APST 495: Research in Appalachia
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
Credit Hours: 3
This course offers students an opportunity to engage in a substantive community-based research group project in Appalachia. Field research and community interaction are generally major components of the course, supplemented by appropriate secondary resource materials. Students present project findings and work to community members and at various conferences.
Note(s): Cultural or Behavioral Analysis designated course. May be repeated for credit when content differs.
Detailed Description of Content of Course
This community-based research class provides students with the opportunity to learn about and utilize qualitative research as they work with a designated Appalachian community partner, such as nonprofits, governmental agencies, and public schools. The research topic is determined by the community partner and based on identified needs. Due to their interactions with residents, students will submit Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols and acquire knowledge about the ethical treatment of human subjects. Students will work as a group and consequently will strengthen their abilities to collaborate and negotiate. Additionally, they will present their project findings to community members and at various conferences, thereby enhancing oral presentation skills.
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
A proposal for a topics course must include a description of how the course will be carried out. The plan should detail the kinds of instruction intended and other interactions between students and professor. If other resource people or informants are key elements in the course, their roles and the nature of their interactions with the students should also be described.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
This course is designated as A (Cultural or Behavioral Analysis) Area and fulfill the learning goal: To examine the context and interactions of culture(s) and/or behavior(s). Students will fulfill the learning outcomes in this area: describe behaviors, beliefs, cultures, social institutions, and/or environments and analyze the interactions of behaviors, beliefs, cultures, social institutions, and/or environments.
This course may be applied to the REAL Studies Minor in Cultural/Behavior Analysis.
Having successfully completed this course, students will be able to:
Assessment Measures
May include but not be limited to:
Other Course Information
This course historically has been affiliated with the Appalachian Teaching Project (ATP), which is sponsored by the Appalachian Regional Commission. Students’ travel to community partners and to the ATP and Appalachian Studies Conferences is paid by the ATP grant.
Review and Approval
September 2001 Reviewed by Dr. Grace Toney Edwards, Chair
October, 2009
March 01, 2021