- In lieu of two special focus research papers, students who prefer to develop and explore a preferred topic of interest in a more in-depth manner than a short paper might allow are invited to complete a final course paper or project on a topic of their choosing that is directly related to the course. The project may take several forms, some examples of which are provided below, and students are encouraged to identify the topic of the project as early as possible in the semester to ensure sufficient time for preparation and guidance, if needed. Formal approval of the topic is not required but students are welcome to discuss their ideas with the instructor to make sure that the proposed project is both sufficiently substantive and appropriate to the assignment parameters. All projects should demonstrate a mastery of the concepts and techniques examined in class, a capacity for critical thought, coherent argumentation, and clear written expression in analysis. The final product should be between 4-6 single-spaced pages in length with one-inch margins, incorporate at a minimum seven peer-reviewed sources using ASA reference citation style where appropriate.
- Policy or Ethical Research Brief: Students might prefer to focus their research on a specific ethical or policy issue relevant to the course, examining it from multiple perspectives and approaches based on learned material and supported with reasoned arguments, evidence, and conclusions. For example, there are numerous issues we will cover related to tax policies, outcomes and standards of accountability, and nonprofit regulation and positioning within society.