At Minnesota State University, Mankato, every graduate student completes a capstone for their program. Most programs include a thesis/dissertation or alternative plan paper (APP) option, but many programs provide other capstone opportunities.
This is a collection of Dissertations submitted by graduate students from various programs.
A dissertation is an extensive original research paper resulting in a significant contribution to new knowledge.
Theses/Dissertations from 2024
Facilitating Posttraumatic Growth Among Service Members and Veterans Through a Book Study Group Intervention, Susan Craig
Guided Self Placement as a Stand-Alone Assessment, Judy Endres
A Critical Phenomenological Study of White Educators who Engage in Antiracism, Maria-Renée D. Grigsby
Practices to Recruit and Retain Teachers of Color in Rural Minnesota Schools, Eric Hudspith
Mental Health Among Somali Women in the United States, Khadra M. Hussien
How I Got Over: Long-Serving Black Women Principals Coping with Microaggressions, Chreese Jones
Enhancing a School Readiness Skill Through a Mindfulness-Based Intervention: Soles of the Feet, Caitlin J. Moen
A Phenomenological Study of the Utilization of Student Voice by Midwest Urban Secondary Schools within School Improvement Plan Strategies, Jessica Peifer Busse
Examining Latinx Principals' and Assistant Principals' "Desafios" in K-12 Education in the Upper Midwest, Melisa Rivera
Comparing the Effects of Choice and Performance Feedback on the Writing Fluency Outcomes of Elementary Students, Collin M. Seifert
ENHANCING COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS OF HMONG ADOLESCENTS THROUGH GROUP WORK IN HIGH SCHOOL, Xeev Vang
Holistic Assessment of Counseling Self-Efficacy Development among Counselors in Training from a Regression Model, Shu-Ching Wang
Centering Students of the Global Majority in United States Community College Critical Internationalization Programming: An Interpretive Phenomenological Study, Jennifer T. Westmoreland
Environment and Belief: Investigating the Dakota Archeological Record, Anna Kay Wiitanen-Eggen
Theses/Dissertations from 2023
Tier II Behavioral Intervention: A Direct Comparison of Two Versions of Class Pass, Madeline Cordle
Determining the Quality of the Evidence Base for Incremental Rehearsal, Emily K. Fischer
Removing Barriers and Establishing Gender and Sexuality Alliances in Schools: A Qualitative Analysis of GSA Advisor Experiences, Maxwell L. Keller
Combining the Word Box Intervention and Syllabication to Support the Acquisition of Advanced Decoding Skills, Elizabeth Kinsey Hawley
Intellect Does Not Have an Accent: The Lived Experiences of Women Native Speakers of Spanish with Professional Leadership Positions in United States and Have an Accented English Speech, Isabel E. Rodriguez-Mendoza
Investigating Emerging Bilingual Learner Related Field Experiences in School Psychology Graduate Training, Austin Rogers
Instructional Practices that Promote Reading Growth in K-3 Students: A Qualitative Study of Highly Effective Reading Teachers, Valora J. Unowsky
Theses/Dissertations from 2022
Investigating the Effectiveness of the Positive Reinforcement Components of Tootling, Kennedi J. Alstead
Perceptions of Faculty and Administration on the Value of Service-Learning in the Tenure and Promotion Process at a Public Midwestern University, Odbayar Batsaikhan
Pathways Towards an Engineering Baccalaureate Degree - Critical Incidents and Factors Leading Students to Choose Community College: A Phenomenological Study, Joan Zitur Carter
The Perspective of Black Male Middle School and High School Students in a Mentoring Program, Quennel W. Cooper
The Effectiveness of a Caregiver Delivered Phonics Intervention for At-Risk Students, Iwalani Dela Paz-Miller
Effects of Daily Spaced Versus Massed Practice on Spelling Word Retention Among Struggling Spellers, Melissa Engel
