American Public University System

Graduate Studies and Research. American Public University System. Charles Town, West Virginia, January 2021 Edition

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..i Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1 EOP Assessment Alternatives…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1 Grades………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2 Important Notes ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2 Chapter I: Scholarly Research, Copyright, and Ethical Conduct …………………………………………………. 3

1. 2. 3.

University Research Policies …………………………………………………………………………………………… 3 Institutional Review Board………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4 Copyright……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4

Copyrighting Your Research ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5 Fair Use Exemptions and Citation Responsibility ………………………………………………………………….. 5 Copyright Permission………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6

Chapter II: The Responsible Conduct of Research ……………………………………………………………………. 7 Academic Dishonesty …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7 For Comprehensive Exam Assessments ………………………………………………………………………………. 7 For Capstone and Portfolio Assessments …………………………………………………………………………….. 7 Institutional Review Board……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8 Failure to Secure IRB approval ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 8 Chapter III: Master’s Comprehensive Examination …………………………………………………………………… 9 Beginning the Comprehensive Exam ………………………………………………………………………………………. 9 Comprehensive Exam Course…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 9 Taking the Exam ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 10

Notes: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 11 Proctoring……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 12 Chapter IV: Master’s Capstone: Thesis Option………………………………………………………………………… 14 Beginning the Thesis Project ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 14 Thesis Proposal………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 15 Preparing the Thesis ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 16 Notes: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 16 Approval of Thesis…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 17 Submission of Final Thesis ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 17 Unsuccessful Capstone Attempts …………………………………………………………………………………………. 18 Second Readers……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 18 Chapter V: Master’s Capstone: Creative/Applied Project…………………………………………………………. 19 Beginning the Creative/Applied Project …………………………………………………………………………………. 19 Creative/Applied Project Proposal………………………………………………………………………………………19 Completing the Creative/Applied Project……………………………………………………………………………….. 20 Notes: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 20 Approval of Creative/Applied Project………………………………………………………………………………….. 21 Submission of Creative/Applied Project Report ………………………………………………………………….. 22 Unsuccessful Capstone Attempts …………………………………………………………………………………………. 22 Second Readers ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 23

Chapter VI: Master’s Capstone: Practicum and Critical Reflection Paper Note: Please check your academic plan to see if this option is available in your program. …………………………………………….. 24

Beginning the Practicum and Critical Reflection Paper …………………………………………………………… 24 Practicum Proposal…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 24 Completing the Practicum ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 25 Notes: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 26

Approval of the Practicum and Critical Reflection Paper ……………………………………………………… 27

Submission of Critical Reflection Paper ……………………………………………………………………………… 27 Unsuccessful Capstone Attempts …………………………………………………………………………………………. 27 Second Readers……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 28 Chapter VII: Master’s Capstone: Portfolio and Critical Reflection Paper Option………………………….29 Beginning the Portfolio Option………………………………………………………………………………………………. 29 Portfolio and Critical Reflection Paper ……………………………………………………………………………….. 29 Completing the Capstone …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 30 Notes: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 30 Approval of the Portfolio and Critical Reflection Paper ………………………………………………………… 31 Submission of Critical Reflection Paper ……………………………………………………………………………… 31 Unsuccessful Capstone Attempts …………………………………………………………………………………………. 32 Second Readers……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 32 Chapter VIII: Program Director Role in the End of Program Assessment……………………………………34 Comprehensive Exam ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 34 Capstones (this includes all varieties: thesis, practicum, creative/applied project and portfolio).34 Chapter IX: Faculty Role in the End of Program Assessment…………………………………………………….36 Comprehensive Exam ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 36 Capstones (this includes all varieties: thesis, practicum, creative/applied project and portfolio).36 Chapter X: University Declarations and Archiving……………………………………………………………………. 38 1. Declarations ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 38 2. Textual Components ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 39 Academic Style Manual Conformity ……………………………………………………………………………………. 39 3. Images and Tables……………………………………………………………………………………………………………40 Image Insert/Formats……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 40 4. Video or Audio …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 41

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5. URLs/Web Addresses ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 41 6. Submission to the Archive ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 41 7. Passed with Distinction (a.k.a. PWD)………………………………………………………………………………….42 Appendix 2: Sample of Copyright Page ………………………………………………………………………………………i Appendix 3: Sample of Dedication Page (Optional) ……………………………………………………………………ii Appendix 4: Sample of Acknowledgments Page (Optional)………………………………………………………..iii Appendix 5: Sample of the Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………iv Appendix 6: Sample of a Table of Contents ………………………………………………………………………………v Appendix 7: Sample of List of Tables ……………………………………………………………………………………… vii Appendix 8: Sample of List of Figures……………………………………………………………………………………. viii Appendix 9: Sample of Permission to Quote or Reproduce Copyrighted Material Letter ……………… ix Appendix 10: Sample of IRB Approval Letter ……………………………………………………………………………. x

Introduction

This manual establishes the guidelines for completion of all master’s-level end of program (EOP) graduation requirements. The intended audience for this manual is all members of the American Public University System (APUS) academic community, including students and faculty. While it is intended to be a comprehensive overview of the general EOP requirements for APUS, students and faculty must follow any additional specific guidelines within their schools and programs. Information regarding program-specific guidelines should be available from your supervisory professor or your program’s director.

APUS, including American Military University (AMU) and American Public University (APU), offers several options for assessing master’s program learning outcomes. These end of program assessments are designed to ensure APUS students have successfully met their program objectives, and each is designed to serve a different purpose.

EOP Assessment Alternatives

EOP assessment alternatives vary by degree program and include the following:

· Comprehensive Exam

· Capstone, which includes the following variations (availability varies by degree program):

o Research thesis o Creative/applied project o Practicum with critical reflection/integration paper o Portfolio option with critical reflection paper

Some programs offer the comprehensive exam to provide a formal assessment of the program content; this type of assessment is best suited for students who finish their formal academic training with the completion of the Master of Arts/Master of Science program.

In programs offering the capstone thesis option, this type of research best suits students who anticipate seeking further academic training, such as a doctorate.

Many programs in the humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields offer the creative/applied project as a way to integrate theory with professional practice and demonstrate mastery in the field. Some professional disciplines may consider the practicum as the best option to integrate experiential learning into the curriculum. Finally, various

programs find the portfolio option appropriate as a way of showcasing learning for future employers and synthesizing skills learned in the degree program.

Students are advised to work with their academic advisors to ensure that they take the correct courses during their degree and to enroll in the correct program version for their assessment preference, if available. Please be advised that some programs have only one EOP assessment option.

Grades

Students must receive a B- (80%) or better on their comprehensive exam or their capstone paper/project in order to graduate. Any capstone project/paper awarded a Passed with distinction must be reviewed and approved by the Program Director, Dean, and the Office of Graduate Studies before being included in the APUS ePress Repository.

Important Notes

· The EOP assessment is meant to be a culminating experience, and as such, students should expect to demonstrate not only that they possess a thorough knowledge of their discipline’s literature and concepts, but also that they have achieved all of the program’s learning outcomes. The EOP is a unique exercise that requires a high level of commitment, both in time and effort. Success depends on the student entering the experience fully prepared and dedicated to completing the EOP in the allotted timeframe.

· All students are expected to adhere to the conventions of standard English grammar and formal academic writing. Students who are struggling with their ability to communicate clearly in writing are strongly encouraged to complete the Graduate Writing modules early in their graduate studies. See also the graduate resources in the APUS Library at Writing@APUS.

· After being checked with a plagiarism detection tool and graded by the faculty supervising the project and upon being approved by the program directors and school dean, all capstone projects must be submitted for archiving by the program director. The capstone and critical reflection papers submitted must be a “clean” version of the paper. All spelling, grammar, citations, etc. must be correct and appropriate. Instructor feedback comments should not appear in the final version submitted to the archive.

· Capstones that receive a grade of Passed with distinction may be eligible for inclusion in the APUS ePress Repository. For more on the APUS ePress Repository, see https://apus.libguides.com/APUS_ePress.

· Critical reflection papers, while eligible for the grade of Passed with distinction, may not be eligible to be placed in the APUS ePress Repository due to the personalized information that may be contained within the papers.

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Chapter I: Scholarly Research, Copyright, and Ethical Conduct

For quality assurance and approval, a condition of publication is that the capstone advisor agrees to have their name displayed next to the master’s capstone student-author. There will be no exceptions. All capstone projects awarded an A+ will be considered for inclusion in the APUS ePress Repository as an example of a capstone project that meets the highest level of distinction.

Note: Critical reflection papers, while eligible for the grade of Passed with distinction, may not be eligible to be placed in the APUS ePress Repository due to the personalized information that may be contained within the papers. The final decision for placement in the APUS ePress Repository will be made by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

1. University Research Policies

Misconduct in research implies the intent to deceive or defraud; it extends to the mistreatment of animals and human subjects. Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, fabrication of or employment of spurious data, purposeful omission of any conflicting data, deceptively selective reporting, misappropriation of intellectual property, and cases of frivolous accusations. It does not include honest error or honest differences in interpretation or judgments of data.

