EDF720
Introduction to Research
This course is intended
for professionals in the fields of education and human services including
classroom teachers, counselors, and school psychologists. Research,
as a strategy of inquiry, will be the guiding theme throughout
instruction. The critical, major steps in the research process,
along with related methodological issues, will be examined. These
include consideration of a variety of research methodologies and related
problems of measurement, statement and clarification of research problems,
research studies, and basic statistical methods for describing date.
Emphasis will be placed upon the application of major concepts of specific
research studies through the process of reading, describing, and
interpreting actual reports.
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EDF730
Multicultural Foundations of Education
This course focuses on the importance of
multicultural education and culturally pluralistic educational practices
for all students, and considers the impact of personal, social, political,
educational and cultural factors on school success or failure. Topics
include educational equity, anti-racist education, bilingual education,
school reform and diversity in U.S. society and the Deaf community in
particular. This course considers the Deaf to represent a separate
cultural and linguistic group, and furthermore that the situations of
multicultural deaf children and adults, based in two distinct communities,
differ from the majority Deaf experience. Emphasis will be on the
communities of multicultural deaf children and adults and their families
that we as professionals and practitioners are most likely to come into
contact with, including African Americans, Hispanic/ Latinos,
Asian/Pacific Islanders and Native Americans. Additionally, issues of
class, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, religious diversity, and
dis/ability will be considered.
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EDF770
Introduction to International Development
This
course introduces students to the theories and strategies of international
development from the end of the Cold War until the current era of
globalization. Development organizations possess varying theoretical
assumptions and strategies about development. The students will study and
critically analyze these assumptions in order to understand how these
theories influence the strategies and programming overseas and the
positive and negative outcomes of following these strategies. The
students will learn to analyze which strategies work best and to create
their own theory of development. Special attention will be given to
the effect of development on people with disabilities in developing
countries.
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EDF772
International Development with People with Disabilities in Developing
Countries
This
course introduces professionals to the political, social and developmental
issues surrounding disability that result in the continual oppression and
marginalization of disabled people throughout the developing world.
Drawing upon disability studies, models of development, current
overseas development assistance programs, case studies, and reflections
from leaders in the field, the course examines issues and conditions that
impact people with disabilities in developing countries.
Strategies are discussed which include and empower people with
disabilities at both the international and grassroots level.
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EDF 773 Gender,
Disability and Development
This course addresses the concepts of
gender and development and the factors that gave rise to the discussion of
woman and development that started in the 1950’s and 60’s. Issues of
concern include: social relations, power and status differentials, gender
inequities and their impact on macroeconomic development, gender and
politics, feminism’s contribution, and gender analysis. These issues only
came to the forefront in the 1970’s for non-disabled women. Currently,
issues of disabled woman are only beginning to impact the field of gender
and development. This course will layer disability issues onto the
current thinking within the field of gender and development.
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EDF 780 Practicum in International
Development
The supervised practicum is a field
experience observing and working in a development assistance organization,
federal agency, or nonprofit organization and is an important part of the
M.A. Program in International Development. The supervised field
practicum is the first experience that provides the opportunity for students
to integrate the interdisciplinary coursework and learned theory into an
on-site experience. Supervision, collaboration, and guidance are
provided by the on-site supervisor and university-based supervisor
to support and
assist the student in developing practical knowledge of international
development issues.
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EDF 781 Internship in
International Development
An important part of the M.A. Program in
International Development is a field experience working in a development
assistance organization, federal agency, or nonprofit organization. The
field
internship integrates the student’s interdisciplinary
coursework and learned theory into an on-site practice either in the
United States or overseas. Supervision, collaboration, and guidance from
the fieldwork supervisor facilitates the students skills in working in a
formal work setting, providing appropriate assistance, practicing skills
learned through coursework, and developing their own abilities.
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EDF801
Principles of Statistics I
This introductory course
sequence develops the primary statistical concepts and techniques needed to
conduct research. This course presumes no previous statistical
background other than college-level algebra or its equivalent. The
course goal is to develop many of the basic conceptual theories underlying
statistical applications. Students will develop skills in descriptive
statistical analysis, simple correlation procedures, and hypothesis testing.
Computer-assisted analysis (such as SPSS) will complement coursework.
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EDF802
Principles of Statistics II
The purpose of this second
course in statistics is to develop specific concepts and techniques to conduct
basic inferential statistical analysis. The course emphasizes
application skills, i.e., the ability to fit the appropriate analysis to a
particular data set. Students learn to conduct and interpret the most
often used inferential tests for research and evaluation projects.
Computer-assisted analysis (such as SPSS) will complement coursework.
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EDF810
Advanced Research Design I
This course is designed to
develop the ability to locate, review, and critically evaluate research
studies. The course focuses on the proper format for research proposals
and reports, ethics in research, measurement issues, and sampling. In
addition, the student is introduced to quantitative and qualitative approaches
to research. The student develops critical analysis abilities using the
criteria of internal and external validity as explicated in experimental
design principles.
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EDF811
Advanced Research Design II
This course is intended to
develop professional competencies in two areas: (a) knowledge and use of
the following approaches to research: experimental, quasi-experimental,
causal-comparative, qualitative, correlation research, and survey research;
and (b) development of formal research proposals. This course completes
a four-course sequence designed to develop knowledge of research design
options for evaluators and researchers.
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EDF812
Qualitative Research Methods
This
course introduces graduate students to the major concepts, issues, and
techniques of qualitative research methods. Students practice
interview and participant observation skills and analyze and interpret
data. Class topics include formation of research questions:
ethics of fieldwork, descriptive validity, and theory building. Case
study methods, content, history, and foundations are addressed.
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EDF834
Program Development and Evaluation
This
course focuses on the design, development, and evaluation of programs for
individuals with disabilities. Topics to be covered in this course include
interpreting policy statements into relevant programmatic goals and
objectives; determining organizational components and functions;
establishing staffing patterns; setting up program-based budgets; and
formulating ongoing process evaluation, product evaluation, and cost
analysis plans. Students will be required to submit a proposal in response
to a Request for Proposals (RFP), thereby increasing their managerial
skills through simulation of an actual grant-writing experience.
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EDF 835
Project
Design and Implementation
The course covers
the design, planning, and implementation of education and community
development projects for and by disabled people and other disenfranchised
groups in developing nations. The theoretical framework will include the
nature of social change in traditional societies and the implications for
oppressed peoples. Students will acquire planning and management skills
while being encouraged to develop the sense of reflection, flexibility,
and determination that underpins effective work in international
development assistance.
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