GUIDELINES FOR SENIOR STUDY: DIVISION OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

I. Goals of the Senior Study Senior Study 351-352 facilitates the scholarship of discovery within the major field and integrates those methods with the educational goals fostered through the Maryville College Curriculum. The goal for the Social Sciences student is to explore a research concept independently (but with the guidance of a faculty supervisor) using the knowledge and skills appropriate to the major. II. The 351-352 Course Sequence A. Specifications For Types of Studies by Major 1. Business and Organization Management: Both thesis-based and nonthesis-based options are permitted. The nonthesis-based option is case study research (described in II D below). The thesis-based option involves archival or field research. The faculty supervisor must approve any field research in advance. 2. Economics: In this major, thesis-based projects involving archival or field research are conducted. The faculty supervisor must approve any field research in advance. 3. Economics with Teacher Licensure: In this major, thesis-based projects involving archival or field research are conducted. The faculty supervisor must approve any field research in advance. 4. Environmental Studies: In this major, thesis-based projects involving archival or field research are conducted. The faculty supervisor must approve any field research in advance. 5. International Business: : Both thesis-based and nonthesis-based options are permitted. The nonthesis-based option is case study research (described in II D below). The thesis-based option involves archival or field research. The faculty supervisor must approve any field research in advance. 6. International Studies: In this major, thesis-based projects involving archival or field research are conducted. The faculty supervisor must approve any field research in advance. 7. Political Science: In this major, thesis-based projects involving archival or field research are conducted. The faculty supervisor must approve any field research in advance. 8. Political Science with Teacher Licensure: In this major, thesis-based projects involving archival or field research are conducted. The faculty supervisor must approve any field research in advance 9. Sociology: In this major, thesis-based projects involving archival or field research are conducted. The faculty supervisor must approve any field research in advance.

B. Expectations and Responsibilities of Supervisors 1. Supervisors will distribute the Senior Study (SS) syllabus (appropriate to the major) to students. 2. Supervisors will meet weekly with each student, either individually as needed or in groups with all their SS students. The meeting time (at least one half-hour conference per week) is established by the first week of the semester. 3. Supervisors are responsible for guiding SS students to an appropriate topic of study. 4. The supervisor assists the student in gathering the background reference list and materials needed for the project. 5. Supervisors are responsible for evaluating both progress and content of SS work. The Supervisor is responsible for assessing the grammatical and documentary accuracy and mechanical correctness of the final thesisbased study or final project report that goes to the Editor including its conformity to the proper reference citation form. 6. The supervisor provides clarifying counsel as needed throughout the entire process. 7. If the project is a non-traditional Senior Study (one not accounted for in the Divisional Guidelines for Senior Study), the supervisor must provide written approval and sign a proposal written by the student stating the nature of the finished product. The proposal is due to the chair of the Individualized Study Committee no later than the second full week of the 351 term. 8. If the project involves human and/or animal research, the supervisor is responsible for verifying that the necessary paperwork is submitted and approved before the student begins collecting data. In order to do research involving humans or animals, Social Sciences students must have taken SLS 301, Social Sciences Research Methods, or have permission of the supervisor. 9. The supervisor is responsible for collecting the final print copy of the SS 352 for the departmental archives, as well as forwarding the electronic copy to the Division Chair. C. Required Syllabi Components 1. Deadlines for submissions to the supervisor and Editor 2. Deadlines for submissions to the Human & Animal Participants Committee 3. Maryville College policy regarding Incompletes 4. Criteria for grading 5. Objectives for SS 6. Course Expectations 7. Student and Supervisor responsibilities 8. Reference citation format

D.

Specification of Work accomplished in Senior Study 351-352 by major 1. Business and Organization Management a. BUS 351 - The work of BUS 351 (3 credit hours) for the case study option involves in-depth research on an organization and its environment, assembly of a bibliography, a draft of the case study narrative, and approval of the Human & Animal Participants Committee proposal, when appropriate. The format of the paper submitted to the faculty supervisor and senior study editor follows the Case Study Style Guide developed by the Division of Social Sciences. For the thesis-based option, the work of BUS 351 involves a background literature search, the assembly of the reference list, a substantial part of the research, and the development of the Human & Animal Participants Committee proposal, when appropriate. The format of the paper submitted to the faculty supervisor and senior study editor follows MLA-style guidelines with references attached b. BUS 352 The work of BUS 352 (3 credit hours) for the case study option involves revising the case study draft for final presentation and developing an instructors manual to accompany the case. Typically the instructors manual will include analytical questions that could direct a class discussion and will present answers that draw on models or theories in the field of study. An epilogue may be included. An abstract or synopsis of the case of no more than 200 words will be developed. The completed senior study consists of an abstract, the case study, reference list, and instructors manual. For the thesis-based option, the work of BUS 352 involves revising the review of the literature and analyzing, interpreting, and discussing the findings and implications of the research, and developing an abstract of no more than 200 words. 2. Economics a. ECN 351 - The work of ECN 351 (3 credit hours) involves a background literature search, the assembly of the reference list, a substantial part of the research, and the development of the Human & Animal Participants Committee proposal, when appropriate. The format of the paper submitted to the faculty supervisor and senior study editor follows MLA-style guidelines with references attached. b. ECN 352 - The work of ECN 352 (3 credit hours) involves revising the review of the literature and analyzing, interpreting, and discussing the findings and implications of the research, and developing an abstract of no more than 200 words. 3. Economics with Teacher Licensure

