The Individualized Major Capstone
At the end of his/her individualized major, each student reflects upon his/her educational achievements and designs a capstone research and writing project to integrate his/her studies across academic disciplines. This is the capstone. The capstone requirement is counted as part of the 36 credits for the major. Normally, the capstone course will not count as part of the 18 credits required from courses in the degree granting school or college.
There are three ways of pursuing this capstone requirement:
1. The Capstone Course (INTD 4600W, 3 credits)
Most students in the program fulfill the capstone requirement by taking the capstone course. The research and writing projects of the capstone course, as well as the oral presentations that students are required to make, are designed to give IMJR students opportunities to consolidate their understanding of their major subjects and clarify what they have achieved from their interdisciplinary course of study. One such assignment is the "statement of achievements." A second, key assignment is the "capstone paper," a research project tailored to the student's individualized plan of study that is substantial in length (15 pp is the minimum length of the paper).
- Recent capstone course (INTD 4600W) syllabus.
- Newsletter on the capstone course prepared in Spring 2007.
To register for the capstone course, students must obtain a permission number from the IISP office.
2. The Thesis (6-credits: typically an independent study in the Fall and INTD 4697W in the Spring, all under the supervision of the thesis supervisor)
The thesis offers IMJR honors students –as well as other interested IMJR students– the opportunity to pursue an in-depth project of their choosing. Thesis projects may take a variety of forms. Typical is the lengthy written study, the traditional thesis. Other forms are also possible: for example, photo essay, piece of fiction or collection of poetry. Substantial projects, such as a website or a film, would produce a permanent record, but a thesis project report would also capture a summary of the research, planning, and creative work undertaken. The unifying thread for all thesis projects is that they contribute to the development of knowledge or practice in new ways, involve significant background research, require sustained attention in the implementation of the project, and result in a piece of written work that documents the student’s learning process and outcomes.
The precise course sequence for the thesis varies from student to student. Many students will enroll in a research seminar, independent study or graduate course with their thesis supervisor in the first semester and in INTD 4697W Senior Thesis in the second semester. INTD 4697W operates as a one-on-one research and writing course with the thesis supervisor as the instructor. To register for INTD 4697W you must fill out an Independent Study Authorization form. This form is available in the Registrar’s Office and in the IISP office, or online. Your thesis supervisor is the instructor and must sign on the instructor line. Dr. Lamb or your primary IMJR advisor must sign the advisor line. Dr. Lamb signs the Dept. Head line.
Students writing a thesis will be expected to prepare a written proposal to be submitted to the Individualized Major Program office no later than the last day of classes of the semester before they begin their thesis sequence of courses, typically the spring semester of their junior year. A thesis proposal form is available on the Forms page.
3. An approved alternative capstone
Occasionally a student may identify a departmental senior seminar or other advanced course that provides him/her with the opportunity to integrate the themes of his/her individualized major. Students who are pursuing a double major or an additional degree may be able to satisfy the capstone requirement with a capstone course or thesis in their other major/degree if that capstone course or thesis allows them to explore the theme of their individualized major.Such alternatives must be approved in advance by the director and the student's primary advisor.
