Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Capstone Seminar in Political Science (Face-to-Face)

POLS 4990-01

Course: POLS 4990-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCJ
CRN: 32479

Course Description

The completion of a substantial capstone paper based upon an in-depth study of contemporary issues in political science. The paper will be related to the content of the course and approved by the professor. The subject may vary from one semester to the next. (Fall, Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

Turabian, Kate.  A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers.  7th ed.  Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press, 2007.  (Text, ISBN 978-0226816388)



Learning Outcomes

The core competency emphasized in this course is the ability to think critically and accordingly the ability to apply this to reading critically, the development of critical skills in research, and finally the ability to integrate and communicate this kind of thinking by way of written expression.  Essential Learning Outcomes are Critical Thinking, Creative Thinking, and Communication.

Course Requirements

There is a popular anecdote associated with Professor Francis D. Wormuth suggesting that stealing from one source is plagiarism, but stealing from a number of sources is scholarship.  Scholarship is of course far more complicated than this, but plagiarism remains quite simple: taking from sources without giving due credit to them.  Scholarship begins with an inquiry, adds reasonable and careful research, and ends with the written communication of one’s findings in a paper.  And that in a nutshell is what this course is all about.  This course is organized according to the graduate school model of independent work between individual students and their professor.  Students will choose a general topic area and address one of the questions listed for that category.  Papers must be a minimum of eighteen pages with a bibliography, and title page with abstract.  Questions of style, particularly citations, must follow Kate L. Turabian’s A Manual for Writers. Make full use of an introduction to set up your discussion, state your thesis or main premise, and inform your reader of how you plan to support that thesis.  Avoid use of personal anecdotes, and be careful in your use of personal pronouns.  There are better ways to emphasize a point than I think, or I believe, or in my opinion.  Of course, it is your opinion, or what you think or believe, but why advertise that?  Couch your thesis in fact and your sources.  Treat your paper as serious academic writing.  Students must turn in a written outline (including an established thesis), and an acceptable rough draft along with the final product.  Final papers must include a signature page.  Letter grades are given to each thesis based on the following criteria:  assigned length, writing ability, organization (use of an introduction and conclusion), content (details, grasp of core ideas as presented in the syllabus, lectures or focus in the essay question), focus/use of an established thesis, critical thinking(ability to draw a conclusion), and use of source materials (especially assigned readings) with proper reference style.  Writing assignments will emphasize abilities to synthesize diverse perspectives and information and articulate the student’s findings in a cogent fashion.  Edit and proof-read your work.  Remember, “Nothing improves the composition more than a red pencil” (Count Leo Tolstoy).  Final course grades will be based on process (outline and rough draft), and of course the final paper.  The following rubric will be used to grade submitted papers:

Political Science Senior Thesis Rubric:
Critical Thinking
Strength of Research
Application of Research
Length
Consistency of Citation Style
Overall Presentation



Course Outline

This course is taught as a seminar course.  Classes will be held the first four weeks of the semester to choose a thesis topic and prepare the first assignments for the course.  Students will then work on their own to prepare a draft of their theses and their final draft.

CLASS DEADLINES

Wednesday, September 10
By this date all students are required to have an accepted thesis proposal including a brief outline and a working bibliography.  Students will also be required to make a brief oral presentation of their topic and proposed thesis beginning on this date and over the next two weeks, as necessary.  Oral presentations must include statement of topic and thesis and a brief evaluation of research methods...please take this presentation seriously.

Wednesday, November 12
An acceptable rough draft of the thesis and bibliography must be turned in.  The draft will be reviewed by the professor who will recommend necessary revisions.

Friday, December 5
Theses are due in final, revised form.

Any exceptions to this schedule must be cited expressly by the professor.  Any late assignment will result in a reduction of a half grade. Students who do not work regularly with their professor and then turn in a paper at the last moment will not receive a passing grade.  




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

Any exceptions to scheduled deadlines must be cited expressly by the professor.  Any late assignment will result in a reduction of a half grade. Students who do not work regularly with their professor and then turn in a paper at the last moment will not receive a passing grade.  .

Attendance Policy

Class will meet as a group for the first four weeks of the semester aiming at the production of each student's paper topic.  The remainder of the semester students will work individually with the professor as needed. . 

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.