a. ECN 351 - The work of ECN 351 (3 credit hours) involves a background literature search, the assembly of the reference list, a substantial part of the research, and the development of the Human & Animal Participants Committee proposal, when appropriate. The format of the paper submitted to the faculty supervisor and senior study editor follows MLA-style guidelines with references attached. b. ECN 352 - The work of ECN 352 (3 credit hours) involves revising the review of the literature and analyzing, interpreting, and discussing the findings and implications of the research, and developing an abstract of no more than 200 words. 4. Environmental Studies a. ENV 351 The work of ENV 351 (3 credit hours) involves a background literature search, the assembly of the reference list, and the development of the Human & Animal Participants Committee proposal, when appropriate. The format of the paper submitted to the faculty supervisor and senior study editor follows MLA-style guidelines with references attached. b. ENV 352 The work of ENV 352 (3 credit hours) involves revising the review of the literature and analyzing, interpreting, and discussing the findings and implications of the research, and developing an abstract of no more than 200 words. 5. International Business a. INB 351 - The work of INB 351 (3 credit hours) for the case study option involves in-depth research on an organization and its environment, assembly of a bibliography, a draft of the case study narrative, and approval of the Human & Animal Participants Committee proposal, when appropriate. The format of the paper submitted to the faculty supervisor and senior study editor follows the Case Study Style Guide developed by the Division of Social Sciences. For the thesis-based option, the work of INB 351 involves a background literature search, the assembly of the reference list, a substantial part of the research, and the development of the Human & Animal Participants Committee proposal, when appropriate. The format of the paper submitted to the faculty supervisor and senior study editor follows MLA-style guidelines with references attached b. INB 352 The work of INB 352 (3 credit hours) for the case study option involves revising the case study draft for final presentation and developing an instructors manual to accompany the case. Typically the instructors manual will

include analytical questions that could direct a class discussion and will present answers that draw on models or theories in the field of study. An epilogue may be included. An abstract or synopsis of the case of no more than 200 words will be developed. The completed senior study consists of an abstract, the case study, reference list, and instructors manual. For the thesis-based option, the work of BUS 352 involves revising the review of the literature and analyzing, interpreting, and discussing the findings and implications of the research, and developing an abstract of no more than 200 words. 6. International Studies a. INT 351 - The work of INT 351 (3 credit hours) involves a background literature search, the assembly of the reference list, a substantial part of the research, and the development of the Human & Animal Participants Committee proposal, when appropriate. The format of the paper submitted to the faculty supervisor and senior study editor follows MLA-style guidelines with references attached. b. INT 352 - The work of INT 352 (3 credit hours) involves revising the review of the literature and analyzing, interpreting, and discussing the findings and implications of the research, and developing an abstract of no more than 200 words. 7. Political Science a. PLS 351 - The work of PLS 351 (3 credit hours) involves a background literature search, the assembly of the reference list, a substantial part of the research, and the development of the Human & Animal Participants Committee proposal, when appropriate. The format of the paper submitted to the faculty supervisor and senior study editor follows MLA-style guidelines with references attached. b. PLS 352 - The work of PLS 352 (3 credit hours) involves revising the review of the literature and analyzing, interpreting, and discussing the findings and implications of the research, and developing an abstract of no more than 200 words. 8. Political Science with Teacher Licensure a. PLS 351 - The work of PLS 351 (3 credit hours) involves a background literature search, the assembly of the reference list, a substantial part of the research, and the development of the Human & Animal Participants Committee proposal, when appropriate. The format of the paper submitted to the faculty

