Course Format
Course Description
Course Objectives
Course Schedule
Description of Assignments
Basis for Grading
Classroom Civility
Disability Services
Academic Integrity
Writing Quality

1. Conduct a comprehensive review of the academic and grey literature, and critically evaluate this information as it pertains to a specified research or evaluation project.
2. Identify, conceptualize, and formulate a research or evaluation problem from their own practice on which to conduct an empirical study.
3. State clear and precise research questions or hypotheses (if appropriate) for research or evaluation projects.
4. Identify appropriate study design and methods for quantitative and qualitative research or evaluation projects.
5. Discern appropriate sampling approaches for research or evaluation projects.
6. Choose appropriate data collection method(s) for research or evaluation projects.
7. Demonstrate sensitivity to issues of power, positionality, and potential biases in conducting research with culturally diverse populations (including race, ethnicity, language, country of origin or citizenship, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, physical or intellectual disabilities, etc.). 
8. Obtain certification of online training from the Hunter College Human Research Protection Program (HRPP).
9. Demonstrate ability to incorporate ongoing feedback (constructive critique) to ensure continuous improvement in social work practice at the micro, meso, and macro levels.

1. Log-in (or register if you are a first-time user) at https://www.citiprogram.org/Default.asp**If you are registering for a new account, click on “create an account” and search for CUNY as your institution.
2. Click on “Add a course or update your learner groups”
3. Select the curriculum which you need to complete: Basic Course-HSR for Social and Behavioral (Faculty, Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars)
4. Complete the required modules
5. Save your certificate so that you can submit it electronically to the instructor (or if necessary to the Institutional Review Board).

Research Article Summary/Critique 
Select a peer reviewed article summarizing an empirical study on a topic of interest to you. Describe and critique the article using the points below. Briefly summarize the article in class along with your critique (in a 5-8 minute recorded presentation uploaded to the Course Blog)

The assignment must address the following guiding points/questions

• Author and title of the article (citation and full APA reference), including any information on how the study was funded.
• What was the primary aim of the study, and what was the study design?
• What was the primary research question? Was a hypothesis presented in the article? Why or why not?
• Briefly describe (and critique where necessary) the study methods (sampling, data collection strategies, and instruments).
• What were the results of the study?
• Strengths/limitations of the article, including ethical implications. 
• Thoughts regarding next steps and implications for research, policy, and/or practice?

Problem Statement with Literature Review
A comprehensive review of the relevant literature on the research problem locates your topic within the context of an existing body of knowledge and lays a foundation for any next steps you and your constituents plan to take with your research or advocacy efforts. The literature may include the following: scholarly literature in peer-reviewed journals, grey literature, including reputable internet sourced materials such as research reports, policy reports. 

The literature review should include at least 10 articles, of which at least five are empirical research studies which can (in problem focus, design, instrumentation and/or findings) inform your study. Please provide a literature summary chart of the purpose/question, target population, instruments, key findings for each study.

As a professional school, standards of appropriate ethical conduct are expected of students at all times, including in the classroom. We will review examples and affirm community learning needs and values during our first class.

Students should refrain from texting and from answering or making cell phone calls in class, or from browsing the internet (for content unrelated to class) on any portable electronic devices while in class.

Students are expected to comply with the College’s policies and regulations outlined in the Campus Code of Conduct and Student Handbook.

In accordance with the emphasis on ethical conduct in the social work profession, students are expected to incorporate the highest ethical standards in every element of their work and to conduct themselves in ways that manifest the maturity and emotional stability necessary to function as professionals.

Examples of poor academic performance and misconduct that will subject the student to disciplinary action or dismissal from the program includes the following:

1. Violations of the College policy on Academic Integrity (e.g., plagiarism).
2. Behavior determined to be a violation of College or School policies or regulations.
3. Behavior determined to be a violation of the profession’s ethics (e.g., the NASW Code of Ethics).
4. Behaviors that do not meet professional expectations and standards, which include generally accepted standards of professional conduct, personal integrity, or emotional stability.
5. Behaviors determined to be unprofessional conduct towards colleagues, faculty, or staff.

Students graduating the MSW program enter the professional practice and research arena and are expected to communicate orally and in writing at a professional level. This includes care in preparation of written materials, responsiveness to guidelines, as well as appropriate skill in language usage. Unedited, misspelled, grammatically incorrect, or carelessly organized work is not appropriate or creditable.   There will be writing assistance available to help.  Please contact the Office of Student Services promptly if your own self-evaluation or faculty evaluation reveals a need to improve skills. You will also find many online resources via Silberman’s Writing Program: https://sssw.hunter.cuny.edu/studentservices/writing-program/

Referencing and citation of all written work throughout this course should be according to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), 7^th Edition. Full referencing and citations are expected in all written work.