Professional Development Program:
Fall 2009

Prepared for Success?

Position yourself for a career in research, academia, or science with the support of the UAB Graduate School.

• Under the direction of Dr. Julia Austin, jaustin@uab.edu, the Professional Development Program’s courses offer graduate, academic credit, and are designed to support students through master’s and Ph.D. programs, as well as careers as research or post-doctoral fellows at UAB.

• GRD courses are ideal for students and employees in looking to enhance their professional and work skills beyond their specialty with an eye toward presenting, publishing, teaching, and working on inter-disciplinary and cross-cultural teams.

• GRD courses are Pass/Fail, and strategically scheduled to begin after the start of the regular semester and finish before finals so as not to interfere with students’ core curriculum.

• Registration for Academic English for Internationals (*) courses requires current language assessment scores from the UAB Graduate School. Our research-based testing program is free, with scores provided, along with course recommendations, to students and their advisors. To arrange an assessment appointment, contact Lori Naramore at naramor3@uab.edu.

• Check our Web site for updates!

 

See details on course offerings below.

Professional Development Courses Fall 2009

 

GRD 701 Presentation & Discussion Skills
Wednesdays, Aug.19 to Dec. 2, 5:30 to 8 p.m.                                                         Location: BBRB 263
3 credit hours;  Contact Alan Corbin at acorbin@uab.edu
This course is designed to develop professional communication skills through individual presentations and group evaluations. Topics include the basics of oral presentation, content, organization, and delivery of formal presentations; use of voice and nonverbal communication; and speaking to different audiences. Students’ presentations are videotaped and critiqued by their classmates and the instructor.

GRD 706 Grants and Fellowships 101: How to Obtain Funding
Saturday, Sept. 12, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.                                                                           Location: CH 204
1 credit hour; Contact Dr. Julia Austin at jaustin@uab.edu.
This workshop provides an introduction to writing grant proposals and fellowship applications. Topics include funding sources, electronic databases, organization and format of proposals and applications, submission and review processes, use of secondary sources, and guidelines for effective proposal writing.

GRD 707 Giving Professional Presentations
Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.                                                                            Location: CH 204
1 credit hour; Contact Dr. Julia Austin at jaustin@uab.edu.
This workshop examines elements necessary for giving effective professional presentations. Topics include analyzing audience and purpose, assessing environment, language choices, differences between speaking and writing, nonverbal communication, characteristics of effective delivery, controlling nervousness, poster presentations, visual aids, and handling questions.

GRD 717 Principles of Scientific Integrity.
Fridays, Aug. 21 to Dec. 4, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.                                                     Location: BBRB 170
3 credit hours; Contact Dr. Harold Kincaid at kincaid@uab.edu.
This course surveys ethical issues and principles in the practice of science. Among the topics discussed are the nature, extent, and causes of fraud in the sciences; UAB policies on fraud; ideals of good science; the responsibilities of authorship and peer review; potential problems raised by the commercialization of research; scientists as public policy advisors; and ethical issues involved in animal experimentation and in clinical trials.
                                                      
GRD 727 Writing & Reviewing Research
Sept. 14 to Nov. 18                                                                                                     Location: TBA
Two Sections: VTA—M/W 4 to 5:30 p.m. and VTB Mondays 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
3 credit hours; Contact Jennifer L. Greer at jlgreer1@uab.edu.
For individuals constructing research papers, preparing literature reviews, writing summary articles and critiques, GRD 727 offers essential strategies and techniques for working more effectively and efficiently; assignments include practice, feedback, peer review, and self-editing. Instructor approval required for second-language writers.

GRD 728 Advanced Writing & Publishing
Sept. 15 to Nov. 19                                                                                                     Location: TBA
One Section:  VTB—Tu/Th 4 to 5:30 p.m.
3 credit hours; Contact Jennifer L. Greer at jlgreer1@uab.edu.
Created for students who seek to publish professionally, GRD 728 reviews academic writing genres, standards, and conventions. Fast-paced with text analysis and guided practice, this course covers the writing of biographic statements, conference abstracts & posters, review articles, critiques, and empirical research articles. Embedded language instruction addresses key grammatical issues for second language writers. (Pre-requisite for second language English writers: Writing Assessment Level 3 or GRD 727).

