AUBURN UNIVERSITY
SYLLABUS

Course Number:	CTEE 7910
	Course Title:	Practicum in Area of Specialization
	Credit Hours:	1-6 semester hours (may be repeated for credit not to exceed 6 hours)
	Prerequisites:	Departmental Approval
	Corequisites:	None

Date Syllabus Prepared:	January 2000, Revised January 2007

Texts:		Textbook and/or other resources (journals, research monographs, unpublished research, etc.) Selected as appropriate to the individual practicum topics.

Course Description:

Provides individual students with experiences relating theory and practice, usually in a school setting.  The practicum is designed to provide performance-based experience related to the area of specialization.  It is designed to provide students with cooperatively selected activities that will assist them in gaining expertise/experience within a selected area of theory and practice.  Flexibility is allowed to provide input by students to identify meaningful problems/applications with regard to their current and future professional activities.

The approved project/product/research/activity effort associated with the practicum should entail a minimum of 30 hours of documented work or involvement for each one (1) hour of assigned credit.

Course Objectives:

The course is designed to:
Provide experience closely relating theory and practice, usually in a school setting.
Provide various and flexible learning activities to afford the student the opportunity to achieve required or desired experience in an area of specialization.

	Students will be able to:

	In consultation with the professor, select a topical area of study related to their areas of specialization. 
	Write a proposal to guide completion of the study.  The proposal will include a description of the study, objectives, methodology to be used in completing the study or project(including resources), and evaluation.
	Prepare an annotated bibliography.
	Submit evidence of study/project completion, such as a finished product or paper.

Course Content and Schedule:

	The course content is developed based upon the individual student’s approved practicum proposal.  (See attached guidelines for submitting practicum proposals.)
	The length of time expended in the course will depend on the learning experience selected and credit hours awarded for the activity.
	The student is expected to spend a minimum of 30 hours of documented work or involvement for each hour of credit.  Some learning experiences will required more hours than others, depending upon the activity to be accomplished.

7. 	Course Requirements/Evaluation:

Attend an orientation session with the professor.
Identify a topic and obtain approval from the professor. 
Write a proposal describing the study/project and a plan for completing and evaluating the study/project.
If the practicum is to be completed in a school, obtain appropriate written permission to do so.  If the practicum involves research using human subjects, obtain the approval of Auburn University’s Institutional Review Board.
Prepare an annotated bibliography using the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th edition).  (Begin a list of references while writing the proposal and expand it as work on the practicum progresses.)
Schedule a minimum of six visits with the professor during the semester. (Checkpoints will be established for each meeting.)
Orientation meeting during Week 1
Week 3 or Week 4
Week 6 or Week 7 
Week 9 or Week 10
Week 11 or Week 12
Week 13 or Week 14
Submit paper or finished product during Week 15

	Evaluation:
The professor will determine whether the student has met the criteria established jointly by professor and student and will assign an S (Satisfactory) or U (Unsatisfactory) for the course.  Weighted components will be the following:

		Final paper or product and presentation of paper or product		up to 70 points
		Proposal							up to 10 points
		Meeting with professor and checkpoints completed			up to 10 points
		References ( number and type of references, format)			up to 10 points

	Satisfactory grades will be assigned only to practica that earn at least 80 points.

Class Policy Statements

Participation:  Students are expected to participate in all class discussions and participate in all
exercises. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor if assignment deadlines are not
met. Students are responsible for initiating arrangements for missed work.

Attendance/Absences:  Attendance is required at each class meeting.  If an exam is missed, a
make-up exam will be given only for University-approved excuses as outlined in the Tiger Cub.
Arrangement to take the make-up exam must be made in advance.  Students who miss an exam
because of illness need a doctor’s statement for verification of sickness and should clear the
absence with the instructor the day they return to class.  Other unavoidable absences from campus
must be documented and cleared with the instructor in advance.

Unannounced quizzes:  There will be no unannounced quizzes.

Accommodations:  Students who need accommodations are asked to arrange a meeting during
office hours the first week of classes, or as soon as possible if accommodations are needed
immediately.  If you have a conflict with my office hours, an alternative time can be arranged. To
set up this meeting, please contact me by e-mail. Bring a copy of your Accommodation Memo
and an Instructor Verification Form to the meeting. If you do not have an Accommodation Memo
but need accommodations, make an appointment with the Program for Students with Disabilities
at 1244 Haley Center, 844-2096 (V/TT).

Honesty Code:  The University Academic Honesty Code and the Tiger Cub Rules and
Regulations pertaining to Cheating will apply to this class.

Professionalism:  As faculty, staff, and students interact in professional settings, they are expected
to demonstrate professional behaviors as defined in the College’s conceptual framework. These
professional commitments or dispositions are listed below:

Engage in responsible and ethical professional practices
Contribute to collaborative learning communities
Demonstrate a commitment to diversity
Model and nurture intellectual vitality

9.  Justification for Graduate Credit

This course will allow individual graduate students to pursue in-depth study of advanced topics within their respective areas of specialization, usually in a school setting.  Although guided by the professor at periodic checkpoints, the course requires independent work of the student to design, develop, and produce a product for presentation and evaluation.

PROPOSAL GUIDELINES
for 
Practicum in Area of Specialization
(Prepare two copies: one for the instructor and one for the student)

Cover Page
Heading: CTEE 7910  Practicum in (Area of Specialization).
Professor’s Name
Title of project
Semester and Year
Student Information 
		a.	Name
		b.	Address
		c.	Phone number and email address
Date 
Contract sign off  							
					(Student)					   (Date)

					(Professor)					   (Date)

Body of Proposal
	1.	The problem, activity or concern and its significance
			Discuss the educational problem(s) involved in the specific area of the proposed practicum.   Relate theory to practice.

	2.	Description of the problem, activity, or concern
			Describe the features and major dimensions of the proposed problem, activity, area of study, or concern.  Indicate and describe the variables associated with the proposed practicum.

	3.	Supporting evidence 
			Describe preliminary planning already accomplished, observations made, problems between theory and practice, and review of related literature which provide a rational for the proposed objectives of the practicum.

	4.	Objectives
			Write the specific objectives to be achieved by the proposed practicum.  Each written objective should represent a variable or combination of variables (described in #2) affecting the evaluation of the practicum.  Describe variables and explain how they are to be measured or evaluated.

	5.	Activity Design
			Describe the operational plan and indicate why the plan is appropriate for achieving the stated objectives.  Describe how you envision the final product and its implications and/or possible contributions.

	6.	Activity Management
			Indicate in chronological order the events and the time frame for their completion.

	7.	Resources
			List the resources needed to complete activities and objectives and explain how they are to be used.

	8.	Evaluation
			A final paper/product is required.  Propose an evaluation scheme for the final product which reflects the unique nature of the practicum.  Evaluation scheme to be finalized by the professor.