Research Sequences
 

Many of the Ph.D. programs at Walden University require students to take a sequence of research courses.

 

Foundation Research Sequence—Schools of Health Sciences, Management, and Counseling and Social Service

The Foundation Research Sequence consists of three courses, each of which treats a specific aspect of the research process. Each seminar is one quarter in duration. Two seminars are online, requiring students to participate in weekly, Web-based seminar discussions and to submit specified assignments. The foundation research sequence is supported for Ph.D. programs by comparable milestone seminars offered at all Walden residencies. Instructors guide discussions, require specific readings, and evaluate assignments.

 

Foundation Research Seminar I

The first seminar in the sequence is SBSF 8417 Human Inquiry and Science. This interdisciplinary online seminar must be completed within one year (4 full quarters) of successful completion of SBSF 8005. Students must successfully complete SBSF 8417 before registering for the second or third research seminar.

 

Foundation Research Seminars II and III

The second and third seminars (8427 and 8437) are program-specific. Students must complete 8417 and 8427 successfully before submitting a dissertation proposal. Some programs require students to complete at least two KAMs or specific courses before enrolling in the second and third research seminars.

 

Research Sequence—Riley College of Education and Leadership

The Research Sequence in the Ph.D. in Education program consists of four core research courses. Each course is one quarter in duration. The courses are offered online, requiring students to participate in weekly Web-based seminar discussions and to submit specified assignments. In addition, for some specializations, two advanced research courses are required and are conducted as independent studies. 

 

Core Research Sequence

Research Seminar I
The first course in the sequence is SBSF 8417 Human Inquiry and Science. This interdisciplinary online seminar must be completed within one year (4 full quarters) of successful completion of SBSF 8005. Students must successfully complete SBSF 8417 before registering for later research courses.

 

Research Seminars II, III, and IV
The second, third, and fourth courses (EDUC 8428, 8438, and 8448) develop research skills and knowledge related specifically to educational research. EDUC 8428 is a prerequisite for EDUC 8438 and EDUC 8448. 

 

Advanced Research Sequence
The last two courses in the Research Sequence (EDUC 8458 and 8468) are required in the general and self-designed programs, and in the Adult Education Leadership; Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment; Early Childhood Education; Higher Education; and Special Education specializations. They are optional in the Community College Leadership and K–12 Educational Leadership specializations and may be replaced by a practicum; they are not required in the Educational Technology specialization. These two courses are conducted as paired independent studies under the guidance of the faculty mentor or the dissertation chair. They provide an opportunity to develop specific aspects of a student’s research plan and communicate the results of that research.

 

Registering, Completing, and Receiving Credit for the Research Sequence Courses

Students register for the research sequence courses using the regular course registration process.

 

The basis of each course is an online discussion that begins on the first day of the quarter. Students use email and online classrooms accessible via the Internet to participate in the asynchronous discussions (except for EDUC 8458 and 8468). Course instructors facilitate seminar activities based on assigned readings and topics posted in the syllabus at the beginning of the quarter. Assignments are collected and evaluated. For components that incorporate in-person meetings, attendance at all meetings is mandatory.

 

Each seminar carries a credit value as specified in the program sections of this catalog. Course instructors evaluate student performance and award a grade of S (Satisfactory) to those students who complete a Foundation Research Sequence seminar successfully. A grade of S is equivalent to a letter grade of B or better. The university cannot convert a grade of S to a letter grade. Students who do not complete the seminar successfully receive a grade of U (Unsatisfactory). Grades of A, B, and F are awarded in the Research Sequence courses for the Riley College of Education and Leadership. The registrar makes these notations on the student’s academic record and awards the appropriate credits.