Student research misconduct resulting from regular course assignments that are not published for public scrutiny remains under the purview of the instructor and is not subject to these protocols. Other common forms of misconduct covered by these protocols are defined as follows.

· Failure to receive IRB approval is conducting human subjects research without the appropriate review and approval by the Institutional Review Board.

· Falsification of data is deliberately changing any form of evidence in such a way that it substantially affects its usefulness.

· Plagiarism is deliberately appropriating the writing or recorded work of another without their consent or improperly documenting for one’s own benefit.

· Conflict of interest occurs when an individual serves or represents two distinct entities and neglects or breaches a duty to one entity to benefit the other or when a person uses their position with one entity to advance a personal gain or the gain of another entity.

· Fraud and misrepresentation are deliberate attempts to deceive others to secure unlawful or unfair advantage. This category of misconduct includes providing false or misleading information to or intentionally deceiving coauthors, granting agencies,

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editors, or other interested parties regarding the results or the status of a research

project.

· Noncompliance is failing to comply with the published regulations of federal

agencies, state agencies, the university, or granting agencies that support an

individual’s research.

· Misappropriation of research funds is any deliberate act or omission in the handling

of research funds that violates university policy, or the policies of granting agencies either state or federal.

These policies apply to individuals (other than students involved in regular classroom assignments) engaged in any form of research and scholarship, funded or otherwise, in every discipline throughout the university.

Note: APUS takes academic dishonesty very seriously. Any evidence of plagiarism will result in the student’s work being rejected. The student will fail the EOP course, and penalties may also include academic suspension or expulsion. Engaging in academic dishonesty and/or plagiarism will directly threaten the ability of the student to graduate from APUS.

2. Institutional Review Board

Students engaged in research that involves human subjects and whose research is systematic and generalizable are required to complete an Institutional Review Board (IRB application, which includes Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) program courses. Failure to receive IRB approval for human subjects research will result in failing the Capstone project and a Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) violation. Students who plan to engage in human subject research should discuss it with the course instructor at the very beginning of the course. The IRB process can take at least one month. Sanctions may vary depending upon the severity of the infraction, but may include formal written warning, failure of the course, academic suspension, expulsion, termination of research, and the destruction of research data. Actions taken by the IRB and the University also will be subject to Federal reporting guidelines.

For a brief overview of the IRB, visit http://apus.adobeconnect.com/p1jpa3w9nwj/. For detailed information on the APUS Institutional Review Board, visit, http://www.apus.edu/community-scholars/institutional-review-board/.

3. Copyright

Copyright concerns focus primarily on copyright law both for registering intellectual property and keeping to scholarly standards, especially the avoidance of plagiarism. In legal terms, the United States is a signatory of the international Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/ip/berne/index.html). More

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importantly, internal enforcement is codified under Title 17 of the 1976 Copyright Act as amended. The Librarian of Congress is the officially designated interpreter of the act, which also is subject to decisions in the federal court system (See U.S. Copyright Office, http://www.copyright.gov).

Note: Foreign copyrights are valid in the U.S. Material published outside the U.S. and may not have clear-cut rules. Some authorities advise that it is not safe to assume a foreign work copyrighted in the last two hundred years is in the public domain.

Copyrighting Your Research

Under the Berne Convention, original intellectual contributions are automatically copyrighted when captured in a fixed medium, such as in print or a video. Under U.S. copyright law, copyright for works created after January 1, 1978 normally extend for the life of the author plus 70 years. The creator also may choose to formally register copyright status. Registration is a legal formality that makes a public record of the exact details of a copyright claim. It is necessary in order to bring suit against an infringer for damages. Registration can be done online through the Electronic Copyright Office (http://www.copyright.gov/registration/), as well as by mail and in person. It requires three elements:

· completed registration form

· nonrefundable fee

· nonreturnable deposit copy

Fair Use Exemptions and Citation Responsibility

Copyright law balances between guaranteeing the creator appropriate recompense and the public good. Materials are either in the public domain or under copyright. Anything published by the government or before 1923 is normally in the public domain and may be freely used. At this time, assume that anything else is covered by copyright—especially if it displays the international copyright sign: ©.

Normally, students have no problem directly quoting reasonable amounts of material within their narratives. The 1976 Copyright Act has even included exemptions for educational purposes under the doctrine of fair use. The main test is one of substantiality. The amount of material that may be freely quoted depends on the size and nature of its context. Feel free to use a full page or even excerpts that total a chapter from a substantial book. Yet, an entire poem or substantial excerpts from a short story may be too big and require permission. Consult with librarians at librarian@apus.edu in the APUS Library for specific guidance.

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Similarly, media (images, video, audio, and datasets) should be utilized with the copyright holder’s permission or, if not possible, judiciously and with evidence of obtaining the media creator’s permission. Papers submitted without proper permissions will not be featured in the APUS ePress Repository. Questions regarding copyright guidance can be sent to copyright@apus.edu.

More importantly, university policy mandates that students must be aware of the crucial importance of attribution for direct quotations, paraphrases, or the source of ideas that are used in their manuscripts. Graduate-level papers are intended to share within a discipline and build on the work of its scholars. The general rule is, when in doubt, cite. Check the appropriate style manual of your program for details.

Copyright Permission

Although rarely needed, students may be responsible for securing copyright releases for substantial use of a copyrighted item. Permission also may be required as a courtesy for the use of materials from certain private collections and museums without respect to copyright. Any letter(s) of permission become part of the appendices in the submission (see Appendix 12 for a sample permission letter). Information about obtaining permission can be found http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-fairuse.html#permission.

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Chapter II: The Responsible Conduct of Research Academic Dishonesty

Evidence of academic dishonesty found in a comprehensive exam or capstone paper, project, practicum, or portfolio will result in a grade of an F for the exam or course. If evidence of academic dishonesty is present, options for the student include:

For Comprehensive Exam Assessments

· Accepting the grade and not receiving the degree. A letter of academic completion may be provided, but a degree will not be conferred.

· Upon approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies, retaking the exam at an APUS site (Charles Town, West Virginia, Manassas, Virginia, or location where an education coordinator is assigned; the student will be supervised by an advisor, program manager or Marketing site representative) on an APUS laptop computer disconnected from the Internet. The exam questions will be different from those on the previous exam and this exam will be graded by a different professor from the first exam attempt. The student must pass this second exam to have their degree conferred. The student will not be eligible for a Passed with distinction grade on any second attempt, and will not be eligible for Honors at graduation, regardless of GPA. The student must pay to retake the exam.

For Capstone and Portfolio Assessments

· Accepting the grade and not receiving the degree. A letter of academic completion may be provided, but a degree will not be conferred.

· The student may be given the option (program dependent) to take the comprehensive exam instead; however, the retake is subject to the same rules as noted above.

· Upon appeal approval by the Dean of Graduate Studies, the student may be allowed, at their own expense, to retake the entire capstone course. However, the plagiarism incident will still be recorded by the Registrar and the student will not be eligible for honors at graduation regardless of GPA.

Any additional incidents of academic dishonesty on the EOP requirement will result in the student being expelled.

For appeals to retake a comprehensive exam or capstone after a reported incident of academic dishonesty, contact the Dean of Graduate Studies at academicappeals@apus.edu.

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Note: Any evidence of academic dishonesty found in work produced in a student’s end of program comprehensive exam or capstone may prompt a review of all of the student’s work at APUS. Evidence of repeated violations of academic integrity may result in disciplinary actions.

Institutional Review Board

APUS requires all research using human subjects undergo an IRB review, including capstone projects or papers. More information on the IRB process can be found here: http://www.apus.edu/community-scholars/institutional-review-board/.

Failure to Secure IRB approval

APUS is committed to the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR). All human subjects research conducted under the aegis of APUS must undergo review by the APUS Institutional Review Board (IRB). All such research must follow the guidelines outlined in the IRB Manual. Failure to follow proper IRB protocols constitutes a violation of the RCR policy. Any breach of the APUS RCR policy is a serious violation of professional standards and will result in sanctions. Sanctions may vary depending upon the severity of the infraction, but may include written warning, failure of the course, academic suspension, expulsion, termination of research, and/or the destruction of research data. Actions taken by the IRB and the University also will be subject to Federal reporting guidelines.

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Chapter III: Master’s Comprehensive Examination

Note: Please check your academic plan to see if this option is available in your program. The master’s comprehensive examination provides an opportunity for students to

· demonstrate they have mastered the research skills and substantive content expected in their field of study;

· demonstrate they have familiarity with major schools of thought and principal published works in the field; and

· culminate their master’s degree experience as they complete their master’s program and either continue or begin work in their chosen profession.

Beginning the Comprehensive Exam

The examination is tailored specifically to each graduate program and must be the last course master’s degree students take from APUS. Thus, it can only be taken after the student has completed all of their course work. It cannot be taken concurrently with course work. Students must successfully complete this requirement before the award of a degree. Students must apply for graduation and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in order to be able to register for the course.

Comprehensive Exam Course

The comprehensive examination course is a 0-credit course with a fee to cover exam expenses. The course prepares graduate students for the comprehensive examination in their area of study. The purpose of the course is to provide a review of key concepts, theories, frameworks in the discipline, and skill sets. Some classes provide weekly assignments and discussions, while others provide pointers regarding which materials to review and how to prepare for the exam.

