Capstone Project
The Capstone project aims to equip students with the skills to produce and critically engage with high-quality political science research across academic and non-academic contexts. As part of this commitment, students will complete a capstone paper that showcases the research skills and intellectual rigor they have developed throughout the program.
During the academic year, students are required to write academic papers that are typically between 15 and 20 pages long for select courses. One of these papers, written during the fall semester, will be selected by the student as their designated Capstone paper. Students will then continue to develop and refine this paper throughout the spring semester with guidance from faculty and the Capstone coordinator, Dr. Clara Maier.
At the end of the spring semester, students will present their research to faculty and peers in a poster session held as part of an end-of-year celebration.
Capstone paper instructions for students
In the fall:
1. Choose a fall course in which you are required to write a final paper.
2. Notify the faculty member (who will serve as your first reader) and the capstone coordinator of your intention to use this paper for your capstone project.
3. Complete all course requirements as instructed by the professor.
4. Consult with the faculty member about the type of data you plan to use (if conducting original research) and whether you will need to submit an IRB protocol. You may also need to contact the Columbia IRB office directly.
In the spring:
1. Register for the independent study (1 credit) with the Capstone coordinator.
2. After the course ends, revise your paper using the faculty member’s feedback, and seek additional input from other faculty and peers.
3. Meet with the capstone coordinator and/or teaching assistant at least once for feedback by February 15.
4. Meet with your second reader by March 15 and submit a brief summary of the meeting to the Capstone coordinator.
5. Revise your paper based on the second reader’s feedback before submitting the final version to your first reader in April.
6. Integrate any additional knowledge gained during the spring semester, including new methodologies or relevant literature, into your final paper.
7. Submit the final paper to your first reader by April 15.
8. Prepare your poster in April and submit it in May for printing. A poster workshop, organized by the Capstone coordinator, will be held in April.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is a Capstone paper?
Research paper or proposal
A substantial academic paper that is revised and refined through multiple rounds of feedback.
Fall semester work
The paper is typically developed during a fall seminar (about 75% of the effort) and completed by April, with further revisions made between January and April.
Demonstration of skills
An opportunity to apply and showcase the knowledge and research skills acquired throughout the academic year.
Poster presentation
The final project is presented in poster format during the end-of-year reception.
Q. What courses can be used for Capstone?
The Capstone paper can be started within any of the 8000-9000 courses in political science, including cross-listed courses, or in political science 4000 courses that have been petitioned and approved to be used as a colloquium 8000-9000.
Q. Can the Capstone start in a non-political science class?
A. It is possible to use a grad-level course from related discipline, but it will have to be discussed with the Capstone coordinator, and the final product will have to be in line with political science expectations.
Q. Can an adjunct professor or visiting professor be my first or second reader?
A. Yes, they can and they should get in touch with the Capstone coordinator to discuss the additional compensation.
Q. Is it possible for a fall course being used to fulfill the capstone requirement to carry an incomplete grade?
A. Yes, but the agreed deadline cannot pass the end of January.
Q. Can I change my choice of capstone paper?
A: The fall Capstone course may be changed in January, but only if the paper for the originally selected course received less than an A– and the new faculty member agrees to supervise the Capstone.
Q. Can an Independent Study done in the fall be used for the Capstone?
A. Yes.
Q. What if I am a part-time student?
Part-time students may choose to either submit or present their poster with the cohort they entered with or submit their paper and poster one month before their graduation date.
Note: Poster printing is not available in the latter case
Q. What if I do not submit the poster on time for the printing deadline for the end-of-the-year exhibition/celebration?
A. If you do not submit on time for the party, the poster may not be printed and will not be shown. Please remember that to pass the independent study connected to the Capstone project you will have to submit a PDF version of your poster to the Capstone coordinator by the deadline established for the end of the course
Q. How is the Capstone project overall evaluated?
A.
1. Paper: The first reader (faculty instructor teaching the course chosen for the capstone in the fall) will be responsible for evaluating the final product submitted in late April.
In late April, the faculty will be filling in a form where they select whether the latest version of the Capstone paper meets fully the expectations for a Capstone (PASS+), or could use some improvement but meets expectations (PASS). If the paper is considered not to meet the expectations, it could receive a FAIL. The faculty can also propose that the paper receive a grade of DISTINCTION.
This evaluation will be based on several criteria, including the quality of the research question, writing proficiency, theory or hypotheses development, literature review, and research design.
2. Poster: The Capstone coordinator will evaluate each poster on a P/F basis.
Note: Separately, a “Best Poster” prize will be awarded to the poster that receives the most votes during the end-of-year reception.
3. The Independent Study will be graded by the Capstone coordinator as P/F and will combine: the paper, the poster, the second-reader brief, and attendance to mandatory meetings.
Q. What about the grades of DISTINCTION and FAIL?
A. DISTINCTION will be discussed in early May, and only 3-4 papers will be given this grade. Students will be informed in mid-May.
A FAIL grade will be discussed by the same committee, together with the evaluations of the other assignments: the brief and poster. Students will be informed only after the committee has met. Students who are given a FAIL grade on the paper will be allowed to get an INCOMPLETE in the independent study connected to the capstone to work on the paper during the Summer. They will then submit a new version for evaluation to the committee before September 1st.
Q. How does the FINAL POSTER SESSION work?
A. A workshop on creating posters for effective presentations will be offered during the Spring semester (the department will cover the costs of the printing).
Regardless of the grade, all papers will be transformed by the students into posters.
The posters will be presented to the department during an end-of-year reception with food and drinks.
A small prize will be awarded for the best M.A. Capstone poster, as voted on by students and faculty attending the event.
Note: The M.A. Capstone posters may also be featured on our website after the reception.