General Tips
- Make sure you understand the different types of experiences that qualify for the recognition you are pursuing. Honors in the Major programs can also have options specific to your major.
- Get to know your local librarians! They have very valuable knowledge about performing effective research, narrowing your topic(s), and how to utilize the library resources
- Talk to your mentor(s) to find a communication medium and frequency that works for all involved. Scheduling conflicts pop up all the time, but being able to reliably contact each other will improve your chances of success.
- Try to speak with students and mentors who are participating in undergraduate capstone projects, like those for Honors in the Major or the Schedler Honors College, or have done so in the past. Ask about the struggles and successes they experienced or for any other advice.
- Look at the timeline template below and work with your mentor(s) to develop a timeline that will be realistic and effective for your project.
- Analyze any resources that you come across when speaking with mentor(s), peers, professors, or others that could provide insight into your topics.
Timelines
Major requirements during the capstone semester are listed below. It is recommended that the majority of your capstone is complete before entering the capstone semester, allowing your remaining time to be used for completing your reflection/paper and practicing for your oral presentation.
| Activity/Requirement | Week Due During Capstone Semester |
|---|---|
| Second Reader Name, Capstone Title, and Capstone Abstract due in Portal | Week 5 |
| Zero Draft Capstone Project due to Mentor, Second Reader, and Capstone Instructor | Week 8 |
| Clean Draft of Capstone Project due to Mentor, Second Reader, and Capstone Instructor | Week 12 |
| Revisions from prior draft due to Mentor and Second Reader | Week 14 |
|
Week 16 |
| Senior Banquet Luncheon and class photo | End of Spring Semester |
A sample timeline for departmental capstone projects is below. Please confirm the official dates, deadlines, and requirements with your mentor and department/program, and work with your mentor to develop a timeline that fits your project.
| Graduating in Spring Semester | Task to be completed | Graduating in Fall Semester |
|---|---|---|
| September 30 |
At least 12-7 months before graduation
|
April 31 |
| November 30 | At least 5 months before graduation
|
June 30 |
| January 15 | At least 3.5 months before graduation
|
August 31 |
| Before end of third full week of semester |
Complete the Honors in the Major and Thesis Release forms. Submit these completed forms to Registrar. |
Before end of third full week of semester |
| March 15 | At least 1.5 months before graduation
|
October 15 |
| April 1 | At least 1 month before graduation
|
November 1 |
| ~April 15 | 2-3 weeks before graduation
|
~November 15 |
Additional Resources
These resources may prove helpful while working on your capstone project.
- Honors in the Major and Thesis Release Forms
- Choosing a Research Topic (Chronicle)
- UCA Office of Research Compliance
- IRB Training
- Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)
- UCA Student Research Fund
- Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
- UCA Library Research Guides (LibGuides)
- Wayne C. Booth, et al. The Craft of Research, 4th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2016). ISBN: 13-978-0-226-23973-6
- “On Bullshit” (2005) by Harry Frankfurt
- “Personal Best” by Atul Gawande
- “How to Beat Writer’s Block” by Maria Konnikova
Capstone Reflection Format
When other requirements are not available, this structure can be referenced for determining the format of your capstone reflection.
Written Portion
- Cover Page (including Abstract)
- Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Literature Review
- Methodology (Thesis) OR Design of Project (Experiential)
- Results (Thesis) OR Documentation of Project (Experiential)
- Discussion (Thesis) OR Reflective/Artist Statement (Experiential)
- References
- Appendices/Figures
Oral Presentation
Students must present the oral portion of their capstone on Study Day of the Capstone semester. The student’s advisor must be present as well as a faculty moderator.
Final Submission
Students should obtain all required signatures from their capstone committee, and submit the final paper and the thesis release form to the registrar’s office at regofc@uca.edu.