As part of the course, students may be asked to consult texts, journal articles, print and media reports, and documentaries used in their classes. Collaboration with other students enrolled in the course is also an essential component. Comprehensive exam courses require students to submit answers to practice exam questions in order to become familiar with the types of questions that may be asked during the exam. Regardless of which approach the course takes, students are expected to participate fully in all course activities and must meet all assigned deadlines.

Students who do not complete required course activities leading up to the exam will not be allowed to take the exam. Students who fail the comprehensive exam and who have submitted all course practice questions may be eligible to re-register for a second attempt at passing the comprehensive exam. Any new registration requires the student re-enroll in and

pay for a new course. Those who do not submit all practice questions may be denied a second attempt at the exam or may be required to take the capstone course if available.

Taking the Exam

Instructors will provide students with the exam protocols at the beginning of the course. These protocols will provide guidance for the exam (e.g., if the exam requires a proctor, whether it will be open or closed book, etc.). If a proctor is required, the proctor must be approved as indicated in the course. The exam must take place during the last week of the course. However, to ensure confirmation of the test date and coordination of the proctor (if one is required), the exam should be scheduled by the seventh week of an eight-week course or the fifteenth week of a sixteen-week course.

Exams cannot be taken prior to the final week of the course. Faculty may not arrange with the student to grade the exam prior to the official course end date. Students will not have their degree conferred prior to the official end of their last course, including any extensions given. The final grade will not be awarded until after the course ends.

The instructor will grade the exam using the appropriate rubric. Students must complete the entire exam in order to receive a Pass or Passed with distinction. Students should review the rubric prior to taking the exam. Students will answer a minimum of four essay questions that will be graded as follows:

1. Passed with distinction: This grade is rare and is only given to a student who passes three questions with distinction and the fourth with at least a Pass. With distinction (PWD) means the answers clearly demonstrate deep synthesis and analysis of the issue beyond what is typically expected of graduate students and are written using accepted academic writing conventions. The numeric indicator for this classification may differ by schools, but a Passed with distinction should mean the answer is the equivalent of an A+ or 96 percent or above.

2. Pass: This grade is assigned for essays that meet the requirements for a graduate- level essay. The answers must demonstrate effective analysis of the issue and must be written using accepted academic writing conventions. Students who pass three questions with at least a Pass will pass the examination. One Fail grade on the four examination questions is allowed. A minimum of 80 percent overall is required to pass the exam.

3. Fail: This grade is assigned for essays that do not meet the requirements for a graduate-level essay. This occurs when the answers fail to demonstrate a clear understanding of the issues and/or have not been written using accepted academic

writing conventions. Students who fail two or more questions will fail the examination.

Notes:

· Self-plagiarism. The student must be careful not to self-plagiarize in their exam. Self-plagiarism is “the presentation of one’s own previously published work as new scholarship.”1 Thus, using material from previous courses in your exam answers equals self-plagiarism. Evidence of academic dishonesty found in a comprehensive exam or capstone paper will result in a grade of an F for the exam/course.

· A student who fails the examination the first time cannot receive a grade of Passed with distinction on the second examination. The highest grade possible is a Pass. The second examination is to be graded by a faculty member different from the first round of testing and will include different exam questions.

· Each new attempt at a comprehensive exam or capstone requires the student register and pay for the new course.

o If a student fails the comprehensive exam on the first attempt, and no plagiarism is reported nor any evidence found that the student failed to adhere to standard English academic writing protocols, the student will have the option of registering again for a second attempt at the comprehensive exam, or may opt to take the capstone course, if available, in lieu of their second attempt at the comprehensive exam.

o If a student fails the comprehensive exam on the first attempt and is allowed to retake the exam, rather than being required to take the capstone course, the exam questions will be different, the instructor will be different, and the student must pay for a second comprehensive exam course. The student is expected to fully participate in all course activities in the new course.

o If the student fails the comprehensive exam on their first attempt because they have not adhered to the conventions of standard English grammar and/or formal academic writing, they may be required by the Dean of Graduate Studies and the dean of the student’s school to complete the Graduate Writing Modules prior to being allowed to register again for the comprehensive exam course, or may opt to take the capstone course if available, in lieu of a second attempt at the comprehensive exam. However,

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1 Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 2010. 6th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, pg. 16. Section 1.10 Plagiarism and Self-Plagiarism elaborates on the matter.

the student may still be required to complete the Graduate Writing module prior to being allowed to take the capstone course. See also the graduate resources in the APUS Library at Writing@APUS.

o If the student fails the exam because of plagiarism, the student may be allowed to re-take the exam at a designated exam site with a proctor. All related expenses must be paid by the student.

o If a student has failed the comprehensive exam twice, the student may be permitted, under special circumstances, to enroll in the capstone project course for their discipline, if available. Students who have failed the comprehensive exam twice may appeal for this option by submitting a written appeal (which should include the student’s plan for completing the project and that addresses all comments from the previous two instructors) to the Dean of Graduate Studies at academicappeals@apus.edu. In order for the appeal to be considered, the student must be prepared to enroll in the capstone course within 180 days of the appeal approval. A student will not be given the opportunity to take a comprehensive exam a third time.

o The student has the right to appeal issues related to the comprehensive examination in line with the standard APUS appeals process. To appeal issues with regard to the comprehensive examination, contact academicappeals@apus.edu.

Proctoring

Comprehensive exams may be proctored pursuant to school and program requirements. The comprehensive exam course may provide information on a proctoring service required by that program. Otherwise, faculty members will provide the following link to the APUS Web form during the first week of class: http://www.apus.edu/proctor/select-proctor.

APUS is not responsible for finding proctors for individual students. It is the student’s responsibility to do this and to complete the Web form process. If a student indicates on the Web form that they cannot find a proctor, proctor monitoring staff will contact the student to discuss possible options.

· Once the Web form is completed, the proctor monitor will be able to reach out to assist with proctor identification and the rest of the process.

· Note: Proctor monitors have no way to contact a student who has not completed the Web form.

The following are the requirements for proctors:

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Your proctor will have overall responsibility for the security of the test administration. Your proctor must hold either a minimum of a bachelor’s degree OR one of the following professional positions:

· administrator or faculty member of any accredited institution of higher education;

· school teacher, counselor, local or regional librarian, or administrator;

· human resources manager, training manager, supervisor, or manager of higher rank;

· for military personnel: DANTES test control officer, educational services officer, base

librarian, or officer; or

· member of the clergy.

Note: Family members are not eligible to proctor your exam. Family members are defined as:

· spouse and their parents;

· sons and daughters and their spouses;

· parents and their spouses;

· brothers and sisters and their spouses;

· grandparents and grandchildren and their spouses; or

· domestic partner and their parents.

Students with questions about the process should direct them to the assigned faculty member. If the faculty member is unable to assist, students may also contact proctor@apus.edu.

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Chapter IV: Master’s Capstone: Thesis Option

Note: Please check your academic plan to see if this option is available in your program. The master’s thesis provides an opportunity for students to

· Contextualize the thesis/research question by claiming its significance or centrality to the discipline.

· Provide a persuasive rationale for pursuing the thesis by demonstrating a research need or gap.

· Articulate how the paper will address the key question or issue and why the approach is unique or novel.

· Synthesize relevant, appropriate scholarly literature to establish a theoretical framework or central methodology.

· Create an argument that builds logically upon the thesis/hypothesis with research- based, discipline-appropriate supporting facts, evidence, and/or data.

· Explain the chosen methodology or theory and demonstrate mastery in implementing this method/theory to produce original research.

· Analyze data (whether textual, statistical, qualitative, or other) and demonstrate maturity and sophistication in interpreting, analyzing, and synthesizing information to advance the argument.

· Provide a conclusion that summarizes findings, discusses limitations, and addresses unanswered questions/future research directions.

Beginning the Thesis Project

The course is tailored specifically to each graduate program and must be the last course master’s degree students take from APUS. The capstone thesis course is a 3-credit course that is typically 16 weeks long. The capstone course may be taken only after the completion of all coursework. That is, no concurrent coursework is permitted. Students must successfully complete this requirement before the award of a degree. Students must also apply for graduation and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in order to be able to register for the course. A passing grade for this course requires a B- (80%) or better on the thesis itself and in the thesis course overall.

The master’s capstone thesis option must have a substantial research component, present an original argument, use proper academic writing conventions, including carefully documented primary and/or secondary sources, and should be at least fifty pages in length. This page count does NOT include the front and back matter (e.g., table of contents, lists of figures, illustrations and tables, acknowledgment and dedication pages, abstract, end notes pages, bibliography, appendices, etc.).

The thesis option is desirable for those students who wish to focus on specific subject matter or who would like to continue their education at a higher level. Students enroll in the

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course available in the given session and work with the professor on defining a thesis. Programs often encourage or require students to gain approval for their thesis topic prior to the capstone thesis course in order to begin preliminary research for the thesis. Students are encouraged to reach out to program faculty or their program director to discuss thesis topics throughout the program.

