Capstone Options

To earn a master's degree, all students have to complete one capstone option. SDCC students have three capstone options. All three options allow a student to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and competencies. These options include:

Master's Thesis
Master's Project
Collaborative Service Initiative

The identification of their capstone option and development of a topic occurs through a seminar process completed by the end of the first year of study.

Master's Thesis

The Master's Thesis should reflect the student's particular focus of study and future professional interest. Students develop a research hypothesis or question and the appropriate methodology to test that hypothesis or questions. This effort includes a data collection component and the analysis and interpretation of that data framed within a theoretical context. The research approach can be based on quantitative or qualitative research and literature review.

Master's Project

The Master's Project differs from the Master's Thesis in that the project will typically be more descriptive in focus and usually will not be defined by formal hypothesis-testing of theoretical concepts. The Master's Project will often follow standardized approaches used in a student's chosen field such as development of a regional land use plan, completion of a natural resource inventory, or preparation of a high school curriculum. Master's Projects will be expected to be professional in their presentation, but need not adhere to AUNE's formal Thesis Guidelines.

Collaborative Service Initiative

A collaborative service initiative entails a substantive applied research, evaluation and/or consultation project that is linked to an external partner's identified need. This team service learning project applies skills and knowledge gained through the master's Environmental Studies courses and internships. These collaborative service initiatives will emphasize:

An interdisciplinary team of students and faculty with a faculty mentor
Achievement of community service learning goals that reflects the ES mission
Commitment from external partners in the form of time, mentoring and access to relevant information, resources and individuals.

Examples of Capstone Options:
Collaborative Service Initiatives
Master Thesis and Master Projects

Last Updated: 3/28/12