Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Doctoral Syllabus Template

Doctoral Syllabus Template

Doctoral Seminar: [Course Number & Title]

Course Administration

Faculty: [Professor's Name, Title]

Email: [Professor's Email] FACULTY: Use Geotech University/official email.

Office Hours: [Days, Times, Location (Zoom/In-person)]

Class Time/Location: [Day, Time, Room #/Virtual Link]

Program Area: [e.g., Ph.D. in Data Science, D.Eng. in Sustainable Systems]

▶️ Faculty Instruction: Login and Syllabus Processing

Quick Start Guide: Watch this video for a demonstration of how to log in, access the data management panel, and complete the modular syllabus sections efficiently.

Course Overview & Objectives

[A concise paragraph describing the course, focusing on its role in the doctoral program. **Ivey-style emphasis on real-world application and decision-making**.]

FACULTY: Keep this section *highly focused*. What is the key research domain and why is this course essential for a **Geotech University** Ph.D. to master it?

Learning Objectives

  • Analyze complex, ambiguous data sets to formulate defensible research hypotheses.
  • Critically evaluate seminal and contemporary literature relevant to [Specific Field].
  • Develop and articulate a viable research methodology for a dissertation proposal (Core Objective).

Assessment and Grading

FACULTY: Align grade weights directly with the modular structure below.
Component Weight Ivey Workflow Adaption
Participation & Discussion Leadership 20% Case preparation and defense of position.
**Modular Assignment 1: Case Analysis Report** 25% Structured decision memo addressing a complex issue.
**Modular Assignment 2: Literature Synthesis & Gap Analysis** 30% A rigorous foundation for the subsequent research proposal.
Final Project: Research Proposal (Cumulative) 25% A polished, publishable proposal blueprint.

Weekly Schedule & Modular Assignments (Completed Sample)

FACULTY: Note how the fields have been completed below. The focus is on **Deliverables and Required Actions**, not just reading lists.

MODULE 1: Foundational Concepts & Decision Framing (Weeks 1-3) - SAMPLE

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Topics Covered:

  • Week 1: Introduction to **Sustainable Systems Engineering's** Grand Challenges.
  • Week 2: Ethical/Societal Implications and Stakeholder Analysis in Urban Planning.
  • Week 3: **Case Study Focus:** The "Smart Grid Implementation" in Austin, TX.

Required Actions:

Prepare the **Austin Smart Grid** brief, focusing on the core decision-maker's dilemma regarding initial investment vs. long-term ecological impact.

Deliverable (Assignment 1):

**DUE:** September 22, 2025 | **Weight:** 25%

Submit a 1,500-word **Case Analysis Report (Decision Memo)** recommending a specific course of action, supported by evidence from the case and required readings. (Focus: Economic Feasibility and Public Trust).

MODULE 2: Critical Literature & Theory Application (Weeks 4-7) - SAMPLE

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Topics Covered:

  • Weeks 4-5: Review of Seminal Theories (System Dynamics, Resilience Theory, and Complex Adaptive Systems).
  • Weeks 6-7: Identification of Methodological Limitations in current climate modeling research.

Required Actions:

Select a minimum of 20 high-impact papers on **Infrastructure Resilience** and create an annotated bibliography by Week 5.

Deliverable (Assignment 2):

**DUE:** October 20, 2025 | **Weight:** 30%

Submit a **Literature Synthesis and Gap Analysis** (3,000 words) that clearly defines an unaddressed or poorly addressed research question suitable for doctoral study. **(Example Gap:** Measuring the social cost of intermittent power in micro-grids).

MODULE 3: Proposal Development & Defense (Weeks 8-12) - TEMPLATE

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Topics Covered:

  • Week 8: Quantitative vs. Qualitative Methodologies in [Field].
  • Weeks 9-10: Research Design, Ethics, and Data Collection Planning.
  • Weeks 11-12: Peer Review & Proposal Defense Workshops.

Required Actions:

Present a 10-minute outline of your final research proposal for peer feedback (Week 11).

Final Project: Research Proposal

**DUE:** [Date, Time of Final Exam Period] | **Weight:** 25%

A complete, formal **Doctoral Research Proposal** (5,000-7,000 words) based on the Gap Analysis from Module 2, suitable for submission to your advisory committee.

🧑‍💻 Staff & Faculty Data Management

This section is exclusively for **Geotech University** Staff and Faculty to manage and update course-specific field data, case outcomes, or modular assignment feedback. Access requires **Geotech University** credentials.

Faculty/Staff Data Access Login

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Note: Login redirects to the official **Geotech University** Single Sign-On (SSO) page.

Field Data & Assignment Grade Entry

Once logged in, the following interface appears (backend requirement):

**Secure Backend Integration Required**

Option 1: Field Data Upload

(Upload CSV/Excel file for bulk field data updates related to case studies.)


Option 2: Direct Data Entry (E.g., for Assignment Grades)

FACULTY NOTE: This section requires robust **backend development** to ensure data security, validation, and integration with the gradebook/LMS database. The current HTML serves as the user-facing container.

Geotech University Policies

A full list of academic honesty, disability services, and classroom conduct policies can be found at: [Link to University Policy Handbook].

Accessibility: Students requiring academic accommodations should contact the **Geotech University** Student Services office immediately.

posted by GEOTECH UNIVERSITY @ November 19, 2025