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.

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Theses/Dissertations from 2023

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Tier II Behavioral Intervention: A Direct Comparison of Two Versions of Class Pass, Madeline Cordle

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Determining the Quality of the Evidence Base for Incremental Rehearsal, Emily K. Fischer

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The Transformation of Kurdish Women from Victimization to Liberation through Learning under Oppression in Turkey: A Phenomenological Study, Ebru Ilhan

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Removing Barriers and Establishing Gender and Sexuality Alliances in Schools: A Qualitative Analysis of GSA Advisor Experiences, Maxwell L. Keller

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Combining the Word Box Intervention and Syllabication to Support the Acquisition of Advanced Decoding Skills, Elizabeth Kinsey Hawley

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The Phenomenon of Academic Advisor Training at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities: A Quantitative Descriptive Research Study, Sara Leigh

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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

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Investigating Emerging Bilingual Learner Related Field Experiences in School Psychology Graduate Training, Austin Rogers

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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

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Investigating the Effectiveness of the Positive Reinforcement Components of Tootling, Kennedi J. Alstead

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Perceptions of Faculty and Administration on the Value of Service-Learning in the Tenure and Promotion Process at a Public Midwestern University, Odbayar Batsaikhan

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Pathways Towards an Engineering Baccalaureate Degree - Critical Incidents and Factors Leading Students to Choose Community College: A Phenomenological Study, Joan Zitur Carter

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The Perspective of Black Male Middle School and High School Students in a Mentoring Program, Quennel W. Cooper

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The Effectiveness of a Caregiver Delivered Phonics Intervention for At-Risk Students, Iwalani Dela Paz-Miller

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Effects of Daily Spaced Versus Massed Practice on Spelling Word Retention Among Struggling Spellers, Melissa Engel

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Relationship Between Student Hope and Academic Achievement, Deanna S. Fosness

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Grade Point Average (GPA) as a Criterion for Admission to Two-Year Nursing Programs: The Impact of GPA Use on Student Learning, How GPA Informs Program Admission Decisions, and What Ethical Frameworks Support Admission Decisions, Luke Green

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Death Anxiety: A Quantitative Exploration of Professional Counselors Experiences, Kaitlyn Judith Kaus

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Cover-Copy-Compare as a Math Fact Fluency Intervention for Students in an Alternative Special Education Program, RaeLynn J. Lamminen

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Recognizing Capital: A Study of Cultural Wealth, Grit, and Student Success, Jessica Lauritsen

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Exploring the Effects of Creativity and Student Success on Community College STEM Students Taking Fine Arts Courses, Jimmy LeDuc

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What Rural Middle School Students Who Have Been Bullied Can Teach Us About Bullying: A Phenomenological Study, Sarah Lendt

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Family Involvement in Charter Elementary Schools: A Case Study Using the Family Involvement Questionnaire-Elementary Version (FIQ-E), Dorothy M. Lipski

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A Quantitative Assessment and Comparison of the Undergraduate Curriculum Prerequisite Structures for the Universities in the Minnesota State System with Particular Emphasis on Mathematics Courses, Erik Loge

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The Lived Experiences of Black Male High School Students Diagnosed with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders: A Qualitative Study on Self-Concept, James Menke

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Investigating Beliefs: White Female Teachers' Perceptions of Black Boys and Their Subsequent Achievement-A Qualitative Study, Kirky L. Morris

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Increasing Above and Beyond Behavior Through Social Emotional Learning, Lars Olson

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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

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Fundamental Factors for Success: Engineering Faculty and Industry Partners, Molly F. Schaefer

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The Ability of DIBELS to Predict Proficiency on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment and the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs, Katherine Schultz

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Virtues and Values: A Transcendental Phenomenological Examination of Professional Coach Trainers' Use of Virtue Ethics as a Tool in Their Practice, Julianne Schwietz

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Do They Make a Difference? Twin Cities Magnet Schools in the Heart of Metropolitan Inequity and Segregation, Scott A. Thomas