Relationship Between Student Hope and Academic Achievement, Deanna S. Fosness
Death Anxiety: A Quantitative Exploration of Professional Counselors Experiences, Kaitlyn Judith Kaus
Cover-Copy-Compare as a Math Fact Fluency Intervention for Students in an Alternative Special Education Program, RaeLynn J. Lamminen
Recognizing Capital: A Study of Cultural Wealth, Grit, and Student Success, Jessica Lauritsen
Exploring the Effects of Creativity and Student Success on Community College STEM Students Taking Fine Arts Courses, Jimmy LeDuc
What Rural Middle School Students Who Have Been Bullied Can Teach Us About Bullying: A Phenomenological Study, Sarah Lendt
Family Involvement in Charter Elementary Schools: A Case Study Using the Family Involvement Questionnaire-Elementary Version (FIQ-E), Dorothy M. Lipski
Investigating Beliefs: White Female Teachers' Perceptions of Black Boys and Their Subsequent Achievement-A Qualitative Study, Kirky L. Morris
Increasing Above and Beyond Behavior Through Social Emotional Learning, Lars Olson
Accelerated Growth: A Case Study of Teacher Beliefs and Instructional Strategies That Promote Achievement for Students of Color, Astein K. Osei
African American Women Principals: A Phenomenological Study to Explore their Experiences in K-12 Leadership, Lisa Sayles-Adams
Fundamental Factors for Success: Engineering Faculty and Industry Partners, Molly F. Schaefer
The Ability of DIBELS to Predict Proficiency on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment and the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs, Katherine Schultz
Virtues and Values: A Transcendental Phenomenological Examination of Professional Coach Trainers' Use of Virtue Ethics as a Tool in Their Practice, Julianne Schwietz
Do They Make a Difference? Twin Cities Magnet Schools in the Heart of Metropolitan Inequity and Segregation, Scott A. Thomas
Theses/Dissertations from 2021
The Impact of Professional Perspectives on Team Participation and Satisfaction on Intent to Implement Interventions Determined by Multidisciplinary Teams, Julieanna Bowen
Supporting Resilience in Reserve Component Spouses During Deployment: The Impact of Family Life Cycle Phase and Deployment History on Social Support Needs, Jennifer L. Ceminsky
Academic Writing Challenges Experienced by International Students in a Midwest U.S. University: A Phenomenological Inquiry, Padam B. Chauhan
Understanding How Experienced World History Teachers in Minnesota Choose Course Content: A Mixed Methods Study, Kathleen Ferrero
Faculty and Dean Attitudes Toward Institutional Civic Responsibility, Mutual Trust, and Civic Mindedness at Two Year Colleges, David W. Kobilka
Novice Professional School Counselor Development: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Supports and Resources, Lynn M. O'Brien
The Impact of Cultural Competency on the School Improvement Process: A Phenomenological Study, Michelle deKam Palmieri
“Positive” Student Behavior: Investigating Educator Perceptions of Student Behavior in Terms of Willingness to Reward and Magnitude of Reward, Kelsey Stangler
Predicting Mental Health Counseling Professionals’ Willingness to Discuss Sexuality Issues with Clients, Becca L. Thompson
Examining Differences in Rural, Micropolitan, and Metropolitan School Psychologists Roles and Delivery of Mental Health Services, Ashley A. Williamson
Theses/Dissertations from 2020
Alignment or Detachment: College Educators’ Perceptions of Experiential Learning Pedagogy, Wayne D. Finseth
An Examination of Nature Relatedness, Nature Exposure, and Quality of Work-Life Among Student Affairs Professionals, Breanne Hiivala
Students' Preparation for College Through Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Programs and Dual Enrollment, Brian P. Jones
Transformational Teaching in a Culturally Passive Environment in Higher Education: A Phenomenological Study of STEM Professors, Julie M. Kjeer