supervisor and senior study editor follows MLA-style guidelines with references attached. b. PLS 352 - The work of PLS 352 (3 credit hours) involves revising the review of the literature and analyzing, interpreting, and discussing the findings and implications of the research, and developing an abstract of no more than 200 words. 9. Sociology a. SOC 351 - The work of SOC 351 (3 credit hours) involves a background literature search, the assembly of the reference list, a substantial part of the research, and the development of the Human & Animal Participants Committee proposal, when appropriate. The format of the paper submitted to the faculty supervisor and senior study editor follows MLA-style guidelines with references attached. b. SOC 352 - The work of SOC 352 (3 credit hours) involves revising the review of the literature and analyzing, interpreting, and discussing the findings and implications of the research, and developing an abstract of no more than 200 words. III. The Study A. Reference Citation Format All written portions, including reference citations, of senior study projects in the Division of Social Sciences will be in MLA (most current edition) documentation style. Exceptions are projects by double majors in which the other major requires the use of a different documentation style. In that case, the co-supervisors will agree upon the style in advance. B. Abstract All senior studies must have an abstract of not more than 200 words included as part of the written portion of SS 352. C. Archival Storage of SS Projects Students are expected to provide their supervisors with both a print and electronic copy of their 352 projects upon completion. The print copy for the supervisor is not required to be on bond paper. These should be given to the supervisor before a final grade is received. The supervisor will add the copies to the departmental collections.

IV.

Administrative Procedures A. Non-traditional Senior Studies Occasionally a student wishes to conduct a senior study that does not fit the traditional mode for the major set forth in these guidelines. In this instance, the student must submit a written proposal no later than the second week of the 351 semester to the Chair of the Individualized Study Committee stating the nature of the finished product. The proposal must be accompanied by the written approval of the supervisor. The Committee renders final approval, denial, or recommendations for change. A student proposing a project of this type must have a minimum 3.2 GPA in his/her major discipline and a minimum 3.0 GPA overall. A student not meeting the minimum GPA requirement, but displaying exceptional ability, may petition the Committee to waive the GPA requirement. The Supervisor must provide clear evidence of the students ability to the Committee before it can grant a waiver. Approval of this type of study applies to the format, content, and presentation of the final product. The work of Senior Study 351 must adhere to the expectations stated previously in these Guidelines. B. Assignment of Supervisors Assignment of supervisors is established prior to the beginning of the 351 semester and students are notified by the time of Registration or the first day of class. Students who pre-register for Senior Study 351 will receive a memo from the Division asking for a statement of proposed topics by a date before the end of the semester. This form should be returned in order to have a supervisor assigned. C. Human & Animal Participants Committee Approval 1. "To ensure compliance with federal guidelines regarding biomedical and behavioral research involving human subjects, all research sponsored by Maryville College which involves the use of human or animal participants is subject to review by the Human and Animal Participants Committee." (From Guidelines for Research Sponsored by Maryville College Involving Human and Animal Participants) 2. Proposals for human and animal research must be submitted by the student with the supervisor's approval and signature to the Human and Animal Participants Committee via the chair of the committee. a. The proposal must be word-processed and must conform to the format established by the Human and Animal Participants Committee. A copy of this document as well as a copy of the permission memo becomes part of the final Senior Study documentation (typically as an appendix). b. The proposal must be submitted during the Senior Study 351 term in accordance with deadlines established by Human and Animal Participants Committee and announced in the prior semester. Supervisors and students need to be cognizant of the fact that proposals

are carefully reviewed to make sure the research and any instruments involved are of a professional nature and do not violate federal guidelines for such research. Permission is not automatic and may be refused; permission also can be refused conditionally and the student asked to resubmit the proposal with additional or revised materials, thus delaying the collection of data. c. No proposal or written query may be sent to any organization regarding permission for the study to be conducted until written approval has come from the Human and Animal Participants Committee.

3. The Human and Animal Participants Committee sends a copy of each permission memo to the Editor, who keeps it on file until the student has passed Senior Study 352. The Editor does not sign a corrected study that lacks the appendix containing copies of the proposal and permission memo, and forwards it to the Human and Animal Participants Committee for possible referral to the Academic Integrity Board. D. Senior Studies of Exceptional Merit Each academic division for permanent collection in the library selects studies of exceptional merit and quality. Criteria for selection are specified in the syllabi for each major in the division. In all cases, the supervisor first recommends to the department that the study be included in the Librarys permanent collection. The study must then be read and evaluated for inclusion by a second reader. If the second reader concurs, the study is put forward by the Division for inclusion. In the Social Sciences, where there are more than two supervisors, there is a designated Second Reader each semester. This position is rotated among the full-time faculty members. If the Supervisor and the designated Second Reader are the same person, then the Chair or some other faculty member is requested to act as the Second Reader for that study.