Capstone Courses Requirement (six credits)

The capstone requirement is integral to the goal and mission of the Core Curriculum. As stated in the General Catalog, it is to provide students with:

“The knowledge and skills to develop a rational and lucid personal identity, to introduce them to a variety of perspectives from which to grasp the complexity of experience, and to help them gain an appreciative understanding of the natural and cultural environments in which they live and their roles as responsible citizens of the world, the nation, and the State.”

Capstone courses contribute to the Core's goals and objectives, as they are intended to be intensive experiences in critical analysis, designed to broaden our perspectives beyond their culture or discipline, and provide an opportunity for integration of previous courses in the major and in the Core Curriculum. They challenge us to read intensively and require analysis of complex issues in substantial pieces of writing. Topics for capstone courses may include issues relating science and society, the analysis of diverse cultures and traditions, multidisciplinary approach to a single problem, or the analysis of a single issue across national, cultural, or disciplinary lines. Capstone courses deal with ethical and substantive issues, problems and themes that affect the world community.

The pair of required capstone courses builds upon the core curriculum and courses in the student's major. Students must complete all other core curriculum requirements, including the Core Humanities sequence, prior to enrolling in capstone courses. At least one capstone course must be taken outside the department of the student's major. (Students in ABET-accredited engineering programs may take both capstone courses in the major.)

In order for courses to have been approved as a capstone, it must meet rigorous examination by the Core Board. Capstones may offer the student an innovative learning experience. As a student, you should be aware that the following guidelines have been met:

Capstone courses should build upon the Core Curriculum, providing the opportunity for students to bring to bear knowledge gained in core courses and knowledge derived from major and elective courses.
Capstone courses should be integrative, broadly focused, multidisciplinary, and, if relevant and feasible, cross-cultural.
Capstone courses should focus on ethical and substantive issues, problems, and themes that affect the world community and broad cross sections of humankind.
Capstone courses should encourage and promote critical and analytic thinking, reaching beyond traditional and orthodox approaches and perspectives; courses should challenge students to question and critically examine established assumptions and paradigms.
Capstone courses include a rigorous writing component and also, whenever possible, a computational component.

What is the difference between general and major Capstone Courses?

A general capstone course is open to all students with no or minimal prerequisites beyond lower division core curriculum requirements. Currently, there are 132 Core designated capstones in 42 departments.
A major capstone course is open to majors only, with significant prerequisites in the major. They build upon the major, while allowing integration of the major with the core curriculum. (link to courses) Currently, 31 departments, which offer 55 courses, which provide the student with an in-depth, study of the complex issues and integration of the major discipline and society.

Please note that not all capstone courses are offered every semester. Check the current class schedule, or the "future offerings" website, for availability. To explore current capstone courses, or for course descriptions, please refer to the General Catalog. Students with questions about the appropriateness of a particular capstone course should see their advisor. Students may take one capstone course in the department of their major if they wish and if it is available. At least one capstone course must be taken outside the department of their major.