Applying Peer Tutoring to Spelling at the Elementary Level, Ashlee Lundberg
Effects of Synchronous Group Work on Learning and Community in Online Mathematics at Community Colleges, Carrie L. Naughton
Telepsychiatry Preferences Among College Students Diagnosed and Undiagnosed with a Mental Health Condition, Wendy Schuh
Predicting Academic Outcomes of Reinstated Technical College Students Following an Academic Suspension, Erica E. Stene Winkler
Effects of Aromatherapy on Academic Success, Perceived Stress, and Coping Skills of Graduate Students, Lakisha S. Witter
Managing Students as Volunteers: Community Organizations’ Perspectives of Service-Learning Placements, Bradley Wolfe
Theses/Dissertations from 2019
Cyberbullying Prevention and Intervention: Perspectives of School Psychologists and School Counselors, Rachel E. Burlet
Engagement and STEM Degree Completion: An Analysis of the Relationship Between Time-To-Completion and Engagement and Pre-College Variables, Karina (Harstad) Clennon
Death: A Qualitative Content Analysis of Counseling Journals, 1986–2016, Aaron Suomala Folkerds
Perceived Barriers of Homeschooled Students Moving into Higher Education: Case Stories and Qualitative Perspectives, Lizbeth Kliewer
Evaluating the Effects of Tootling When Implemented in Special Education Classrooms Providing Behavior Supports, Jannine E. Ray
A Mixed Methods Study on Engineering Students' Perceptions of Their Future Careers, Catherine McGough Spence
Racial Microaggressions and Alienation Among Hmong American College Students, Bruce Yang
Theses/Dissertations from 2018
My Truth, My Telling: Experiences of Black Women Principals in a Poetry-themed Workshop on Race and Gender, Antonia Felix
Improving Mathematical Skill: The Perceptions of Rural Minnesota Mathematics Educators, Michael Haskins
The Experience of Microaggressions within Cross-Racial Videoconferencing Supervision: A Case Study, Jamie Hedin
Effective Characteristics of Rural English Learner Programs, Sarah Huseby
A Study of the Soft Skills that Contribute to the Success of Newly Graduated Business Students in the Workplace, Promeet Jaswant Singh
What Happens Now? Coaching and Leading Following a Student-Athlete Death - A Phenomenological Study, Peter McGahey
African-Centered Pedagogy: Exploring Black Male Identity and Achievement through an African-Centered Lens, Kenneth Turner Jr.
Theses/Dissertations from 2017
Adolescents' Experiences Returning to School after a Mental Health Hospitalization, Pamela Iverson
Perceptions of Students With and Without Limited Formal Schooling, Sarah Schmidt de Carranza
Investigating the Effects of Performance Feedback and Choice as a Writing Fluency Intervention, Samantha Jean Steinman
Instructional Design: How Secondary Teachers Promote Student Comprehension of Informational Text, Patti Strukel
Women’s Choice in College STEM Majors: Impact of Ability Tilt on Women Students’ Educational Choice, Audie Jane Willis
Theses/Dissertations from 2016
Missing Voices: Journeys of Pre-Service Teacher Candidates and Graduates of Color in a Predominantly White Teacher Education Program, Robbie R. Burnett
IT Centralization and the Innovation Value Chain in Higher Education: A Study for Promoting Key Innovations Through Innovation Management and Organizational Design, Edmund Udaya Clark
Cognitive Complexity, Mindfulness, and Reflection in Mental Health Professionals, Dharshini Goonetilleke
Spirituality in Higher Education: A Narrative Analysis of Its Use for Decision-Making, Jeffrey Francis Judge
The Relationship between College Students' Use of Facebook and their Feelings of Alienation from their Institution, Oleksandr Komarenko
A Phenomenological Study of Professional and Practical Changes Experienced by Teachers Involved with Action Research in a Learning Community Master’s Program, Jay Dean Meiners
Performing, Sensing, Being: Queer Identity in Everyday Life, Justin J. Rudnick
