MSA 600 Foundations of Research Methods in Administration
All MSA students are required to take three courses: (1) MSA 600, MSA 602 or MSA 634 or MSA 635, and MSA 640. Other core courses must be selected in consultation with the student's academic advisor. A total of 15-21 hours must be taken in the administrative core. All MSA student are required to take MSA 685 or MSA 699.
Course Objectives:
After completing this course, the student should:
1. Determine administrative issues and topics that can research within the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.
2. Identify, collect, evaluate, and synthesize research and professional literature to draw and support conclusions and make recommendations.
3. Identify, evaluate, and synthesize research data to draw and support conclusions and make recommendations.
4. Effectively and concisely communicate research findings, conclusions and recommendations to others in written form using standard written English (grammar, spelling, sentence structure, syntax etc.) and following APA format.
5. Effectively and concisely present research findings, conclusions and recommendations to others in oral form using appropriate visual aids and/or presentation software.
Typical MSA 600 topics:
Administrative report writing
Scientific research method
Research constraints
Literature review
Types of research
Sampling techniques
Data collection techniques
Data analysis
Reaching conclusions and making recommendations
Review of Institutional Review Board (IRB) process
Components of a research proposal
