into an in-depth exploration of an interest area that includes the completion of a research study. Students complete the dissertation independently, with the guidance of a dissertation supervisory committee chair and committee members. Students complete a prospectus, proposal, Institutional Review Board application, and dissertation. Once students register for HUMN 9000, they are registered each term until successful completion of the dissertation. (Prerequisites: Core KAMs, SBSF 8417, HUMN 8427.)

RSCH 8100 Research Theory, Design, and Methods (4 cr.)
This research course provides students with core knowledge and skills for understanding, analyzing, and designing research at the doctoral level. Students explore the philosophy of science, the importance of theory in research, and research processes. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method research designs and methods are introduced. Ethical and social change implications of conducting research, producing knowledge, and engaging in scholarship are emphasized. Students will apply and synthesize their knowledge and skills by developing elements of simple research plans.  (Prerequisite a Foundations course or first course in a program)

RSCH 8200 Quantitative Reasoning (4 cr.)
This research course provides students with core knowledge and skills for designing quantitative research at the doctoral level, including understanding data analysis and applying statistical concepts. Students explore classical quantitative research designs and common statistical tests, the importance of quality assurance, and ethical and social change implications of conducting quantitative research and producing knowledge. This course approaches statistics from a problem-solving perspective with emphasis on selecting appropriate statistical tests for a research design. Students use statistical software to calculate statistics and interpret and present results. Students will apply and synthesize their knowledge and skills by developing a quantitative research plan.  (Prerequisite: RSCH 810.0)

RSCH 8300 Qualitative Reasoning (4 cr.)
This research course provides students with core knowledge and skills for designing qualitative research at the doctoral level, including understanding data analysis. Students explore the nature of qualitative inquiry; fieldwork strategies and the nature of observation; theoretical approaches to qualitative research; the importance of quality assurance; and the ethical, legal, and social change implications of conducting qualitative research and producing knowledge. Students use software to code data and interpret and present results. Students will apply and synthesize their knowledge and skills by developing a qualitative research plan.  (Prerequisite: RSCH 8100.)