This course has an assignment that is due by 11:55 pm Central Standard Time on Wednesday night of the first week of class. Failure to complete this assignment will result in your removal from the course for non-participation.

American Psychological Association. (July 2010). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. (6^th ed). Washington DC: American Psychological Association.

3hrs. (Capstone.) Only open to Juniors and Seniors majoring in Psychology. This is a senior thesis seminar. To receive credit in this course all students must complete a directed research paper and successfully defend it before the faculty of the Division of Social Sciences.

Describe sources utilized for research and determine relevance to thesis project.

Evaluate research related to thesis topic.

Analyze one’s own level of self-awareness and understanding of Psychology related concepts and case studies, as well as knowledge gained through past coursework.

Apply information obtained through conducting research to create a unique, meaningful and well developed thesis

Promote and present subject matter in a demonstrative, organized, structural, and ethical manner, utilizing support from sources obtained through extensive research and following the guidelines of the APA manual.

This course is a divisional capstone seminar in applied research.  It is required for students presenting themselves as candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in Social Science. 

1. The student will become familiar with the various stages and steps of developing a research project from articulating an initial set of questions, to submitting the final draft of the finished paper.

2. The student will acquire the experience of doing in-depth library research in the pursuit of an individually selected topic.  The completion of the senior thesis will demonstrate mastery of research and writing skills.  The paper in which this mastery is demonstrated should be approximately thirty pages in length.

3. The student will demonstrate critical thinking skills in the process of analyzing and critiquing current academic research.

4. The student will acquire the experience of presenting and defending the results of his or her research to a group of professional social scientists.