Bulletin Description
UCAP 395 affords students the opportunity to pursue a capstone experience outside the constraints of capstone courses offered by individual academic departments or if a department does not have an independent study capstone. Students must identify a project and a faculty project advisor. If the advisor is not a CWRU faculty member, then the student must also identify a project advisor who does hold such an appointment. A capstone experience can take various forms but must include certain elements: critical thinking, regular oversight by the project advisor(s), periodic progress reports , a final written report which describes the project activity (which may be a research paper, performance, experiment, student teaching, live case analysis, creative writing endeavor, etc.), and a final public presentation. More details about course policies, including procedures for registering, are available via the Capstone Experience website. UCAP 395 may be taken as a one-semester or a two-semester course for 1-6 credits in any given semester and 3-6 credits total. Permit from Associate Provost for the Curriculum required.
Capstone Experience Content
The crucial elements of any SAGES Capstone experience, which must be incorporated into any UCAP 395 project, are:
• Critical thinking on the part of the student.
• Clear goals with an appropriate plan of action.
• Regular oversight by the project adviser.
• Periodic reporting of progress.
• Regular writing (e.g. drafts, progress reports, critiques) throughout the project including a final written report which may be a thesis or equivalent document associated with the project or activity, (e.g., such pursuits as performance, experiment, live case analysis, or creative writing), as approved in the contract.
• A public presentation at Intersections, a conference, a performance, a public lecture, a teaching presentation, or other, as approved in the completed contract.
The contract, which every student must file for UCAP 395, attempts to insure that these elements are taken into consideration at the beginning of each project. For clarification of any policies associated with UCAP 395, see the list of Frequently Asked Questions or contact Professor Peter Shulman (pas125), Associate Provost for the Curriculum.
Timetables/Deadlines
Students are expected to begin work on their project the first day of classes and must be registered for UCAP 395 by the end of the drop/add period.
Grading
UCAP 395 is part of the General Education Requirements of the university and therefore must result in a letter grade using the scale A-F. The project advisor, who must be a CWRU faculty member, is responsible for grading the student’s work.
UCAP 395 Contract
Students who wish to satisfy the Capstone requirement via UCAP 395 must file a formal contract:
Students must complete the contract and consult with Professor Peter Shulman before obtaining the signatures of all the parties to the contract.