UMass Amherst

The Capstone Experience

The Capstone Experience (CE) is a comprehensive, research-intensive thesis or project of original scholarship. Typically completed in the senior year, it is a chance for honors students to engage in rigorous scholarship and to explore an academic interest in depth.

The CE is designed to provide all Commonwealth Honors College students with the opportunity to integrate their undergraduate experiences and prepare for their careers—professional or academic—and lives as informed citizens. Building on the knowledge and skills they’ve acquired, students pursue research questions, create art, engage the wider community in action efforts, or work intensively on one of a variety of other academic projects.

The CE must be six or more credits of sustained effort on a single topic. Whether the intended end result is an honors thesis or an honors project, all CEs begin with creative inquiry and systematic research, include documentation of substantive scholarly endeavor, and culminate in an oral defense or other form of public presentation.

INDEPENDENT AND COURSE CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE
FLOW CHARTS

Independent Capstones

Course Capstones


Students choose to pursue self-initiated Independent Capstones under the guidance of a faculty committee. Students define their learning goals in a research proposal that takes the place of a syllabus in providing structure and setting expectations.


Students choose to pursue research in a faculty-initiated Course Capstone.  They complete their CE thesis or project in a community of classmates within the structure of a traditional classroom.  Research expectations are outlined in a course syllabus.


Select a research topic and assemble a Research Guidance Committee (Research Chair and Research Committee Member)


Choose a Course Capstone from the online Honors Course Guide


Register Part I

Via contract form and proposal submitted to Honors College office:

- Complete and submit form:  Independent Capstone Contract

- Draft and attach preliminary proposal (sample proposals)*

*Some departments have Proposal templates which supercede ours.  Be sure to check with your Honors Program Director and your CE Research Chair for alternative or supplementary guidelines.


Register Part I

On SPIRE except for the following courses that require an application from our Forms web page:

- CompLit 499D Avant-garde Film
(Fall semester)

- CompLit 499D Avant-garde Film
(Spring semester)

- Honors 499A-B Honors Seminar Scholars


Grading Part I

Grading Independent Capstone Part I


Grading Part I

Grading Course Capstone Part I


Register Part II

Via contract form submitted to Honors College office:

- Complete and submit form:  Independent Capstone Contract

- Draft and attach final proposal (sample proposals)*

*Some departments have Proposal templates which supercede ours.  Be sure to check with your Honors Program Director and your CE Research Chair for alternative or supplementary guidelines.


Register Part II

On SPIRE except for the following courses that require an application from our Forms web page:

- CompLit 499D Avant-garde Film
(Fall semester)

- CompLit 499D Avant-garde Film
(Spring semester)

- Honors 499A-B Honors Seminar Scholars


Oral Defense

Type of oral defense is determined by CE committee


Oral Presentation

As determined by CE professor; may be presentation to CE class, professional conference or other appropriate venue


Grading Part II

Grading Independent Capstone Part II


Grading Part II

Grading Course Capstone Part II


Submit CE Documentation

To the Honors College, 504 Goodell

- Submit a thesis manuscript or project manuscript with artifact

- Submit Independent Capstone Completion Form


Submit CE Documentation

To the Honors College, 504 Goodell

- Submit a thesis manuscript or project manuscript with artifact*

- Submit Course Capstone Completion Form

*thesis or project will be determined by the CE professor

 

 capstone photo by Walter S. Arnold from stonecarver.com


     cap' stone'  n.
    - The top stone of a structure,
       wall, or column.
    - The crowning achievement or
       final stroke; the culmination.