Capstone Project
The capstone project involves a practice-based experience shaped with and overseen by fellows’ capstone advisors, in consultation with their portfolio advisors. Capstone projects are scaled to fellows’ educational goals: the piloting and assessment of a community-engaged scholarly project; the development and assessment of a community-based learning course, an internship with an academic component; or the launch of a digital form of research designed for a wider public; among many other possibilities. Capstone projects may overlap with theses or dissertations, but they need to be distinct from them and self-contained.
Capstone Advisors
Capstone Advisors are faculty members who help shape and assess the Capstone Project (HUM 602) for academic credit. Community partners at a specific site or organization may also participate in shaping and assessing the capstone project, but the Capstone Advisor is responsible for the assignment of a grade for the project’s completion.
All capstones projects require documentation, specifically a Petition for Capstone Approval and Capstone Project Agreement forms, as well as assessment/critical reflection. They should also include a moment of public presentation designed to engage other students enrolled in the certificate program, the university, and community members, as appropriate.
As fellows work together with capstone advisors and, portfolio advisors, and community partners to develop capstone projects, they should consider the following questions:
- How does the capstone project relate to the work completed or to be completed in the fellow’s home department?
- What existing or emerging academic or non-academic fields of research, teaching, and /or engagement does the capstone project engage?
- How does the capstone project relate to the learning objectives of the certificate program and the fellow’s goals in the program?
- How will the capstone project be documented, what artifact(s) will it produce, and how will the project and its products be assessed?
Fellows are encouraged to work together on collaborative projects. The 3-5 credit range for capstone projects is intended to reflect differences among the goals and scope of various projects.
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