Theses/Dissertations from 2021

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Student-Parenting During a Global Pandemic: A Phenomenological Exploration of the Impact of COVID-19 on the Experience of Community College Student-Parents, Malinde Althaus

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The Impact of Professional Perspectives on Team Participation and Satisfaction on Intent to Implement Interventions Determined by Multidisciplinary Teams, Julieanna Bowen

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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

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Academic Writing Challenges Experienced by International Students in a Midwest U.S. University: A Phenomenological Inquiry, Padam B. Chauhan

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Understanding How Experienced World History Teachers in Minnesota Choose Course Content: A Mixed Methods Study, Kathleen Ferrero

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Faculty and Dean Attitudes Toward Institutional Civic Responsibility, Mutual Trust, and Civic Mindedness at Two Year Colleges, David W. Kobilka

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Novice Professional School Counselor Development: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Supports and Resources, Lynn M. O'Brien

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The Impact of Cultural Competency on the School Improvement Process: A Phenomenological Study, Michelle deKam Palmieri

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“Positive” Student Behavior: Investigating Educator Perceptions of Student Behavior in Terms of Willingness to Reward and Magnitude of Reward, Kelsey Stangler

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Predicting Mental Health Counseling Professionals’ Willingness to Discuss Sexuality Issues with Clients, Becca L. Thompson

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Examining Differences in Rural, Micropolitan, and Metropolitan School Psychologists Roles and Delivery of Mental Health Services, Ashley A. Williamson

Theses/Dissertations from 2020

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Assessing the Perceived Effectiveness and Acceptability of Pre-Referral Intervention Team Procedures by School Teams: Continued Validation of the Pre-Referral Intervention Team, Lindsey A. Finch

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Alignment or Detachment: College Educators’ Perceptions of Experiential Learning Pedagogy, Wayne D. Finseth

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An Examination of Nature Relatedness, Nature Exposure, and Quality of Work-Life Among Student Affairs Professionals, Breanne Hiivala

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Students' Preparation for College Through Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Programs and Dual Enrollment, Brian P. Jones

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Transformational Teaching in a Culturally Passive Environment in Higher Education: A Phenomenological Study of STEM Professors, Julie M. Kjeer

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Applying Peer Tutoring to Spelling at the Elementary Level, Ashlee Lundberg

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Effects of Synchronous Group Work on Learning and Community in Online Mathematics at Community Colleges, Carrie L. Naughton

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Telepsychiatry Preferences Among College Students Diagnosed and Undiagnosed with a Mental Health Condition, Wendy Schuh

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Predicting Academic Outcomes of Reinstated Technical College Students Following an Academic Suspension, Erica E. Stene Winkler

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High School Math and Language Arts Teachers’ Experience Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Anxious Students in High-Poverty, Rural Schools: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Cory W. Strasser

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Student Retention in an Introductory STEM Course: A Mixed Methods Study of Student Motivation and Teaching Approaches, Lina Wang

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Effects of Aromatherapy on Academic Success, Perceived Stress, and Coping Skills of Graduate Students, Lakisha S. Witter

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Managing Students as Volunteers: Community Organizations’ Perspectives of Service-Learning Placements, Bradley Wolfe

Theses/Dissertations from 2019

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Cyberbullying Prevention and Intervention: Perspectives of School Psychologists and School Counselors, Rachel E. Burlet

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Engagement and STEM Degree Completion: An Analysis of the Relationship Between Time-To-Completion and Engagement and Pre-College Variables, Karina (Harstad) Clennon

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Death: A Qualitative Content Analysis of Counseling Journals, 1986–2016, Aaron Suomala Folkerds

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Perceived Barriers of Homeschooled Students Moving into Higher Education: Case Stories and Qualitative Perspectives, Lizbeth Kliewer

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Evaluating the Effects of Tootling When Implemented in Special Education Classrooms Providing Behavior Supports, Jannine E. Ray

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A Phenomenological Study of the Implementation of Developmentally Appropriate Practices of Highly-Skilled Teachers in School-Based, Early Education Settings, Julie R. Ritter

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A Mixed Methods Study on Engineering Students' Perceptions of Their Future Careers, Catherine McGough Spence

