Courses

This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamental academic research and communication skills, as well as academic integrity, needed to be successful in their studies of policy science. The first part of the course focuses on how to write a concise and effective research proposal as part of the application to the On-site Field Research Project students will join in their 2nd semester.

Students will then learn how to design a persuasive 10-minute academic presentation based on their research proposal to compete in the annual CRPS Research Proposal Competition as part of the college-wide Academic Fiesta.

In the final weeks of the course the students learn skills to work collaboratively on research projects. The course touches upon critical and creative thinking strategies, which will help students become more perceptive readers and listeners, more persuasive writers and presenters, and more effective researchers. The academic and research skills learned in this core course will be utilized throughout the CRPS program and are considered essential for academic and scientific accuracy and success.