CAPSTONE: NETWORKING & SUSTAINABILITY

Networking and Sustainability is a three-credit, required course, allowing students to submit a final capstone thesis at the end of their program studies. Students are expected to spend on average, 20 hours per week including class time, group work, readings, and other assignments. This course is designed to engage students in the analysis of conflict networks and assist in building Monitoring and Evaluation (M and E) skills to help measure and sustain long term change. As such, it builds upon the previous work of PS6250 – Resolution Strategies. By the end of the course, students will be able to map, analyze, and compare network actors and (preliminary) structures, understand and critique underlying arguments for certain M and E methods, and deploy relevant learnings from program design to construct long-term sustainability strategies in their own projects. The course leverages insights from multiple disciplines in the social sciences including (but not limited to) cognitive and organizational psychology, sociology, and political science to assist learners in advancing robust sustainability strategies in their work once they complete the NECR Program.

Synchronous class meeting (Category C) 2 sessions x 120 min = 240 min; Capstone presentation (Category C) 1 session x 180 min = 180 min; Interactive Canvas module with embedded checks (Category D) 7 sessions x 190 min = 1,330 min; Monitored discussion board with instructor feedback (Category C) 6 sessions x 60 min = 360 min; Small-group project forum (Canvas Groups) (Category C) 1 session x 100 min = 100 min; Video discussion forum (Panopto responses) (Category C) 1 session x 40 min = 40 min; TOTAL = 2,250 min (for entire semester)