During the thesis proposal process, the supervising professor may determine that the proposal requires a human subject review by the APUS Institutional Review Board (IRB). If IRB review is needed, the student will be advised by the professor to complete this process during the initial weeks of the class. The IRB process can take up to one month to complete. Note: All theses involving human subjects must receive IRB approval. More information about the APUS IRB can be found at http://www.apus.edu/community-scholars/institutional- review-board/.

Thesis Proposal

A formal thesis proposal is required and shall be prepared in accordance with the standards of the academic discipline. The formal proposal must provide a clear and lucid description of a question or problem and a proposed method for answering it. Capstone thesis faculty must approve the proposal before students move on to the next stage of the process.

The proposal should explain the question or problem to be investigated and convince the thesis professor that the question or problem merits investigation. It should show that the student has read the relevant and recent literature on the subject, and it should contain citations for academically appropriate resources consulted during the preliminary stages of research. In general, the thesis proposal should include background information related to the research topic, purpose of the research, methodology, and analytic procedures to be used.

Proposal drafting is considered a learning process and helps students avoid oversights and possible mistakes. The length of the formal proposal varies by discipline and is often 5-10 pages in length (title page not included). For further guidance on the format of the proposal, see the requirements within the classroom.

Students are expected to work with their professors and must follow all guidance provided in the course, including submitting all required components of the research process. Students should not expect to submit a final product at the end of the course without having completed each stage of the research process as outlined. Professors are not required to accept theses that have not undergone this review process.

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Preparing the Thesis

Thesis preparation entails a partnership between the student and professor. The student and professor will coordinate the process for the student to submit and receive feedback on drafts of thesis sections. The student is also encouraged to ask other APUS faculty and professionals and leaders in their field of study to volunteer as thesis readers and provide feedback on drafts of thesis sections where these faculty members and professionals may have special expertise. For example, a student’s graduate research methods instructor may be asked for feedback on the thesis research design.

Notes:

· Self-plagiarism. The student must be careful not to self-plagiarize in their thesis. Self- plagiarism is “the presentation of one’s own previously published work as new scholarship.”2 Evidence of academic dishonesty found in a comprehensive exam or capstone paper will result in a grade of an F for the exam/course.

· Document formatting shall be in strict accordance with the End of Program Assessment Manual for Graduate Studies (EOP Manual) to ensure uniformity across the university.

· The citation approach and manuscript formatting is established by the program or school’s officially designated style manual; however, the following are required to follow the formats shown in Appendices.

o Titlepage(required)3 o University publication license /Copyright Page (required) o Dedication page (optional) o Acknowledgements page (optional) o Abstract of the thesis (required)

· The Table of Contents, List of Tables, and List of Figures should be formatted according to the program’s or school’s designated style manual with the following exceptions (see Appendices for examples).

o Dot leaders (periods between words and pages) are required. o Pages should be left justified. o Double space between entries. o Note: Hyperlinking to sections within the thesis can add ease to navigation.

2 Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 2010. 6th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, pg. 16. Section 1.10 Plagiarism and Self-Plagiarism elaborates on the matter.

3 Papers using APA formatting should not include the running head on the title page.

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· Style manuals are located in the APUS Library in the Writing@APUS website.

· The thesis must also follow appropriate APUS Library declarations (see

Chapter VII).

· Appropriate stylistic formatting and documentation are the student’s responsibility.

Student papers that do not follow the prescribed style rules will not be accepted and may delay course grading as well as degree conferral.

Approval of Thesis

Once a final thesis manuscript is approved by the thesis professor, it will be graded based on the standards in the program’s grading rubric on a categorical scale of A through F. A grade of an A+ (or 96 percent and above) is the equivalent of the comprehensive exam designation of Passed with distinction (PWD). Thus, an A+ is only given to those papers that demonstrate excellence in originality, research, argument, and expression. Any thesis that receives this grade must be of such high quality that it is potentially publishable in a discipline-appropriate scholarly academic journal. Any capstone project/paper awarded a Passed with distinction must be reviewed and approved by the professor, second reader (if applicable), program director, school dean, and Graduate Studies before being included in the APUS ePress Repository.

Submission of Final Thesis

The last step in the thesis project is to submit the final manuscript to the University archive. This is done by the program director and NOT the student.

All thesis capstone papers are retained in an archive. The program director must submit the student’s paper within one month of the course completion date. The student is responsible for ensuring that all spelling, grammar, citations, etc. are correct and appropriate. Instructor feedback comments should not appear in the final version submitted to the archive. The student’s paper will be checked using plagiarism detection software before submission. See also the graduate writing resources in the APUS Library at Writing@APUS.

Exceptional works, those that received a grade of an A+, will be considered for publication in the APUS ePress Repository as examples of capstone projects that meet the highest level of distinction.

In order to have your paper considered for inclusion, the paper must:

· have received a grade of A+ (i.e., equivalent of a Passed with distinction);

· have been recommended and approved by the professor, the program director, the

school dean, and Graduate Studies; and

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• include the Institutional Review Board (IRB) authorization documentation, if appropriate.

Unsuccessful Capstone Attempts

Students who have not successfully completed their capstone project during the period allowed for the capstone course may be allowed one extension opportunity to complete the requirement. This will only be allowed if the student has made significant progress on the thesis. Students who are permitted this opportunity will temporarily be issued an incomplete for the course and be allowed a 30-day extension to meet the requirements as outlined by the advisor.

In order for students to be permitted any additional extensions on their original capstone course the faculty member must forward all second extension requests in the capstone course to academicappeals@apus.edu. In the event the student fails to meet the extension deadlines, the original capstone course grade will either remain as a failing grade or as a withdrawal, depending upon the documentation a student is able to submit.

If a student has failed the capstone, and it is determined to be caused by the student’s inability to use proper academic writing conventions, the student may be required to complete the Graduate Writing modules prior to enrolling in a final attempt at the capstone course. See also the graduate resources in the APUS Library at Writing@APUS.

Note: Each new attempt at a comprehensive exam or capstone requires the student register and pay for the new course.

The student has the right to appeal issues related to the capstone process in line with the standard APUS appeals process by contacting academicappeals@apus.edu.

Second Readers

Some programs require second readers for the thesis. The second reader will be chosen by the program director or school dean. The task of the second reader is to review the thesis using the program-approved rubric. The second reader will independently grade the work. Once the second reader has received the thesis, they have one week to review and respond to the thesis advisor. If the second reader’s evaluation does not concur with that of the thesis advisor, the paper will go to the appropriate program director or school dean to issue a decision about the final grade.

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Chapter V: Master’s Capstone: Creative/Applied Project

Note: Please check your academic plan to see if this option is available in your program. The master’s creative/applied project provides an opportunity for students to

· Create a discrete project, paper, exhibit, performance or other appropriate task reflecting integration of knowledge acquired in academic and professional activities.

· Identify an appropriate problem, issue, or question within the practice or application

of the discipline.

· Analyze current tools available to solve the problem or improve professional practice,

comparing and contrasting to identify benefits and issues.

· Justify the tool or process selected to address the problem, with support from the

academic and professional literature.

· Contextualize and apply the chosen tool or process within professional practice.

· Analyze the effectiveness and efficiency of the chosen tool or technique, and discuss

other possible ways the problem could have been solved.

· Evaluate how this method of solving the problem will benefit others.

Beginning the Creative/Applied Project

The course is tailored specifically to each graduate program and must be the last course master’s degree students take from APUS. The capstone course is often a 16-week course and may be taken only after the completion of all coursework. That is, no concurrent coursework is permitted. Students must successfully complete this requirement before the award of a degree. Students must apply for graduation and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in order to be able to register for the course. A passing grade for this course requires a B- (80%) or better on the capstone project itself and in the course overall.

Creative/Applied Project Proposal

A formal creative/applied project proposal is required and shall be prepared in accordance with the standards of the academic discipline. The formal proposal must provide a clear and lucid description of a creative/applied project and must include a discussion of how that project is situated within the discipline. The proposal should explain the goal and intent of the project and convince the professor that the project fits within the discipline, can be completed in the allotted time, and comports with discipline standards. Please see the specific guidelines provided in your capstone course.

Proposal drafting is considered a learning process and helps the student avoid oversights and possible mistakes. It should show that the student has read the relevant and recent literature on the subject, and it should contain a list of materials consulted during the preliminary stages of research.

In general, the creative/applied project proposal should include background information related to the project topic, the purpose of the project, and investigatory procedures to be used. The formal proposal varies by the discipline and is often 5-10 pages (title page not included). For further guidance on the format of the proposal, see requirements within the classroom. Professors are not required to accept work unless it has undergone this review process.

During project proposal process, the supervising professor may determine that the proposal requires a human subject review by the APUS Institutional Review Board (IRB). If IRB review is needed, the student will be advised by the professor to complete this process during the initial weeks of the class. The IRB process can take up to one month to complete. Note: All capstones involving human subjects research must receive IRB approval. More information about the APUS IRB can be found at http://www.apus.edu/community-scholars/institutional- review-board/.

