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MHST/NURS 607
Developing Successful Project and Program Proposals

Delivery mode: Paced/home-study online

Credits: 3 - Applied Studies

Prerequisite: MHST/NURS 603

Centre: Centre for Nursing and Health Studies

Introduction

Project and program proposals are well researched, systematic plans of action, based on preset inclusion criteria. Proposals are developed in response to needs, problems, or issues requiring resources which are either insufficient or not currently available. The impetus for proposal development in health comes from a variety of sources including health care consumers, health care workers, especially front-line providers, administrators, and governments. Working effectively and efficiently within multiple contexts and with numerous processes results in genuine participation and community building, all essential for proposal development. If successful in receiving funding, the proposal serves as a contract between the applicant and the funding agency. Overall, the proposal serves as the �architectural� plan of the proposed program or project. A well developed plan, clearly conceptualized, thoroughly, logically and concisely presented is the foundation of subsequent activities that guide the implementation, evaluation and final reporting of the program or project.

MHST 607: Developing Successful Project and Program Proposals is modeled on what you will experience in developing a proposal. There are three interrelated processes occurring in the course. First, you will prepare yourself with knowledge and skills required for writing a project or program proposal. This is accomplished through your participation in weekly course activities: Completing readings, engaging in forum participation and submitting assignments. Second, based on your ongoing learning, you will carry out the steps of proposal development from beginning to end: Identifying the need for the project, establishing a plan of action, identifying funding sources and obtaining and completing the necessary forms. Finally, you will have the opportunity to critically evaluate a proposal by serving as a reviewer of a proposal submitted for funding.

Although you will work through each of the steps of proposal development, time prohibits the completion of certain aspects of the proposal development process. For instance, although you will engage in collecting evidence in support of your application, you will not actually engage in a needs assessment. Your research will serve as a basis for your proposal, but it will be a “work in progress.” As well, you will neither contact individuals or agencies for letters of support nor will you establish committees to be involved with the project, and so on. However, you will discuss these areas hypothetically. Through your efforts in MHST/NURS 607, the processes, knowledge, and skills required to demystify proposal development will occur and you will be well on your way to becoming a successful grant writer.

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Course Goals

MHST/NURS 607 Developing Successful Project and Program Proposals is designed to help students achieve the following course goals:

  1. examine the skills, knowledge and processes required for successful proposal development;
  2. develop a program or project proposal in application for funding;
  3. explore non-profit and public sector sources of funding; and
  4. appraise a proposal submitted for funding.
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Course Materials

MHST/NURS 607 comprises online and print-based course materials.

  • Study Guide
  • Online Readings and health-related Web sites
  • Textbooks:

Coley, S. & Scheinberg, C. ( 2000). Proposal writing. (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Carlson, M. (2002). Winning Grants Step by Step (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

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Course Outline

  • Unit 1: Developing the Groundwork: Orientation, Overview
  • Unit 2: Discovering Funders, Funding and Forms
  • Unit 3: Conceptualizing Needs and Problems
  • Unit 4: Understanding Objectives and Goals
  • Unit 5: Planning the Implementation Process
  • Unit 6: Planning Evaluations
  • Unit 7: Developing Budgets
  • Unit 8: Completing the Proposal
  • Unit 9: Appraising Proposals Critically
  • Unit 10: Waiting for the Appraisal and Wrap-up
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Assessment Structure

Participation

20%

Assignment #1 - Background and Funding

10%

Assignment #2 - Project or Program Proposal

40%

Assignment #3 - Proposal Appraisal

25%

Resource Forum

5%

Total

100%


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Last updated by G. Zahara
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