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Racial Microaggressions and Alienation Among Hmong American College Students, Bruce Yang

Theses/Dissertations from 2018

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My Truth, My Telling: Experiences of Black Women Principals in a Poetry-themed Workshop on Race and Gender, Antonia Felix

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Improving Mathematical Skill: The Perceptions of Rural Minnesota Mathematics Educators, Michael Haskins

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The Experience of Microaggressions within Cross-Racial Videoconferencing Supervision: A Case Study, Jamie Hedin

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Effective Characteristics of Rural English Learner Programs, Sarah Huseby

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A Study of the Soft Skills that Contribute to the Success of Newly Graduated Business Students in the Workplace, Promeet Jaswant Singh

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What Happens Now? Coaching and Leading Following a Student-Athlete Death - A Phenomenological Study, Peter McGahey

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The Confidence to Engage: Conflict Engagement Styles of Academic and Student Affairs Deans in a Large, Midwestern State College and University System, Aaron Peterson

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African-Centered Pedagogy: Exploring Black Male Identity and Achievement through an African-Centered Lens, Kenneth Turner Jr.

Theses/Dissertations from 2017

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Adolescents' Experiences Returning to School after a Mental Health Hospitalization, Pamela Iverson

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Perceptions of Students With and Without Limited Formal Schooling, Sarah Schmidt de Carranza

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Investigating the Effects of Performance Feedback and Choice as a Writing Fluency Intervention, Samantha Jean Steinman

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Instructional Design: How Secondary Teachers Promote Student Comprehension of Informational Text, Patti Strukel

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Women’s Choice in College STEM Majors: Impact of Ability Tilt on Women Students’ Educational Choice, Audie Jane Willis

Theses/Dissertations from 2016

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Missing Voices: Journeys of Pre-Service Teacher Candidates and Graduates of Color in a Predominantly White Teacher Education Program, Robbie R. Burnett

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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

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Cognitive Complexity, Mindfulness, and Reflection in Mental Health Professionals, Dharshini Goonetilleke

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Spirituality in Higher Education: A Narrative Analysis of Its Use for Decision-Making, Jeffrey Francis Judge

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The Relationship between College Students' Use of Facebook and their Feelings of Alienation from their Institution, Oleksandr Komarenko

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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

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Performing, Sensing, Being: Queer Identity in Everyday Life, Justin J. Rudnick

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Self-Directed Learning in PBL, Ron Ulseth

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Faculty and Student Perceptions of Effective Online Learning Environments, Kayla L. Westra

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Student Perceptions of Academic Advising at Two-Year Colleges, Wayne T. Whitmore

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Stakeholder Management in High School Athletics: An Individual-Level Analysis., Jennifer Zdroik

Theses/Dissertations from 2015

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Ethnically Diverse Students and K-12 Teacher Preparation Programs: An Analytical Study of Effective Recruitment and Retention Strategies in Select Midwest Colleges and Universities, Mymique Y. Baxter

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Through the Looking Glass: Barriers and Coping Mechanisms Encountered by African American Women Presidents at Predominately White Institutions, Maria Louise Baxter-Nuamah

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The Fertility Problem Inventory and Infertility-Related Stress: A Case Study, Staci Leigh Born

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Feminist Identities: Career Choices and Experiences of College-Educated Women, Kerry Diekmann

A Validation of the Family Involvement Questionnaire-High School Version, Katlyn Ann Grover

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A Phenomenological Investigation of Clinical Intuition among Alcohol and Drug Counselors, Zach Hansen

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Linking Reading Assessment Data to Intervention Using the 4-Box Instructional Decision Making Model, Jeremy Husfeldt

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Literacy Strategies Successfully Implemented by Secondary Social Studies Teachers, Kelly Killorn

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A Phenomenological Study of the Experience of Counseling for Women with Addictions, Jennifer Karin Londgren

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A Grounded Theory of Women's Leadership Experiences in Higher Education: Navigating from the Director Level, Laura Ann Maki

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Students' Perceptions of Life Skill Development in Project-Based Learning Schools, Kimberly Ann Meyer