Tutorial: 15-30 hours total
Independent study with supervision provided throughout the semester.
Directed studies are supervised and evaluated by an assigned faculty member.
Students must apply to the program coordinator for approval of their proposed directed studies.
The course content will be identified in the student’s application for approval and will include a preliminary list of readings and articles. The scope and content of the research or project must be approved by the faculty supervisor and program coordinator and, if necessary, the Research Ethics Board.
Students who successfully complete this course will
- complete an in-depth investigation into a topic in professional communication
- complete a comprehensive review of published research
- conduct original research or complete a project on the topic of interest
- demonstrate an understanding of applied research ethics and procedures, as applicable
Students are expected to be self-motivated and to demonstrate professionalism, which includes active participation, good attendance, punctuality, effective collaboration, ability to meet deadlines, presentation skills, and accurate self-evaluation.
Instructors may use a student’s record of attendance and/or level of active participation in the course as part of the student’s graded performance. Where this occurs, expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation will be clearly defined in the Instructor Course Outline.
Students may conduct research as part of their coursework in this class. Instructors for the course are responsible for ensuring that student research projects comply with College policies on ethical conduct for research involving humans, which can require obtaining Informed Consent from participants and getting the approval of the Douglas College Research Ethics Board prior to conducting the research.
Assessment will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course. This is a graded course.
Example evaluation schedule:
| Literature review | 30% |
| Research/project proposal | 20% |
| Research paper/project | 35% |
| Presentation | 10% |
| Attendance/professionalism/participation | 5% |
| Total | 100% |
Students will be responsible for identifying the relevant academic and professional publications. The faculty supervisor must approve a preliminary list of readings and articles.
Acceptance into the Post-Degree Diploma in Professional Communication
AND
Permission of the Professional Communication Program Coordinator
AND
Confirmation of an appropriate faculty supervisor
None
None