Completing the Creative/Applied Project

Creative/applied project preparation entails a partnership between the student and the professor who is responsible for directing the intellectual content and activities of the project. The student and professor will coordinate the process for the student to submit and receive feedback on project activities. The student also is encouraged to ask other APUS faculty and professionals and leaders in their field of study to volunteer to observe and provide feedback on project activities where these faculty members and professionals may have special expertise.

Notes:

· Self-plagiarism. The student must be careful not to self-plagiarize in their project. Self-plagiarism is “the presentation of one’s own previously published work as new scholarship.”4 Evidence of academic dishonesty found in a comprehensive exam or capstone paper will result in a grade of an F for the exam/course.

· Creative/applied project length and depth shall be in accordance with disciplinary standards and should demonstrate high-level synthesis and evaluation of program content.

· Formatting shall be in strict accordance with the End of Program Assessment Manual for Graduate Studies (EOP Manual) to ensure uniformity across the university.

4 Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 2010. 6th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, pg. 16. Section 1.10 Plagiarism and Self-Plagiarism elaborates on the matter.

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o Titlepage(required)5 o University publication license /Copyright Page (required) o Dedication page (optional) o Acknowledgements page (optional) o Abstract of the capstone (required)

o Dot leaders (periods between words and pages) are required. o Pages should be left justified. o Double space between entries. o Note: Hyperlinking to sections within the project can add ease to navigation.

· Style manuals are located in the APUS Library in the Writing@APUS website.

· The project must also follow appropriate APUS Library declarations (see Chapter VII).

· Appropriate stylistic formatting and documentation are the student’s responsibility.

Student papers that do not follow the prescribed style rules will not be accepted.

Approval of Creative/Applied Project

Once a final project manuscript is approved by the capstone professor, the creative/applied project will be graded based on the standards in the creative/applied project rubric on a categorical scale of grades A+ through F. A grade of an A+ (or 96 percent) is the equivalent of the comprehensive exam designation of Passed with distinction (PWD). Thus, an A+ is only given to those works that demonstrate excellence in originality, research, argument, and/or expression. The creative/applied project that receives this grade must be of such high quality that it is potentially publishable in a discipline-appropriate academic or professional journal. All PWD papers must be reviewed and approved by the professor, second reader (if applicable), program director, school dean, and the Dean of Graduate Studies. A passing grade for this course requires a B (80%) or better on the capstone project itself as well as in the capstone course.

5 Papers using APA formatting should not include the running head on the title page.

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Submission of Creative/Applied Project Report

The last step in the project is to submit the final manuscript to the University archive. This is done by the program director and NOT the student.

All capstone papers are retained in the archive. The program director must submit the student’s paper within one month of the course completion date. The student is responsible for ensuring that all spelling, grammar, citations, etc. are correct and appropriate. Instructor feedback comments should not appear in the final version submitted to the archive. The student’s paper will be checked using a plagiarism detection tool before submission. See also the graduate writing resources in the APUS Library at Writing@APUS.

Exceptional works, those that received a grade of an A+, will be considered for publication in the APUS ePress Repository as examples of capstone projects that meet the highest level of distinction.

In order to have your project considered for inclusion, the project must:

· have received a grade of A+ (i.e., equivalent of a Passed with distinction);

· have been recommended and approved by the instructor, the program director, the

school dean, and the Office of Graduate Studies; and

· include the Institutional Review Board (IRB) authorization documentation, if

appropriate.

Unsuccessful Capstone Attempts

Students who have not successfully completed their capstone project during the period allowed for the capstone course may be allowed one extension opportunity to complete the requirement. However, students must have made significant progress on their capstone paper in order for the extension to be granted. Students who are permitted this opportunity will temporarily be issued an incomplete for the course and be allowed a 30-day extension to meet the requirements as outlined by the advisor.

In order for students to be permitted any additional extensions on their original capstone course the faculty member must forward all second extension requests in the capstone course to academicappeals@apus.edu. In the event the students fails to meet the extension deadlines, the original capstone course grade will either remain as a failing grade, or as a withdrawal, depending upon the documentation a student is able to submit.

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Note: Each new attempt at a comprehensive exam or capstone requires the student register and pay for the new course. The student has the right to appeal issues related to the comprehensive examination in line with the standard APUS appeals process by contacting academicappeals@apus.edu.

Second Readers

Some programs require second readers for the capstone. The second reader will be chosen by the program director or school dean. The task of the second reader is to review the capstone using the program-approved rubric. The second reader will independently grade the work. Once the second reader has received the capstone, they have one week to review and respond to the capstone advisor. If the second reader’s evaluation does not concur with the capstone advisor, the paper will go to the appropriate program director or school dean to issue a decision about the final grade.

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Chapter VI: Master’s Capstone: Practicum and Critical Reflection Paper

Note: Please check your academic plan to see if this option is available in your program. The master’s practicum and critical reflection paper provide an opportunity for students to

· obtain professional experience in a focused area or discipline;

· critically reflect on work experience in light of theory learned in class;

· demonstrate mastery of the skills required of professionals in their discipline; and

· culminate their master’s degree experience as they complete their master’s program

and either continue or begin working in their chosen profession.

Beginning the Practicum and Critical Reflection Paper

The course is tailored specifically to each graduate program and must be the last course master’s degree students take from APUS. The capstone course may be taken only after the completion of all coursework. That is, no concurrent coursework is permitted. Students must successfully complete this requirement before the award of a degree. Students must apply for graduation and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in order to be able to register for the course. A passing grade for this course requires a B- (80%) or better on the capstone paper itself as well as in the capstone course.

Practicum Proposal

A formal practicum proposal is required and shall be prepared in accordance with the standards of the academic discipline. Programs may designate the number of hours required for the practicum based on accreditation standards and the program’s requirements. The formal proposal must provide a clear and lucid description of the practicum including the location or organization in which the practicum will be completed, a description of the required hours of work required to complete the practicum, the schedule and objectives for the work to be completed, and the name and title of the supervising staff member at the organization. In addition, the students will need to describe how completing this practicum is consistent with their course of study and articulate the objectives they hope to achieve through the completion of this practicum. Some programs with specialty accreditation have unique requirements because of their accreditor. Be sure to read communications from your program to prepare for your practicum.

The proposal should explain the objectives to be learned and convince the practicum professor that the proposed practicum merits application and integration of learning for the student and specified degree. It should show that the student has read the relevant and

recent literature related to the practicum selection, and it should contain a list of materials consulted during the preliminary stages as part of the rationale for doing the practicum in the identified organization.

In general, the practicum proposal should include background information related to the learning objectives, identification, selection, and background of the organization and work to be completed, purpose of the practicum, and critical reflection process procedures to be used during it. The formal proposal varies by discipline. Proposal drafting is considered a learning process and helps the students avoid oversights and possible mistakes. For further guidance on the format of the proposal see requirements within the classroom.

Completing the Practicum

Practicum preparation entails a partnership between the student, an outside organization, and a supervising professor who is responsible for directing the intellectual content and activities of the practicum. The number of onsite hours that are required depends on the program and any specialty accreditation standards that must be followed. The practicum may not be completed in the student’s current reporting structure at work, and it is preferred that it be completed at an organization other than the student’s current place of employment.

Selecting an appropriate mentor in the workplace who will support the learning of the student in this process is critical to the successful completion of the practicum. The professor will provide guidelines for selecting a mentor and the mentor’s role in the practicum.

Students are required to keep a log or journal during the practicum and to write a critical reflection paper on this experience. The integration paper emphasizes the importance of experiential learning and applying your course content through your practicum project(s). Please see the specific guidelines in your practicum course.

Completion of the reflection paper and formatting shall be directed by the professor. The student and professor shall coordinate the process for the student to submit and receive feedback on practicum activities and the critical reflection paper.

The student also is required to obtain the mentor (see above) who will provide feedback on practicum activities. Outside faculty and other professionals’ opinions and feedback also may be sought, especially where faculty members and professionals have special expertise. Before consulting outside sources, be sure to consult your course instructor.

Notes:

· Self-plagiarism. The student must be careful not to self-plagiarize in their paper. Self- plagiarism is “the presentation of one’s own previously published work as new scholarship.”6 Evidence of academic dishonesty found in a comprehensive exam or capstone paper will result in a grade of an F for the exam/course.

· The paper’s length and depth shall be in accordance with disciplinary standards; please see specific guidelines in your program.

· Formatting shall be in strict accordance with the End of Program Assessment Manual for Graduate Studies to ensure uniformity across the university.

o Titlepage(required)7 o University publication license /Copyright Page (required) o Dedication page (optional) o Acknowledgements page (optional) o Abstract of the thesis (required)

· Style manuals are located in the APUS Library in the Writing@APUS website.

· The capstone must also follow appropriate APUS Library declarations (see

Chapter VII).

· Appropriate stylistic formatting and documentation are the student’s responsibility.

Student papers that do not follow the prescribed style rules will not be accepted.

6 Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 2010. 6th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, pg. 16. Section 1.10 Plagiarism and Self-Plagiarism elaborates on the matter.

