Syllabus

 

Course: Master's Report

Course & Section: FES6916

Instructor:  Jeffrey Lindsey, PhD, PM, CFO, EFO

Office Rinker School of Construction Management

Jeffrey.lindsey@ufl.edu

353-273-1199

Office Hours:      Scheduled

Prerequisites: Permission from Advisor and Director of Masters Programs

 

Material and Supply Fee: $0

 

Textbook: Independently determined as per student’s research topic and approved by the instructor.

 

Software: N/A

 

Readings: N/A

 

Attendance:

As arranged with Advisor. Requirements for class attendance and make-up exams, assignments, and other work in this course are consistent with university policies that can be found at:https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/attendance.aspx

 

 

Course objective:

• Requires demonstration of mastery of all aspects of previous emergency services disaster management education.
• Requires individual student to articulate and engage a project entirely of their own definition.
• Requires individual student to convincingly define significant aspects of emergency services disaster management, and employ these aspects in design or research.
• Provides opportunity for individual student to make contribution to the exploration and development of the discipline of disaster management.

 

All MFES students are required to complete a master's report. The report demonstrates the ability to

• identify and utilize source materials and precedents
• develop a report
• make a persuasive presentation

 

The report should make an original contribution to knowledge in the field of Emergency Disaster Management. There is no predetermined length, but most range between 50 and 100 pages (typed, double-spaced).

 

CHOOSING A TOPIC

Students should begin thinking of possible report topics, or at least specific areas of interest, early in their MFES program, preferably in the first semester. Ideally, the topic should be related to the student’s area of specialization (guided electives in addition to the core required coursework) and should also fit with the student’s intellectual interests and career aspirations.

 

REPORT 

Students should consult with the FES Director on the proposed topic concerning the feasibility of the topic. 

 In addition to the report chair, the report committee will include one additional faculty member from the graduate school.

 

REPORT PROPOSAL

Students submit a report proposal no later than the beginning of the semester. The proposal should explain the problem/issue to be addressed in the report, identify preliminary research materials, specify the contribution the report is intended to make, and provide a preliminary plan for research, writing, and other activities. This should be accomplished in the Methods of Research course.

The FES Director should approve the proposal and make suggestions for further research and writing. 

 

CONDUCTING RESEARCH

Students should begin reading about their report area(s) and exploring potential resources early in the MFES program. Taking courses related to and writing course papers on the report topic will facilitate completion of the project. Report research may involve field-based study, library-based study, or most likely, some combination. The kind of research most appropriate to the report will vary by topic and discipline. Students should consult closely with the FES Director throughout the process.

 

COMPLETION AND PRESENTATION OF THE REPORT

Students should consult with the FES Director about their research and writing schedule. Normally students will submit drafts of individual chapters to the FES Director as they are completed.

 

 

Grading

The final grade will be an S/U

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory: Grades of S and U are the only grades awarded in courses numbered 6916 (Master's Report). 

A grade of S is equal to a C (2.0) or better. Grades earned under the S-U option do not carry grade point values and are not computed in the University of Florida grade point average. Courses with a grade of S will count as credits earned in a degree program. Such grades are included in your permanent academic record and are reflected on the transcript.

Accommodations:

Students with disabilities requesting accommodations should first register with the Disability Resource Center (352-392-8565, www.dso.ufl.edu/drc/) by providing appropriate documentation. Once registered, students will receive an accommodation letter which must be presented to the instructor when requesting accommodation. Students with disabilities should follow this procedure as early as possible in the semester.

Evaluations:

Students are expected to provide professional and respectful feedback on the quality of instruction in this course by completing course evaluations online via GatorEvals. Guidance on how to give feedback in a professional and respectful manner is available at https://gatorevals.aa.ufl.edu/students/. Students will be notified when the evaluation period opens, and can complete evaluations through the email they receive from GatorEvals, in their Canvas course menu under GatorEvals, or via https://ufl.bluera.com/ufl/. Summaries of course evaluation results are available to students at https://gatorevals.aa.ufl.edu/public-results/.