Capstone Course/Independent Study Instructions
56:606:689, 690 Independent Research in Liberal Studies
Every MALS student is required to complete a capstone study as the final project in the program. The capstone project should be an interdisciplinary study of approximately 25-35 pages in length. The topic of the capstone study should be selected in consultation with a faculty adviser. A list of capstone projects complete since the beginning of the MALS program is available at http://www.camden.rutgers.edu/dept-pages/liberal/Capstones-list.html
These are the steps to follow in completing your capstone project.
► 6-12 months before graduation--Find a faculty member who is willing to serve as your adviser. Generally, the best bet is to consider a professor whom you have already had for a class so that you have a sense of the his/her interests, style, and personality. In addition, faculty members are often more willing to advise students whom they already know. If you have trouble finding an adviser, please consult the program director for help.
Begin preliminary reading and thinking about possible topics as early as possible. Prepare a tentative bibliography. Please note that it is very difficult to complete the research and writing of a capstone in a single semester. A capstone project will usually require several drafts in response to your adviser’s suggestions. Ideally, most of the research for your capstone project should be finished before the semester in which you wish to complete the writing component of your study. Students also find that it is easier to complete capstone projects if they are not still taking other classes in that final semester.
► Final semester before graduation-- Using the form below, inform the director of the Liberal Studies Program during the first two weeks of the semester of your topic and the name of your faculty adviser. In a paragraph or two, describe the topic you intend to explore and the thesis you hope to develop. Include some preliminary bibliography and the signature of the faculty adviser approving your topic. After you do this, you will receive a special permission number to register for the Independent Research course.
It is your responsibility to meet regularly with your faculty adviser for guidance in accumulating your bibliography, developing your outline, and writing and revising drafts of your project. Please gauge your time carefully so that you are able to meet these deadlines:
► First draft due March 30th for May graduation (October 30th for January graduation). The draft should be as complete as possible. Your adviser will make recommendations for necessary revisions.
► Final draft due April 30th for May graduation (November 30th for January graduation).
Failure to complete drafts by these deadlines means that your graduation may be delayed. It is not the faculty adviser’s responsibility to expedite capstone studies that are turned in late. Remember the end of the semester is a busy time for faculty members and they cannot drop everything to read your capstone. Your adviser may ask for additional revisions or changes.
Ask your adviser to grade your paper and send a graded copy to the MALS program director; the graded copy is included in your file and your grade submitted.
►Final copy of your capstone project with all corrections and revisions completed due May 10th ( December 10th for January graduation). Please submit two clean copies of your final project to the Graduate Liberal Studies Office. Please use this sample for your title page: capstone_title_page. htm and make sure you get a signature from your adviser.
► Please consult the University's guidlines for submittng your capstone study to the library’s online archives.
►Please note: No student may undertake an Independent Research course until she/he has completed 18 credits of coursework.
Only two Independent research course 606:689 and 606:690 are counted toward the degree requirements
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CAPSTONE PROPOSAL FORM
Please fill this out and present to your faculty mentor for approval. Return signed form to the Graduate Liberal Studies office.
Name:___________________________ Date: _________________________
Course Number: 56:606: ____________ Semester and year: ______________
Projected graduation date: ___________________
Name of Faculty Mentor : ___________________________________________________ ____
Signature of Faculty Mentor : ____________________________________________________
Proposal for paper/project (1 page)
(Include your area of study, tentative thesis, your general means of proceeding and some bibliography.)
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