GRD 736 Dissertation Strategies               
Two Sections:  Class meets 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on three Wednesdays – October 7, 14 & 21 and
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. one Saturday – October 3.
1 credit hour
Contact Dr. Susan Olmstead-Wang at olmstes@uab.edu.
A series of seminars for graduate students who are preparing to start a dissertation within the next year; seminar topics include creating a dissertation committee, crafting the proposal, outlining the text, and managing the writing and reviewing process.

Academic English for Internationals Fall 2009: Tentative Schedule Sept. 14 to Nov. 19 (unless otherwise indicated) **Check Fall Schedule on BlazerNET for changes**

Oral Communication

GRD 721 Oral Communication II
Sept. 15 to Nov. 19
One Section: VT—Tu/Th 5:30 to 7 p.m.                                                                     Location: TBA
(Prerequisite: OPI Level 2 High or GRD 720)  3 credit hours
Contact Alan Corbin at acorbin@uab.edu.
Build academic vocabulary and knowledge of American culture. Improve listening and speaking accuracy, and practice effective language learning strategies. Students in this dynamic, web-enhanced course discuss ethical and global issues while learning to speak and listen effectively in small groups. Class size is limited to ensure maximum participation.

GRD 730 Advanced Oral Communication
Sept. 14 to Nov. 18                                                                                                     Location: TBA
One Section: VTA—M/W 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m.
(Prerequisite: OPI Level 2 High or GRD 721)  3 credit hours
Contact Alan Corbin at acorbin@uab.edu.
Build communication skills and learning strategies while exploring cultural values. Through small-group interaction, students learn to effectively discuss their opinions, organize effective talks, and analyze complex problems. This Level 3 course prepares students for the kinds of communication expected in graduate school —participating in academic discussions; debating scholarly projects with colleagues; and delivering formal talks at professional meetings.

 

Pronunciation and Accent Improvement

GRD 714: Individualized Pronunciation Instruction                                                    
Aug. 18 to Dec. 4
(Permission of instructor required) 3 to 5 credit hours per semester  
Contact Jonghee Shadix at jshadix@uab.edu.
Students in Individualized Instruction have acquired basic speaking skills in group instruction and are now ready for fine-tuning their language abilities with an experienced instructor, who tailors lessons to their particular pronunciation needs. The course includes a thorough diagnostic and goal-setting session, followed by one-to-one instruction in the sounds and rhythms of English, including computer-assisted language mapping and techniques used by professional actors.

GRD 724 First-timers’ Pronunciation Workshop                                                 Location: TBA
Wednesdays, Aug. 19 to Dec. 2, 5:30 to 8 p.m.
(Permission of instructor required) 3 credit hours
Contact Jonghee Shadix at jshadix@uab.edu.
First-timers’ Pronunciation Workshop is for those students who have never been exposed to English phonology classes. In this class, students will be introduced the American intonation patterns, pronunciation of English sounds, and culture related to the language. In addition to the exposure to English phonology, by interacting with peers, the students in this class will discover where they stand in terms of the English pronunciation. Participation in this workshop will also provide the instructor with ample opportunities to assess students’ individual pronunciation needs.

 

Academic Writing for Internationals

GRD 727 Writing & Reviewing Research
Sept. 14 to Nov. 18                                                                                                     Location: TBA
Two Sections: VTA—M/W 4 to 5:30 p.m. and VTB Mondays 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
(Prerequisite: Writing Assessment Test and/or Permission of Instructor)    3 credit hours;
Contact Jennifer L. Greer at jlgreer1@uab.edu.
For individuals constructing research papers, preparing literature reviews, writing summary articles and critiques, GRD 727 offers essential strategies and techniques for working more effectively and efficiently; assignments include practice, feedback, peer review, and self-editing.

GRD 728 Advanced Writing & Publishing
Sept. 15 to Nov. 19                                                                                                     Location: TBA
One Section:  VTB—Tu/Th 4 to 5:30 p.m.
(Prerequisite: Writing Assessment Test and/or Permission of Instructor)   3 credit hours
Contact Jennifer L. Greer at jlgreer1@uab.edu.
Created for students who seek to publish professionally, GRD 728 reviews academic writing genres, standards, and conventions. Fast-paced with text analysis and guided practice, this course covers the writing of biographic statements, conference abstracts & posters, review articles, critiques, and empirical research articles.

 

Preparing Tomorrow’s Professionals
www.uab.edu/profdev