|
There are four primary ways to begin the Capstone Project:
- You can create a topic and select an Advisor on your own, following your interests, and consulting with faculty members whose courses you have enjoyed. Many honors students have done this successfully. The Honors Library in 206 Bowne has a complete set of past projects, with a searchable database. Come see what past students have done – it’s a great way to get started.
- You can work through your major department:
o All Biology students wishing to complete an experimental Capstone Project,
for example, discuss their interests with faculty members, and find a space in
a lab with one of them, joining that research project (many faculty regularly
take on students). They then take BIO 419 in which they meet weekly to share
research techniques and discoveries with other students, under the supervision
of a faculty member.
o If your major offers a “distinction” program, you should participate in that
program. These excellent programs for advanced undergraduates involve a
seminar or series of seminars that teach research methods and help students
write an advanced research paper. They vary by department in format, but all
provide an excellent path to success in the Capstone Project. When you
complete the program (assuming all other Honors requirements are met), you
graduate both with Renée Crown University Honors and with distinction in the
major (see below for details).
- You can attend one of the Honors Assemblies for juniors in the fall in which the Honors Program presents information and suggestions to help you understand what a Capstone Project is, and how to find an Advisor and get started on your research. Veteran Capstone Advisors from a number of disciplines will be there to share their wisdom and answer questions. For many students, this is sufficient to get started.
- You can register for HNR 309: Capstone/Thesis Project Planning Seminar in the fall of your junior year, or spring if you are abroad in the fall. HNR 309 is an optional, one-credit, pass-fail seminar designed to help you understand what a Capstone Project is in your
discipline, develop and clarify a topic for your project, find a faculty member who will advise your project, and develop a timeline for completion of the Capstone Project. The first half of the semester consists of a series of seminar meetings, assignments, and exercises designed to help you meet these goals. Some special sessions may be held in the evenings. During the second half of the semester, you meet with your seminar leader to discuss the progress you have made on your Capstone Project.
All students must submit a Capstone Project Proposal Form, signed by their capstone advisor, by mid-November of the junior year. All students must submit a Project Update Form in the spring of the junior year. The forms you need are all on the Capstone Project Resources and Information Page.
For an in-depth explanation of the Capstone Project, see the Honors Capstone Guide.
|
