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PhD Course Descriptions
Core Courses and Restricted Electives
COT 700 - Introduction to the Interdisciplinary Study of Technology - 3 credits
This course serves as an introduction to the interdisciplinary study of technology by acquainting students with science, technology and society studies,
and with technology philosophies and theoretical paradigms such as social constructivism, scientific rationalism, technological determinism, appropriate technology,
technology ethics, and socio-technical systems theory. Students will apply these theoretical and analytical concepts to the study of technological systems.
COT 701 - Technology Trends and Issues - 2 credits
This course exposes students to cutting-edge technological trends and issues in a variety of scientific and industrial fields through reading and guest lectures by campus experts.
Students will have an opportunity to conduct in-depth examinations of selected topics presented, and may use this research as an opportunity to identify or refine potential dissertation
topics by linking them to the most current research in a given field of study.
COT 702 - Planning for Technological Change - 3 credits
In this course, the need for technology planning is conveyed, as it applies to organizations and society. At the organizational level, principles of strategic planning are reviewed,
the business strategies of select companies are studied, and a case is made for the needed linkage between strategic business planning and technology planning. In this course,
students are introduced generally to the technology "life cycle" concept, and the importance of planning toward effective technology utilization.
COT 705 - Technology Design, Development and Transfer - 3 credits
This course examines the processes involved in designing and bringing new products to market, and the engineering, cultural, political and business factors that influence those processes.
Special attention is paid to the concepts of human-centered and gendered design, the structure and functioning of product development teams, and the philosophy of concurrent engineering.
Also covered in this course is the role that governments and agencies play in supporting technology transfer from research laboratory to marketplace, and from country to country.
COT 715 - Implementing and Managing Technological Change - 3 credits
This course covers the concepts of technology management as a field of study, the rationale for technology introduction, the value of partnership approaches to technology introduction and implementation,
the role of organizational culture in contributing to technology success or failure, and the importance of training and competency building. Students will study best-practice scenarios, apply the principles learned to case studies,
and critically analyze technological change practices at their own workplaces or an organization of their choosing.
COT 704 - Legal and Policy Aspects of New Technologies - 3 credits
This course examines the legal and policy issues raised by new technologies, nationally and globally. These issues include, but are not limited to, information privacy, biotechnology, technology transfer,
executive responsibility, intellectual property, software protection, and national and international technology policy development processes. The course utilizes a seminar format, which includes case study analysis and examination of information on the World Wide Web.
COT 780 - Technology Impact Assessment - 3 credits
Using a multidisciplinary approach, this course presents conceptual frameworks for assessing the impact of technology on society, institutions, organizations and individuals.
It examines the mutual interaction of technological and human systems, and the social institutions engaged in technology impact analyses.
Research Methods Courses
COT 710 - Introductory Research Design and Applied Statistics in Technology - 3 credits
An application of introductory research design and statistics in technology. Emphasis is on the relationship between descriptive research design and methods, associated statistics.
Students begin the process of developing a research proposal, formulating research questions, selecting data gathering methods, and interpreting appropriate statistical procedures.
Prerequisite: Graduate or undergraduate course in statistics taken within the past five years
COT 711 - Advanced Research and Applied Statistics in Technology - 3 credits
This course extends the subject matter considered in COT 710. It is an application of experimental research design and parametric statistics to scholarly inquiry in technology.
Emphasis is on the relationships between true and quasi-experimental research designs, methods and associated statistics. Students continue to refine their research proposals.
Prerequisite: COT 710 or Departmental Permission
COT 712 - Qualitative Research Methods and Design in Technology - 2 credits
This course will describe how to use qualitative research methods and designs for conducting technology research. Students will acquire an understanding of the inherent differences
between quantitative and qualitative research. Specific qualitative approaches for collecting, coding, and analyzing data will be presented. Students will learn how to transpose qualitative
data into quantitative data as well as learning how to utilize various computer programs within qualitative research.
Dissertation Courses
COT 894 - Candidacy Seminar - 2 credits
A candidacy qualifying examination seminar for eligibility to form a dissertation committee and begin work on the dissertation
research proposal. The student will write and present three research paper prospecti to their candidacy examination committee on
possible dissertation research topics. One must utilize a qualitative research design, one a descriptive research design and one an
experimental research design.
Prerequisites: Offered only to Ph.D. in technology students
COT 795 - Dissertation Research and Design Seminar - 3 credits
This seminar is an opportunity for students to identify and refine possible dissertation research topics by critically analyzing how the study of technology is approached in the research literature.
By exploring the nature of inquiry in technology, students will be able to identify the conceptual framework for a dissertation, write a research problem statement, and design and defend their research proposals.
COT 896,898,899 - Dissertation Courses - 1 credits, 4 credits, 8 credits
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