7 Papers using APA formatting should not include the running head on the title page.

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Approval of the Practicum and Critical Reflection Paper

Once a final critical reflection paper is approved by the professor, final grading for the practicums and the critical reflection paper will be based on the standards in the APUS practicum and critical reflection rubric on a categorical scale of A+ through F. A grade of an A+ is the equivalent of the comprehensive exam designation of Passed with distinction (PWD). Thus, a grade of an A+ is only given to those projects that demonstrate excellence and are of the highest quality. The project that receives this grade must be of such high quality that it is potentially publishable in a discipline-appropriate scholarly academic or professional journal.

Submission of Critical Reflection Paper

The final step in the project is to submit the final manuscript to the University archive, which is done by the program director and NOT the student.

All capstone papers are retained in the archive. The program director must submit the student’s paper within one month of the course completion date. All spelling, grammar, citations, etc. must be correct and appropriate. Instructor feedback comments should not appear in the final version submitted to the archive. The student’s paper must be checked by the plagiarism detection tool before submission.

Exceptional works, those that received a grade of an A+, will be considered for publication in the APUS ePress Repository as examples of capstone projects that meet the highest level of distinction.

Critical reflection papers, while eligible for the grade of Passed with distinction may not be eligible to be placed in the APUS ePress Repository due to the personalized information that may be contained within the papers. The final decision for placement in the APUS ePress Repository will be made by the program director, school dean, and Office of Graduate Studies.

In order to have your paper considered for inclusion, the paper must:

· have received a grade of A+ (i.e., equivalent of a Passed with distinction);

· have been recommended and approved by the instructor, the program director the

school dean and the Office of Graduate Studies; and

· include the Institutional Review Board (IRB) authorization documentation, if

appropriate.

Unsuccessful Capstone Attempts

Students who have not successfully completed their capstone project during the period allowed for the capstone course may be allowed one extension opportunity to complete the

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requirement. However, significant progress must have been made on the capstone paper in order for the extension to be granted. Students who are permitted this opportunity will temporarily be issued an incomplete for the course and be allowed a 30-day extension to meet the requirements as outlined by the advisor.

In order for students to be permitted any additional extensions on their original capstone course the faculty member must forward all second extension requests in the capstone course to academicappeals@apus.edu. In the event the students fails to meet the extension deadlines, the original capstone course grade will either remain as a failing grade, or as a withdrawal, depending upon the documentation a student is able to submit.

Note: Each new attempt at a comprehensive exam or capstone requires the student register and pay for the new course.

The student has the right to appeal issues related to the comprehensive examination or capstone in line with the standard APUS appeals process by contacting academicappeals@apus.edu.

Second Readers

In the event of a failing grade, the rubric must be provided to the program director who will appoint a second reader to review the work.

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Chapter VII: Master’s Capstone: Portfolio and Critical Reflection Paper Option

Note: Please check your academic plan to see if this option is available in your program. The master’s portfolio option provides an opportunity for students to

· demonstrate a mastery of the area or discipline of their study;

· critically reflect on the learning that has occurred during their study;

· apply theory learned in class to real world situations and scenarios;

· demonstrate mastery of the skills required of professionals in their discipline; and

· culminate their graduate student experience as they complete their master’s program

and either continue or begin working in their chosen profession.

Beginning the Portfolio Option

Portfolio and Critical Reflection Paper

Each program specifies the artifacts that make up the portfolio. Students are expected to retain these artifacts as they progress through their program and may be asked to submit these artifacts into a portfolio portal throughout the program. The portfolio contains a substantive analysis that contextualizes each artifact, articulates how the artifact demonstrates mastery of the learning outcome, and evaluates the student’s intellectual growth through the program.

Students are encouraged to keep a log or journal and to retain all forums and assignments submitted during their course of study at APUS. This will help the student when they have to write a critical reflection paper on their learning experience.

The final capstone course provides the opportunity for students to demonstrate through their critical reflection paper that they have met the program learning outcomes and to showcase skills for future employers. This process will entail critique of the various artifacts as well as application of critical discipline theory. The capstone course may also ask students to revise, update, or modify previously-submitted artifacts to show intellectual growth throughout the program. The critical reflection paper should also show that the

student can apply relevant and recent literature to the artifacts and program objectives, and it should contain a bibliography of sources consulted.

Completing the Capstone

Portfolio preparation entails a partnership between the student and the supervising professor who is responsible for directing the intellectual content and activities of the portfolio.

Notes:

· Self-plagiarism. The student must be careful not to self-plagiarize in their paper. Self- plagiarism is “the presentation of one’s own previously published work as new scholarship.”8 Evidence of academic dishonesty found in a comprehensive exam or capstone paper will result in a grade of an F for the exam/course.

· The paper’s length and depth shall be in accordance with disciplinary standards.

· Formatting shall be in strict accordance with the End of Program Assessment Manual

for Graduate Studies to ensure uniformity across the university.

· The citation approach and manuscript formatting is established by the program or

school’s officially designated style manual; however, the following are required to follow the formats shown in the Appendices.

o Titlepage(required)9 o University publication license /Copyright Page (required) o Dedication page (optional) o Acknowledgements page (optional) o Abstract of the thesis (required)

o Dot leaders (periods between words and pages) are required. o Pages should be left justified.

8 Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 2010. 6th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, pg. 16. Section 1.10 Plagiarism and Self-Plagiarism elaborates on the matter.

9 Papers using APA formatting should not include the running head on the title page.

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o Double space between entries.

· Note: Hyperlinking to sections within the paper can add ease to navigation.

· Style manuals are located in the APUS Library in the Writing@APUS website.

· The paper must also follow appropriate APUS Library declarations (see

Chapter VII).

· Appropriate stylistic formatting and documentation are the student’s responsibility.

Student papers that do not follow the prescribed style rules will not be accepted.

Approval of the Portfolio and Critical Reflection Paper

Once a final critical reflection paper is approved by the professor, final grading for the portfolio and the critical reflection paper will be based on the standards in the APUS portfolio and critical reflection rubric on a categorical scale of A+ through F. A grade of an A+ is the equivalent of the comprehensive exam designation of Passed with distinction (PWD). Thus, a grade of an A+ is only given to those projects that demonstrate excellence and are of the highest quality. The project that receives this grade must be of high quality. Because of the potential sensitive personal information contained in the critical reflection paper for the portfolio, PWD papers may not be eligible for inclusion in the APUS ePress Repository

Submission of Critical Reflection Paper

The final step in the project is to submit the final manuscript to the University archive, which is done by the program director and NOT the student.

All capstone papers are retained in the archive. Program directors must submit the student’s paper within one month of the course completion date. The student is responsible for ensuring that all spelling, grammar, citations, etc. are correct and appropriate. Instructor feedback comments should not appear in the final version submitted to the archive. The student’s paper will be checked using a plagiarism detection tool before submission. See also the graduate resources in the APUS Library at Writing@APUS.

Exceptional works, those that received a grade of an A+, will be considered for publication in the APUS ePress Repository as examples of capstone projects that meet the highest level of distinction.

Critical reflection papers, while eligible for the grade of Passed with distinction, may not be eligible to be placed in the APUS ePress Repository due to the personalized information that may be contained within the papers. The final decision for placement in the APUS ePress Repository will be made by the program director, school dean and the Office of Graduate Studies.

In order to have your paper considered for inclusion, the paper must:

• have received a grade of A+ (i.e., equivalent of a Passed with distinction);

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· have been recommended and approved by the instructor, the program director, the school dean, and the Office of Graduate Studies; and

· include the Institutional Review Board (IRB) authorization documentation, if appropriate.

Unsuccessful Capstone Attempts

Students who have not successfully completed their capstone project during the period allowed for the capstone course may be allowed one extension opportunity to complete the requirement. However, the student must have made significant progress on the paper in order to be granted the extension. Students who are permitted this opportunity will temporarily be issued an incomplete for the course and be allowed a 30-day extension to meet the requirements as outlined by the advisor.

In order for students to be permitted any additional extensions on their original capstone course the faculty member must forward all second extension requests in the capstone course to academicappeals@apus.edu. In the event the students fails to meet the extension deadlines, the original capstone course grade will either remain as a failing grade, or as a withdrawal, depending upon the documentation a student is able to submit.

Note: Each new attempt at a comprehensive exam or capstone requires the student register and pay for the new course.

The student has the right to appeal issues related to the capstone in line with the standard APUS appeals process by contacting academicappeals@apus.edu.

Second Readers

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In the event of a failing grade, the rubric must be provided to the program director who will appoint a second reader to review the work.

Chapter VIII: Program Director Role in the End of Program Assessment

Student success in their end of program requirement is dependent not only on their own actions, but also on the faculty and program directors who teach and design the assessment. This chapter outlines the end of program expectations for program directors.

Comprehensive Exam

All program directors will

· ensure all comprehensive exam courses have appropriate grading rubrics;

· ensure all faculty teaching courses are appropriately trained and follow the EOP

Manual;

· ensure the permalink for the End of Program Assessment Manual for Graduate

Studies is in the classroom and accessible to students;

· vet all questions and processes and ensure all course expectations and

requirements are consistent;

· monitor and track all failures and secure readers to provide second reviews in the

case of failed grades;

· ensure that all faculty are submitting the report to the Registrar regarding the reason

for any failing grades; and

· regularly change both exam and practice questions.

