Capstone

To graduate with the designation of “SAS Honors Scholar” an SAS Honors Program student must complete a set of requirements, one of which is the Capstone.

We strongly encourage students to complete their capstone in their senior year. Certain circumstances may warrant students to begin their capstone in their junior year. These students should speak with their Honors Dean to discuss their plans.  Students are encouraged to begin thinking about plans for the Capstone no later than spring of the Junior year. 

For all options, work completed to satisfy the Capstone Requirement:

ATTENTION SENIORS: All seniors pursuing capstone options C,D,E, or G must upload their scholarly analytic reports by the last day of classes. Students finishing their capstone coursework in fall term submit by December 13, 2023 | spring term submit by April 29, 2024.

ATTENTION JUNIORS: All SASHP juniors are required to submit the SAS Honors Program Online Capstone Form by April 19, 2024.

Note: Submission of the SAS Honors Program Online Capstone Form is required in addition to any paperwork required by a department or program for each of the options below.

Approved Options

Option A: Departmental Honors

Successful completion of a senior honors thesis through Departmental Honors within the major department – for information, visit the Departmental Honors Listings.
Note: the departmental honors programs of some departments – e.g., Computer Science, Economics, Philosophy– offer variations on a standard thesis that are important to understand; please review the information on those department websites, and then contact your Honors Dean for further discussion.

*Funding may be available in support of research through the Aresty Research Center for Undergraduates.

All SAS students who are completing a department-based honors thesis or an SAS Interdisciplinary Honors Thesis will be designated as SAS Paul Robeson Scholars. SAS Paul Robeson Scholars will be eligible for extended library borrowing privileges and for nomination for consideration for a Henry Rutgers Thesis Award.

Option B: Interdisciplinary Honors Thesis

Completion of the SAS Interdisciplinary Honors Thesis with a minimum grade of a B in thesis coursework.
For information, go to http://sasundergrad.rutgers.edu/major/additional-academic-programs/thesis-programs/iht.

All students completing an IHT are expected to present their research at the annual IHT conference in April.

*Funding may be available in support of research through the Aresty Research Center for Undergraduates.

All SAS students who are completing a department-based honors thesis or an SAS Interdisciplinary Honors Thesis will be designated as SAS Paul Robeson Scholars. SAS Paul Robeson Scholars will be eligible for extended library borrowing privileges and for nomination for consideration for a Henry Rutgers Thesis Award.

Option C: Two Graduate Level Courses

Completion of graduate level courses in the same department or program with a minimum grade of a B. At least one of the two courses must be in person (not hybrid, not online). Requires prior permission of instructor, approval of department graduate director, and clearance by an Honors Program dean. May require additional approval from the School of Graduate Studies.

Students must submit the Graduate Course Request Form to the SAS Office of Academic Services. See note below regarding completion of scholarly report.

A student completing Options C, D, E, or G must write a scholarly analytic report (18-25 pages) about the work in the two courses or experience in the program. This report is designed to allow students to reflect on their Capstone coursework and/or experiences, to expand their knowledge of the field, and to enrich their engagement with the topic or experience.

This report is meant to be academic, intellectual, and professional, and to address the following questions:

The report will be due at the end of the semester in which the student completes the second course, and will be reviewed by the Honors Program dean and Administrative Dean. In all cases, students pursuing capstone work should be in touch early with their Honors Dean for detailed advising regarding options and requirements.

Option D: Professional Graduate Program

Enrollment in a Rutgers program that combines undergraduate and graduate coursework and culminates in a graduate degree. The seven-year BA/MD program, Phase II of Access Med, and programs offered through the Graduate School of Education are among those which can be used for this option. Coursework must be taken in consecutive semesters.

Students must earn a minimum grade of a B in graduate coursework.

A student completing Options C, D, E, or G must write a scholarly analytic report (18-25 pages) about the work in the program. This report is designed to allow students to reflect on their Capstone coursework and/or experiences, to expand their knowledge of the field, and to enrich their engagement with the topic or experience.

This report is meant to be academic, intellectual, and professional, and to address the following questions:

The report will be due at the end of the final semester of the senior year, and will be reviewed by the Honors Program Dean and Administrative Dean. In all cases, students pursuing capstone work should be in touch early with their Honors Dean for detailed advising regarding options and requirements.

