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.

Click here to read about some of the very successful ways that Individualized Major students met their capstone requirements in 2005/06. You can also read more about the capstone in a newsletter prepared in Spring 2007. There are two ways of pursuing this capstone requirement:

1. The Capstone Paper (completed as part of INTD 295W, 3 credits)

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 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).

To register for the capstone course, students must obtain a permission number from the IISP office.

Click here to see the current syllabus for the capstone course (INTD 295W)

2. The Capstone Thesis (typically completed in a year-long, 6-credit, sequence).

The "capstone thesis" is a research project involving originality of subject matter or approach. The thesis offers IMJR Honors students, as well as other interested IMJR students, the opportunity to pursue an in-depth project of their choosing supervised by a faculty member who is an expert guide to the relevant discipline. A thesis is most often a piece of scholarly writing that investigates an unresolved question in the author's field of study. It combines a solid knowledge of the relevant scholarship with an original contribution to the field of study. Most thesis supervisors (faculty members) require a formal reseach paper that is very substantial in length - 35-65 pp being typical. While most IMJR theses are likely to fit this definition, a thesis can also be a creative performance or exhibit, a music composition, a documentary, or another substantive project.

The precise course sequence for the thesis varies from student to student. Many students will enroll in a research seminar in their thesis supervisor’s department in the first semester (often a 299 course) and in INTD 296W in the second semester. INTD 296W operates as a one-on-one research and writing course with the thesis supervisor as the instructor. To register for INTD 296W 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.

For advice on planning the thesis, including a discussion of expectations and a typical timeline, consult the chapter on the Capstone requirement in the IMJR Student Handbook. You can download this excerpt (4-page PDF) by clicking here.