Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Geospatial Capstone Proposal (Face-to-Face)

GEOG 4400-01

Course: GEOG 4400-01
Credits: 1
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: GEOS
CRN: 33131

Course Description

A Geoscience Capstone Research Proposal provides students with an opportunity to develop a formal, written proposal that outlines their capstone project. The research proposal will include the goals, research question(s), data and methods, and a tentative timeline for project completion. The research proposal will also include the and how the results of the project will be communicated. A Geoscience Capstone Research Proposal is a prerequisite for all students who plan to complete the Geoscience Capstone Research Project (excludes approved internships). Therefore, this course should be completed during the semester prior to enrolling in the capstone project. (Fall) [Pass/Fail]

Required Texts

There is no required textbook for this course; all the supplemental reading material and instructional videos will be available on Canvas.

Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes
Students will be assessed based on how well they achieve the following learning outcomes.
1. Collect, critique, and interpret peer reviewed research through the creation of a literature review.
2. Consider possible hypotheses and research questions through the creation of a research proposal.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of basic principles of quantitative and qualitative research design, including selection of appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods.
4. Design a research project relevant to the Geosciences and develop research proposal writing skills.

Essential Learning Outcomes
Students will be assessed based on how well they achieve the following learning outcomes.
2.0 Communication: Students develop and express ideas and will be able to do so in a variety of ways, namely in writing, by speaking, visually, kinaesthetically, through design or aurally. 
3.0 Creative Thinking: Students combine or synthesize existing ideas, images, or expertise in original ways, as well as think, react, and work in an imaginative way. 
4.0 Critical Thinking: Students demonstrate disciplined processes of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action. 
8.0 Inquiry & Analysis: Inquiry - Students systematically explore issues, objects, or works through the collection and analysis of evidence that results in informed conclusions or judgments. Analysis - Students break complex topics or issues into parts to gain a better understanding of them. 
13.0 Problem Solving: Students design, evaluate, and implement strategies to answer open-ended questions or achieve a desired goal. 

Course Requirements

The assessment items used, their point values, and brief descriptions are as follows. Further details for each assignment (including rubrics, where available) are available on Canvas.
 | ASSIGNMENTS | NUMBER AVAILABLE | POINTS PER ASSIGNMENT | MAXIMUM POINTS
| Participation - Attendance | best 5 of 6 | 2 point each | 10 points
| Participation - Video Lectures | 5 | 2 point each | 10 points
| Assignments 1 through 7 | 7 | 5 points each | 35 points
| First Draft of Research Proposal | 1 | 10 points each | 10 points
| Revised Final Research Proposal | 1 | 15 points each | 15 points
| Research Proposal Presentation | 1 | 20 points each | 20 points

Description of Assessment Items 
  • PARTICIPATION - Attendance: It is important for you to engage with course material through active learning activities, such as small-group discussions. Attendance will be used to grade participation.
  • PARTICIPATION - Video Lectures: Each module includes a video lecture with embedded questions. Students are expected to watch the video lecture and answer the questions before class.
  • ASSIGNMENTS: There are 10 assignments, and the first seven are designed so that students can compile each assignment, which is a section of the proposal, into a draft capstone research proposal. The draft capstone research proposal will be revised, based on instructor’s comments, and then used to create a 5-minute presentation.

Course Outline

DATE | ACTIVITY TYPE | ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION
Aug. 29 | Class Meeting | Understanding Science and Scientific Research
Sep. 5 | Class Meeting | Faculty Research Interests and Potential Topics
Sep. 12 | Class Meeting | How to Search for and Read a Scientific Paper
Sep. 19 | Class Meeting | Conducting and Writing the Literature Review
Sep. 26 | Class Meeting | Selection of Data and Research Methods
Oct. 3 | Class Meeting | Expected Results, Timeline, and Milestones
Oct. 10 | Work with your Faculty Mentor | Assignment 7 - Data Collection, Target Population, and Sampling
Oct. 17 to Nov. 28 | Individual Work | Students work independently and meet regularly with their faculty mentor(s) to develop their research proposal.
Dec. 5 | Class Meeting | Research Proposal Presentations

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

LATE ASSIGNMENTS: Late assignments are accepted at the sole discretion of the instructor. If accepted, they may be penalized up to 10% per day and return time may be severely impacted.
MAKEUP POLICY: Technical difficulties are not acceptable excuses for missing due dates for quizzes, tests, and tasks unless the school or regional network is down for a prolonged period. If you encounter technical difficulties when taking a test, please contact me directly. If you experience a prolonged absence from school due to illness or personal situation, please let me know.

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to regularly attend class meetings. Classes will start promptly, so please show respect to the instructor and other students by arriving on time. If you are ill, you may request access to Zoom or a recording of the lecture. It is the responsibility of the student to arrange with the instructor to complete missed material during excused absences (SUU Policy #6.30).

Course Fees

1 Credit(s) | $13.50 Fee

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.