Option E: Experiential

Completion of a two-semester professional, certificate, or service learning experience, field placement, or internship under the supervision of a sponsoring department or academic unit. Only coursework completed through approved programs run by academic departments and university centers, bureaus, and institutes will be recognized.

The total credits earned must be at least six with a minimum grade of a B in all required coursework.

Examples (non-exhaustive and for illustration only) of programs and departments which offer possible experiences that would satisfy Option E are the School of Social Work, the Institute for Women’s Leadership, The Collaborative (Civic Engagement and Service Education Partnerships), the Eagleton Institute of Politics, History Public/General History Internships, and Health Administration and Public Health Internships.

A student completing Options C, D, E, or G must write a scholarly analytic report (18-25 pages) about the work in the two courses or experience in the program. This report is designed to allow students to reflect on their Capstone coursework and/or experiences, to expand their knowledge of the field, and to enrich their engagement with the topic or experience.

This report is meant to be academic, intellectual, and professional, and to address the following questions:

The report will be due at the end of the semester in which the student completes the second course or completes the program, and will be reviewed by the Honors Program Dean and Administrative Dean. In all cases, students pursuing capstone work should be in touch early with their Honors Dean for detailed advising regarding options and requirements.

Option G: Global

Interested in combining Study Abroad while at Rutgers with your SASHP Capstone? Let your Honors advisor know your intentions before you go abroad, so we can advise you on your planning.

The SAS Honors Program Online Capstone Form must be submitted and approved prior to studying abroad.

Explore Rutgers Study Abroad Programs and their Access the World Initiative to learn more about your global options.

Academic Summer Study Abroad:

  1. Enroll in at least 6 credits in any Rutgers Study Abroad experience in the summer* (after sophomore or junior year); Note that students can enroll in two different 3-credit programs as long as they are in the same country, adjacent countries, or regions. Consult with your advising dean.
  2. Take one 3- 4 credit cognate course** in a related field after returning from study abroad within 2 semesters of the global experience.
  3. Submit an 18 to 25-page scholarly capstone report at the conclusion of the cognate course.

See, for example, the Spanish Department’s Summer Study Abroad
See, for example, the French Department’s Summer Study in Paris

 

Service Learning Summer Study Abroad:

  1. Enroll in at least 6 credits of a Rutgers-approved service learning project; students may combine two different 3-credit service learning project.
  2. Take one 3-4 credit cognate course** in a related field after returning from study abroad within 2 semesters of the global experience.
  3. Submit an 18 to 25-page scholarly capstone report at the conclusion of the cognate course.

 

Semester Study Abroad:

  1. Study abroad for a semester in Rutgers Study Abroad program, preferably in the junior year. Studying abroad the first semester senior year is permitted, but students may not study abroad in their final semester as part of their capstone requirement.
  2. Take one 3-4 credit cognate course** in a related field after returning from study abroad within 2 semesters of the global experience.
  3. Submit an 18 to 25-page scholarly capstone report at the conclusion of the cognate course.

Explore Rutgers Study Abroad Programs.

 

**Cognate course: A cognate course is a course related to the language, art, literature, religion, culture, history, anthropology, or politics of the country in which you studied. The cognate course must be at least 3-credits, must not be online or hybrid, and must be taken at Rutgers. There is no restriction on the level of the course. If you are taking a language course, please work with the language department for language placement. In some cases, your cognate course may count toward your honors Global Language Proficiency Requirement (GLPR). Please check with your advising dean to make sure that the course you select can serve as your cognate course.

 

The total credits earned must be at least six with a minimum grade of a B in all required coursework.

 

A student completing Options C, D, E, or G must write a scholarly analytic report (18-25 pages) about the work in the two courses or experience in the program. This report is designed to allow students to reflect on their Capstone coursework and/or experiences, to expand their knowledge of the field, and to enrich their engagement with the topic or experience.

This report is meant to be academic, intellectual, and professional, and to address the following questions:

The report will be due at the end of the final semester of the senior year, and will be reviewed by the Honors Program Dean and Administrative Dean. In all cases, students pursuing capstone work should be in touch early with their Honors Dean for detailed advising regarding options and requirements.