Capstones (this includes all varieties: thesis, practicum, creative/applied project and portfolio)

All program directors will

· ensure all students in their program know what the expectations are for the end of

program assessment;

· ensure that courses, particularly core courses, have assessments that prepare

students for their end of program assessment;

· ensure all capstone courses have appropriate grading rubrics;

· ensure all thesis courses are set up properly and include a requirement for a

capstone proposal;

· ensure the permalink for the End of Program Assessment Manual for Graduate

Studies is in the classroom and accessible to students (recommend including manual

in first courses so student know what expectations are);

· ensure all faculty who teach the capstone courses are appropriately trained and

qualified to do so, including CITI certification;

· vet all capstone requirements and ensure course expectations and requirements are

consistent across courses;

· monitor and track all failures and ensure faculty are reporting the reason for failing

grades;

• select second readers, if appropriate; and • issue final approval for all capstones, secure school dean’s signature, and submit

work to the University archive. Second Readers: Some programs require second readers for the thesis or capstone. The

second reader will be chosen by the program director or school dean. The task of the second reader is to review the capstone assessment using the program-approved rubric. The second reader will independently grade the work. Once the second reader has received the capstone assessment, they have one week to review and respond to the faculty advisor. If the second reader’s evaluation does not concur with that of the faculty advisor, the paper will go to the appropriate program director or school dean to issue a decision about the final grade.

Chapter IX: Faculty Role in the End of Program Assessment

Comprehensive Exam

Faculty in the comprehensive exam courses will

· ensure students and classrooms have the necessary course resources;

· provide students with the exam protocols;

· provide students with the exam rubric;

· provide students with extensive in-text feedback on their work as a way to assist in

their preparation (feedback is also designed to help students understand what is

considered a passing answer to exam questions);

· ensure students complete all activities leading up to the exam;

· submit all exam questions to a plagiarism detection tool;

· let the program directors know about any issues you find with the course/exam;

· approve the proctor or ensure access to the proctoring provider (if applicable); and

· grade the exam using the program-approved rubric.

o When submitting a failing grade, the faculty member must also use the provided drop down to notify the Registrar’s office of the main reason for the failing grade, so that those involved may quickly know which retake options should be made available to the student;

o The professor should also indicate, using drop down, if the student completed the practice questions during the comprehensive exam course;

o The faculty member in coordination with the program director will identify a second reader for the exam; and

o Ensure the student does not take the exam prior to the last week of the course.

Capstones (this includes all varieties: thesis, practicum, creative/applied project and portfolio)

Faculty in the capstone courses will

· ensure students and classrooms have the necessary course resources;

· ensure the academic quality and integrity of the capstone final product;

· direct the intellectual content and proper formatting of the capstone final product;

· provide students with a detailed process to submit and receive feedback on drafts of

document sections;

· provide guidance on submitting the IRB application for any projects involving human subjects research and monitor student work for any mention of human subjects

· approve the proposal before students move on to the next stage of the process;

· provide students with extensive in-text feedback on drafts;

· submit paper to plagiarism detection tool;

· send the manuscript and a copy of the capstone and the rubric evaluation to the

program director who will then forward to a second reader, if required;

· issue a final thesis/project grade using the program-approved rubric;

· in the event of the student fails the capstone thesis/project, when submitting the

final grade, indicate the reason for that grade; o When submitting a failing grade, the faculty member must also use the

provided drop down to notify the Registrar’s office of the main reason for the failing grade, so that those involved may quickly know which retake options should be made available to the student.

· work with students who require an extension to ensure completion within the allotted timeframe—students on extension should provide a detailed timeline for completing the required work and must be kept to that timeline; and

· submit the completed document to the program director to be signed by them and the school dean before being forwarded on to the University archive. Submitted along with this are the following documents:

1. Completed Submission/Approval form;

2. IRB documentation (if applicable; approval letter)

Second Readers: Some programs require second readers for the capstone assessment. The second reader will be chosen by the program director or school dean. The task of the second reader is to review the assessment using the program-approved rubric. The second reader will independently grade the work. Once the second reader has received the assessment, they have one week to review and respond to the faculty advisor. If the second reader’s evaluation does not concur with that of the faculty advisor, the paper will go to the appropriate program director or school dean to issue a decision about the final grade.

Chapter X: University Declarations and Archiving

This section of the manual addresses those factors, along with assistance, for the use of Microsoft Word, the university’s designated word processing software.

The APUS Library is acting in its capacity as publisher of record and regulator for scholarly publication along with the maintenance of current Web standards. In addition to the faculty’s responsibility for subject area competence, the APUS Library retains approval rights for featuring capstone writing projects. Only projects that have met the standard of Passed with distinction and have been approved are eligible for inclusion in the University’s online publication database, the APUS ePress Repository.

All successful capstone projects must be submitted to the University archive following the guidance in this chapter.

In keeping with scholarly standards, the university demands that all textual materials be warranted and constructed in good order, which implies writing in standard English, checking spelling and grammar, and conforming with stylistic rules from the student’s academic or professional program and its designated style manual (APA, Bluebook, Chicago/Turabian, or MLA). Style manuals are located in the APUS Library in the Writing@APUS website.

Because APUS is an online university, student work products also must be designed with Web publication in mind. Graduate students are expected to demonstrate word-processing skills. The resulting paper must align with Internet delivery and search engine discovery, as well as with the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) criteria for a semantic network and disabled student access under Section 508.

Note: The APUS Library is committed to open access, ADA accessibility methods, and long-term maintenance of all accepted submissions. While the library encourages the use of images, diagrams, media files, and datasets, it does not engage in long-term formal normalization and preservation methods for images, datasets, or media files.

1. Declarations

The author must agree to and include the following statements at the bottom of the manuscript’s copyright page:

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· University Publication License: The applicant must grant the university a nonexclusive license to publish the submission on its website and/or in the APUS Library. Use the following language:

The author hereby grants the American Public University System the right to display these contents for educational purposes.

· Copyright Warrant: The applicant assumes responsibility for meeting the requirements set by United States copyright law (http://www.copyright.gov/eco/). Use the following language:

The author assumes total responsibility for meeting the requirements set by United States copyright law for the inclusion of any materials that are not the author’s creation or in the public domain.

See the Appendix for the required, correct page format for both statements.

2. Textual Components Academic Style Manual Conformity

The citation approach and manuscript formatting is established by the program or school’s officially designated style manual; however, the following are required to follow the formats shown in the Appendixes.

• Title page (required)10 • Copyright Page (required) • Dedication page (optional) • Acknowledgements page (optional) • Abstract (required)

The Table of Contents, List of Tables, and List of Figures should be formatted according to the program’s or school’s designated style manual with the following exceptions (see the Appendices for examples).

· Dot leaders (periods between words and pages) are required

· Pages should be left justified.

· Double space between entries.

10 Papers using APA formatting should not include the running head on the title page.

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• Note: Hyperlinking to sections within the thesis can add ease to navigation.

Check the Styles Guides at the Writing@APUS website for help where the style manual is ambiguous or clashes with Web publication methods. You may also consult with a librarian: librarian@apus.edu.

· APA style guidance is available at the Writing@APUS-APA resource in Writing@APUS. Should you wish to purchase a copy of The APA guide, a.k.a. the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, please visit the bookseller of your choice or visit the APAStyle website at https://apastyle.apa.org/ for purchase options.

· The complete, official Chicago Manual of Style Online and The Bluebook Online are provided by the APUS Library to APUS students, faculty, and staff.

· MLA style guidance is available at the Writing@APUS-MLA resource in Writing@APUS. Should you wish to purchase a copy of The MLA guide, a.k.a. the MLA Handbook, please visit the bookseller of your choice or visit the MLA website at https://www.mla.org/Publications/Bookstore/Nonseries/MLA-Handbook-Eighth-Edition for purchase options.

· Turabian style guidance is available at the Writing@APUS-Turabian resource in Writing@APUS. Should you wish to purchase a copy of The Turabian guide, a.k.a. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations), please visit the bookseller of your choice or https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/turabian.html for purchase options.

3. Images and Tables

All images and tables must be numbered and clearly labeled according to style manual dictates. In addition to clarity and publication demands, this requirement helps to address the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) demands for universal access and parallel federal requirements under Section 508 to ensure access for those with disabilities.

Image Insert/Formats

Images are normally placed within the text using the Picture command, which is found under the Insert tab on the main toolbar. (When placed on a webpage, such materials are normally enhanced with a description using the alt tag.) Please use common sense to describe images (i.e., fire rescue, maps, Philadelphia). If in doubt, consult a librarian at librarian@apus.edu for specifics and added background.

Acceptable digital formats include:

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· .gif, especially appropriate for line drawings and graphs;

· .jpg/.jpeg, the overall default format and the dominant style for mounting pictures on

the Web;

· .png, Microsoft’s image format that works with most Web browsers; and

· .tif/.tiff, the archival standard for preservation purposes that also produces extremely

large files.

