Independent Capstone Proposal
A proposal (view samples) is required for the independent thesis and project options. It is required for each semester of Independent Capstone work and
- defines your honors research
- establishes a definitive list of goals, methodology, evaluation procedures, and faculty expectations
- serves with the contract as a binding agreement between you and your guidance committee
- protects you and your guidance committee from misunderstandings which could cause problems with grading or delays in your graduation clearance.
Minimally, proposals should include the information requested below. (Your committee may request additional information.) When constructing your proposal, you should focus on addressing these points and not on proposal length.
1. TOPIC IDENTIFICATION: What do you wish to study?
- What is the specific topic you wish to study?
- Why have you chosen this topic?
- What is the overall scope of your study?
2. METHODOLOGY: How will you conduct your research? Where applicable,
address the following issues:
- How many and what kinds of sources does your committee expect you to
analyze?
- What procedures and techniques will you use?
- What controls will you utilize?
- How will you ensure validity?
- What access permissions are required? For example does your research need to go before a human subject review board?
- Are there training issues that need to be addressed? For example: lab safety certification or copyright laws?
3. EVALUATION: How will your work be reviewed and graded?
- What does your committee expect you to accomplish during the various stages of your research?
- How will your committee provide feedback regarding your progress, and permission to continue with Part II of a Part I and II sequence?
- How will your committee assess the viability of your research to produce an honors thesis or porject with oral defense?
4. COMMUNICATION: What are the expectations about meetings with your
chair and other committee members?
- How often will you meet?
- During the meetings, how will your progress and accomplishments be evaluated?
- What are your committee's expectation of such meetings?
- What time commitment is expected of you between meetings with your chair?
(For example, 10 hours of work.)
5. TIMELINE: When will each stage of your work be done?
- How will you organize your written work (chapters, e.g.)?
- When is your first outline due?
- What are the interim deadlines for each semester’s work?
- What is the date for review of your final draft by your committee?
- What is the date of the oral defense of your thesis/project/activity?
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