Preparation
The Capstone course is structured like an Independent Study or Thesis/Dissertation wherein the student
should contact a faculty member prior to the semester in which they will take/conduct their Capstone
Course/Project to discuss and begin to establish an acceptable project. Students should seek an instructor
whose research, interests, or experience, or technical skills align with the core of the project the student wishes
to propose. It is recommended that students consider/develop projects that support their research interests or
career goals. Projects that are situated within a student’s existing experience or work environment are often a
good choice because they give the student insight into a real-world context for the project as well as access to
potential data and stakeholders related to the project. Projects should be interdisciplinary in nature and should
demonstrate skills and knowledge acquired from multiple classes the student has taken in their degree
program. Students should communicate with a chosen faculty member to develop a project proposal whose
scope is appropriate for a Capstone and the time available during the semester in which the Capstone will
occur.
Preliminary Proposal
Prior to submitting the official proposal to the advising faculty member who will be overseeing the Capstone
project, students may submit a preliminary proposal for feedback from the faculty member. This allows
students to adjust and modify their project proposal before submitting the final proposal for evaluation and
approval. Use the Preliminary Proposal assignment submission link to submit any preliminary proposals you
would like feedback on unless directed otherwise by your advising faculty member.
Proposal
Before submitting a final project proposal, students should have been in contact with their advising faculty
members to determine the expectations and scope of the project. Regular communication with the faculty member
to revise and structure the proposal is strongly recommended in order to successfully obtain approval of a
proposed Capstone Project. Proposals should outline the what, why, how, and when of the project, as well as
the who and where appropriate. Proposals should clearly define the deliverables associated with the final
submission of the project as well as any intermediary milestone/checkpoint submissions. Project proposals
should include a tentative timeline and discussion of how deliverables will be submitted to the advising faculty
member. Use the Project Proposal assignment submission link to submit your final project proposal for
approval unless directed otherwise by your advising faculty member.
Sample Solution
