Capstone Advising

All Honors students must complete a Capstone to graduate with University Honors. A Capstone is the culmination of a student's undergraduate Honors work. The Capstone allows a student to work closely with a professor - you - to create a scholarly or otherwise significant project that builds on the student's knowledge and interest in a field of study.

Capstone projects may include, but are not limited to:

  • Conducting a major research project
  • Writing a novel
  • Preparing a recital or performance
  • Developing a web site
  • Curating an exhibit or directing a theater production under faculty supervision

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Step-by-Step Faculty Guide to Capstone Advising

So what exactly is the role of a Capstone advisor? Just follow these steps, with the aid of the information provided on this page and the related links to the left.

  1. When a student asks you to advise her or his Capstone, please devote some time to speak with the student one-on-one about the Capstone. Unless the class you are teaching is a Capstone class, please know that you are in no way required to serve as a student's Castone advisor. Capstone advising is completely voluntary.
  2. Help the student formulate a project that would fulfill your expectations and would qualify as Honors worthy, and most importantly, would be one that the student will enjoy working on.
  3. Request the student present to you both a proposal for the verbally agreed upon project and also a viable workplan to complete the proposed project in the given amount of time to complete it.
  4. After you are satisfied with the student’s proposal and the work plan, sign the Capstone Form the student will present to you.
  5. Should the student' project require financial assistance, encourage them to submit a Capstone Grant application with the Capstone Form.
  6. Work and communicate with the student throughout the semester(s) on his/her project to help the student keep on target and  complete the Capstone in time. Should any problems arise, please be sure to speak with the student. If necessary, be sure to contact the Honors office.
  7. If the Capstone is part of a two semester class, be sure to submit a grade at the end of the first semester based upon your evaluation of the student's progress thus far.
  8. Instruct the student to submit the completed Capstone on the last day of class of that particular semester that the Capstone is due.
  9. Grade the Capstone. To receive Honors credit and to graduate, the student must get a B or higher for his or her Capstone.
  10. If the Capstone is part of a class, the grade for the Capstone should be included in the determination of the final grade for the entire class. If the Capstone is an independent study, then the Capstone grade will be the grade you submit through the “my.american.edu” faculty portal.
  11. Encourage the student to participate in the Honors Capstone Conference (see Capstone Info For Students).

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