Capstone Basics

Capstones generally fall into one of the following broad categories:  

  • Research/Scholarship/Creative Project 
  • Study Abroad Experience 
  • Community-Based Project 
  • Internship Project 
  • Leadership Certificate 
  • The Washington Center 
  • Class Facilitation Project 

 

The Capstone will require approval from the Honors Program’s Capstone Committee at two points: before it happens and after it happens. 

 

The student must submit the Pre-Capstone Packet for approval by October 15th for a Capstone the proposed commencement of which is the following spring term; the student must submit the Pre-Capstone Packet for approval by March 15th for a Capstone the proposed commencement of which is either the forthcoming summer or fall term. (You may submit your Pre-Capstone Packet earlier and request early review if you need to know the status of your proposed Capstone in order to apply for a travel grant or some other form of economic aid.) 

 

The student must submit the Post-Capstone Packet for approval no later than four weeks after the project’s termination date—or, in the event that the termination of a Capstone experience occurs within one month of a student’s graduation date, the student must submit the Post-Capstone Packet for approval at a specified earlier time so that the Committee can evaluate the project and consider approval in time for graduation. For instance, for those graduating in the spring of 2013, your Post-Capstone Packets will be due April 1 in order to give us time to read them and still get you certified for an April 26 graduation. For those not graduating, the packets will be due within four weeks after the project’s termination date. 

 

Each of these packets will require approval by the Honors Capstone Committee before the student may proceed with the Capstone project or receive graduation recognition for the Capstone. 

 

For both the Pre- and Post-Capstone Packets, you will receive written notice of the Committee’s decision. (The Committee may also ask you to revise and resubmit the application.) 

 

For information on the components of these “packets,” please see below. 

 

The Capstone can take place no earlier than the second semester of a student’s junior year, as it is precisely meant to be a meaningful “cap” on the student’s experience. 

 

Any Capstone must be the equivalent of at least 120 contact hours; that number of hours is equal to three credits. (This is approximately 10-12 hours a week for a semester or three weeks of either full-time 40-hour a week work or a structured study abroad program.) 

 

The Capstone will be a 0-credit, pass/fail entity. Students will get no “credit” for it. A credit-experience, however, may be used for a Capstone. 

 

For any questions regarding the Capstone and for advice, please contact  Dr. David Kammerman.  

 

Important Capstone Forms

Capstone Proposal Coversheet 

 

Supervisor Recommendation 

 

Supervisor Evaluation