Case Studies and Thesis Design

The fourth program in the MES core sequence allows students to deepen their understanding of the research process as they make decisions about their own thesis research design and methodology. Activities and assignments help students understand how their thesis builds upon and fills gaps they identify in previous research. Students will complete a literature review to guide their own research framework and study design. They will write a Thesis Prospectus, which will be reviewed by a thesis reader assigned in during Fall Quarter to facilitate the thesis research process. Through this course, students will improve their ability to communicate academic research to a broad audience via posters and oral presentations. Successful completion of this program is required to enroll for thesis credits.

To successfully participate in this program, students will need access to Canvas, Zoom, and Microsoft Word or similar software. Students can expect about 50% of synchronous teaching to be in-person, in groups on campus (e.g. seminar or workshop) as health conditions and space availability allow. Students who prefer to engage remotely can expect the same amount of interaction and time spent in class, using Zoom and other online collaboration tools.

Hi-Flex Class Format: This course is offered in a “Hi-Flex” format. Students can attend fully in-person, fully online, or a mix of both. Each class will be offered in-person but will also include a zoom link for remote attendees. We will do our best to provide comparable experiences for both in-person and remote students. Remote students can expect to engage with one another through breakout rooms, online discussion boards and other collaborative online methods. 

CLASS SCHEDULE: Tuesday and Thursday nights, 6pm-10pm.

Please note that there will be an optional field trip to the Olympic Peninsula tentatively scheduled from October 10-12. We will provide more details in a summer letter to students.