The basic outline of the Capstone process is something like this:
- Identify an advisor and a project, and negotiate the scope and goals of your project with your advisor.
- Write a project proposal that describes your project and identifies your advisor, and submit it to the DGS and the UMSEC office.
- Keep your advisor informed of the status of your project as agreed in your project plan.
- Prepare a final report and submit it to your advisor.
- If you agree to publish your final report on the program website, sign the release form available from the program office and send a pdf copy to the program associate.
Capstone projects may be group or individual efforts. In MSSE we encourage group efforts, with the proviso that the contributions of each individual student must be evident and of reasonable scope. It is normal, but not required, for each student in a group project to have the same advisor.
There are 4 parties who play important roles in the Capstone project process:
- The student presumably wishes to complete the MSSE degree.
- The advisor supervises the student's work.
- The MSSE program office in UMSEC keeps records, facilitates interactions with the Graduate School, and keeps a library of past successful projects to help students gain perspective on the process.
- The Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) is responsible for the academic quality and consistency of the program.
Here is a recommended timeline for the process that shows what each party is expected to do, and when. All of these activities are during the second year, but there is no reason a student needs to wait until the second year to get started.
| Date | Student | Advisor | UMSEC Staff | DGS |
| Late Spring, first year | Discuss Capstone procedures and timeline with students. | |||
| Summer or Fall semester |
Settle on a topic, possibly organize a team. Find an advisor. |
Help student to scope a project that is relevant to the program and of reasonable scope. | Library copies of past Capstone projects are available for checkout. Contact UMSEC staff. | |
| Fall semester | Staff available to answer procedure and other process-related questions. | Follow-up information session and progress check. | ||
| late January | Get your degree program form and commencement attendance form from the UMSEC office. You must have your advisor sign these forms before the end of February and return them to the office. | |||
| Early February | After reviewing with your advisor, submit your project proposal to DGS and UMSEC office. | Ensure that the proposal contains the essential elements. | Register proposal. | |
| as agreed between student and advisor | Report progress to advisor, meet and discuss as necessary. | Offer assistance as requested, expect conformance to plans in lieu of agreed re-planning, but don't drive the process. | ||
| 6 weeks prior to completion |
Fill out the Application for Degree form and turn it in to the MSSE office. |
Forward Application for Degree to the Graduate School.
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| 2-4 weeks prior to completion | Prepare your final report (and presentation, if that is part of the process you have negotiated with your advisor). If you are giving a presentation, you may want to do a dry run with your advisor or spouse or someone who will give you an honest critique. | Give critical feedback on the final report, send it back for revisions if needed. | ||
| After report is accepted |
Make final changes to your report if required by your advisor. Breathe a sigh of relief. Celebrate. |
Enter final grade for independent study credits. |