4. Video or Audio

Those seeking to submit digital audio or video files may utilize MP3 (audio) or MP4 (video) formats. File-size considerations should be kept in mind, and if the file is prohibitively large, a version without video inserts should be provided with the video and audio files provided as external files and references. These areas contain rapidly changing archival standards and normally require specialized formatting with Codecs (compression schemes) for presentation on the Web. In general, the applicant should expect to

· include identifying metadata within the file(s); and

· include a textual equivalent (transcript) to meet universal access/Section 504

compliance.

5. URLs/Web Addresses

When noting a URL or Web address, the default format should be that of the style manual of your program. Note: Word will automatically embed the codes to link directly to the resources. Citations to permanent or persistent links are preferred (i.e., DOI: Digital Object Identifier). Do not use link-abbreviating tools (i.e., TinyURL, etc.).

6. Submission to the Archive

The final step in the project is to submit the final manuscript to the University archive, which is done by the program director and NOT the student. Without exception, all passing graduate capstone papers must be submitted to the digital archive.

Papers submitted to the archive by the student will not be accepted. The student should contact their capstone advisor concerning submission on their behalf. The program director or school dean is to submit the capstone documents.

7. Passed with Distinction (a.k.a. PWD)

The student’s capstone professor and program director are responsible for determining if the capstone project meets the criteria for Passed with distinction and is therefore eligible for consideration to be published in the APUS ePress Repository. Only projects that have met the standard of Passed with distinction and have been approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies are eligible for inclusion.

Papers accepted for publication will be posted publicly in the APUS ePress Repository with an active link to a PDF version of the paper.

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Top margin: 1 inch

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Left margin: 1 inch

Right margin: 1 inch

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A Spectacular Capstone Title Goes Here A master’s thesis Submitted to the Faculty of American Public University System by Richard James Smith In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Psychology December 2020 Capstone Professor: Dr. Joseph Smart

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Double space. Center your text vertically by using the Page Setup, Layout dialog and select Vertical Alignment: Center.

Use the appropriate descriptor, such as master’s capstone project or master’s thesis

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Do not capitalize “by” or “of”

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Use your official name as it appears in APUS records.

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Use the correct degree name from your academic plan

NOTE:

Use these formatting instructions for the title page, abstract, and other front matter. Use the disciplinary style guide for your program for the body of the document.

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Month and year of final submission

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If your capstone has a formal second reader, required by the program, add the second reader below the capstone professor as Second Reader: Dr. Jane Scholar

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No page number on the Title Page. Insert a section break before the next

page

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Bottom margin: 1 inch

Appendix 2: Sample of Copyright Page

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· NOTES: Text should begin just after halfway down the page. This sample includes the exact language that must be used.

· Begin numbering on the Copyright page with lower- case Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, etc.) Insert a section break after the Title Page in order to begin the numbering with i. Page numbers may be in the bottom right, top right, or bottom center.

· Restart numbering with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) for the main body of your paper.

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The author hereby grants the American Public University System the right to display these contents for educational purposes.

The author assumes total responsibility for meeting the requirements set by United States copyright law for the inclusion of any materials that are not the author’s creation or in the public domain.

Appendix 3: Sample of Dedication Page (Optional)

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NOTES:

· Text should begin just after

halfway down the page.

· Text should be double-spaced.

· Page number should be lower-

case Roman numeral

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DEDICATION

I dedicate this thesis to my parents. Without their patience, understanding, support, and, most of all, love, the completion of this work would not have been possible.

Appendix 4: Sample of Acknowledgments Page (Optional)

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NOTES:

· Text should begin just after halfway down the page.

· Text should be double-spaced.

· Page number should be lower-

case Roman numeral.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I wish to thank the members of my committee for their support, patience, and good humor. Their gentle but firm direction has been most appreciated. Dr. Betty Morrow was particularly helpful in guiding me toward a qualitative methodology. Dr. Judith Slater’s interest in a sense of competence was the impetus for my proposal. Finally, I would like to thank my major professor, Dr. Stephen Fain. From the beginning, he had confidence in my abilities to not only complete a degree, but to complete it with excellence.

I have found my course work throughout the national security program to be stimulating and thoughtful, providing me with the tools with which to explore both past and present ideas and issues.

iii

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Appendix 5: Sample of the Abstract

ABSTRACT A Spectacular Capstone Title Goes Here by Richard James Smith Master of Arts in Psychology American Public University System Dr. Joseph Smart, Capstone Professor

Begin typing the abstract here, double-spaced. The abstract must include the following components: purpose of the research, methodology, findings, and conclusion. The body of the abstract is limited to 150-200 words (no less than 150 and no more than 200). The abstract may continue on to the next page.

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This is the required format. NOTE: It is permissible for the text of the abstract itself to continue on to another page.

Top margin: 1 inch

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Right margin: 1 inch

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Left margin: 1 inch

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NOTE: The abstract is a required component of the dissertation or capstone. If you are not sure of what an abstract is or of how to write one, Graduate Studies and the APUS Library have created an instructional module on Writing the Abstract for Your Graduate Capstone Thesis at AMU/APU, viewable at http://apus.libguides.com/research_methods_guide/writingcapstoneabstract.

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Page number is lower-case Roman numeral.

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Bottom margin: 1 inch

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The simplest way to generate a Table of Contents is to use Headings when you create chapters and subsections. Then, you can generate a table of contents automatically in Word, usually from the References tab. When created this way, the Table of Contents can be updated automatically when you make changes to your paper.

Appendix 6: Sample of a Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………………………1

II. LITERATURE REVIEW …………………………………………………………………………………….. 5 Competing Perceptions of National Security ………………………………………………. 5 Drones as a Weapon of War………………………………………………………………………. 8 Afghanistan Security………………………………………………………………………………..12 Pakistan Security …………………………………………………………………………………….15

III. METHODOLOGY…………………………………………………………………………………………………….24 Subjects and Setting………………………………………………………………………………..24 Data Collection Technique ……………………………………………………………………….25 Statistical Analysis …………………………………………………………………………………..27 Limitations of the Study……………………………………………………………………………30

IV. RESULTS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………34 Legal Framework……………………………………………………………………………………..34 Impact of Drone Strikes on War Effort……………………………………………………….38 Impact of Drone Strikes on U.S.-Pakistani Relations ………………………………….40 Impact of Drone Strikes on U.S. Regional Interests ……………………………………48

V. DISCUSSION……………………………………………………………………………………………………………49 Ethics and Legality of Using Drones ………………………………………………………….49

Competing Conceptions of Self-Defense and National Security…………………..50 Controversy about Use of Drones in Warfare……………………………………………..52 Summary…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..54 Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………………..56

LIST OF REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………………………………………..60

APPENDICES ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..66

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NOTES:

· Follow your style guide for exact formatting

requirements.

· Dot leaders (periods between words and pages)

are required.

· Pages should be left justified.

· Double space between entries.

· Hyperlinking to sections within the thesis can add

ease to navigation.

Appendix 7: Sample of List of Tables

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE PAGE

1. Physical Education Teacher Demographic Data ……………………………………………….15 2. Current University Student Demographic Data …………………………………………………17 3. Number of High or Low Value Orientations for Respondents……………………………..25 4. Teacher Value Orientation Profile by Gender ……………………………………………………28 5. Teacher Value Orientation Profile by Academic Rank………………………………………..33 6. Teacher Value Orientation Profile by Teaching Experience ………………………………..39 7. Student Value Orientation Profile by Gender…………………………………………………….41 8. Student Value Orientation Profile by Academic Major ………………………………………. 45 9. Student Value Orientation Profile in Different Year at University………………………..51

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NOTES:

· Follow your style guide for exact formatting

requirements.

· Dot leaders (periods between words and pages)

are required.

· Pages should be left justified.

· Double space between entries.

· Hyperlinking to sections makes navigation easier.

vii

Appendix 8: Sample of List of Figures

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE PAGE

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NOTES:

· Follow your style guide for exact formatting

requirements.

· Dot leaders (periods between words and pages)

are required.

· Pages should be left justified.

· Double space between entries.

· Hyperlinking to sections makes navigation easier.

viii

Appendix 9: Sample of Permission to Quote or Reproduce Copyrighted Material Letter

Date___________________________

I (we) _______________________________________________________________ owner(s) of the copyright to the work known as ______________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ hereby authorize _______________________________________________________ to use the following material as part of their thesis to be submitted to American Public University System.

Page Line Numbers or Other Identification

_____________________ Signature

Appendix 10: Sample of IRB Approval Letter

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Application Number: Application Title:

Dear The APUS IRB has reviewed and approved the above application. Date of IRB approval: Date of IRB approval expiration:

The approval is valid for one calendar year from the date of approval. Should your research using human subjects extend beyond the time covered by this approval, you will need to submit an extension request form to the IRB.

Changes in the research (e.g., recruitment process, advertisements) or informed consent process must be approved by the IRB before they are implemented. Please submit a protocol amendment form to do so.

It is the responsibility of the investigators to report to the IRB any serious, unexpected, and related adverse events and potential unanticipated problems related to risks to subjects and others using the unanticipated problems notification.

Please direct any question to apus-irb@apus.edu. The forms mentioned above are available at http://www.apus.edu/community-scholars/institutional-review- board/apply.htm.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Douglas, PhD IRB Chair

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

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American Public University System

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