To graduate with the designation of “SAS Honors Scholar” an SAS Honors Program student must complete a set of requirements, one of which is the Capstone.
We strongly encourage students to complete their capstone in their senior year. Certain circumstances may warrant students to begin their capstone in their junior year. These students should speak with their Honors Dean to discuss their plans
Students are encouraged to begin thinking about plans for the Capstone no later than spring of the Junior year. A good preparation for the Capstone (particularly for students planning to write a thesis) is Introduction to the Thesis, a 1-credit course (01:090:391, 392). This course can be taken in the fall or spring of a student's Junior year.
For all options, work completed to satisfy the Capstone Requirement:
- Must be carried out over two semesters, and must total a minimum of 6 credits (3 credits per semester). Six credits completed in one semester is not permitted.
- Must involve a substantial, sustained, and original writing/research component.
- Must include a bibliography of the relevant scholarly literature.
- Must be supervised by an approved faculty advisor.
- May not be used to also fulfill a student's four honors courses.
- May not be hybrid/online courses.
ATTENTION SENIORS: All seniors pursuing capstone options C,D,E, or G must submit their scholarly analytic reports to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by May 2, 2022.
ATTENTION JUNIORS: All SASHP juniors are required to submit the SAS Honors Program Online Capstone Form by April 21, 2022.
Note: Submission of the SAS Honors Program Online Capstone Form is required in addition to any paperwork required by a department or program for each of the options below.
Approved Options
Option A: Departmental Honors
Successful completion of a senior honors thesis through Departmental Honors within the major department – for information, visit the Departmental Honors Listings.
Note: the departmental honors programs of some departments – e.g., Computer Science, Economics, Philosophy– offer variations on a standard thesis that are important to understand; please review the information on those department websites, and then contact your Honors Dean for further discussion.
*Funding may be available in support of research through the Aresty Research Center for Undergraduates.
All SAS students who are completing a department-based honors thesis or an SAS Interdisciplinary Honors Thesis will be designated as SAS Paul Robeson Scholars. SAS Paul Robeson Scholars will be eligible for extended library borrowing privileges and for nomination for consideration for a Henry Rutgers Thesis Award.
Option B: Interdisciplinary Honors Thesis
Completion of the SAS Interdisciplinary Honors Thesis with a minimum grade of a B in thesis coursework.
For information, go to http://sasundergrad.rutgers.edu/major/additional-academic-programs/thesis-programs/iht.
All students completing an IHT are expected to present their research at the annual IHT conference in April.
*Funding may be available in support of research through the Aresty Research Center for Undergraduates.
All SAS students who are completing a department-based honors thesis or an SAS Interdisciplinary Honors Thesis will be designated as SAS Paul Robeson Scholars. SAS Paul Robeson Scholars will be eligible for extended library borrowing privileges and for nomination for consideration for a Henry Rutgers Thesis Award.
Option C: Two Graduate Level Courses
Completion of graduate level courses in the same department or program with a minimum grade of a B. At least one of the two courses must be in person (not hybrid, not online). Requires prior permission of instructor, approval of department graduate director, and clearance by an Honors Program dean. May require additional approval from the School of Graduate Studies.
Students must submit the Graduate Course Request Form to the SAS Office of Academic Services. See note below regarding completion of scholarly report.
A student completing Options C, D, E, or G must write a scholarly analytic report (18-25 pages) about the work in the two courses or experience in the program. This report is designed to allow students to reflect on their Capstone coursework and/or experiences, to expand their knowledge of the field, and to enrich their engagement with the topic or experience.
This report is meant to be academic, intellectual, and professional, and to address the following questions:
- Reflect on your decision to pursue this capstone option. How does it connect your experience at Rutgers with your academic/career plans?
- How was the Capstone experience intellectually and/or professionally useful to you?
- Explain the project you pursued. What were the key issues or scholarly challenges?
- Dive deeper into a topic or question, drawing on additional scholarly literature. Include a bibliography of the works used.
- Analyze what you learned. What intrigued or surprised you about your work on the project?
The report will be due at the end of the semester in which the student completes the second course, and will be reviewed by the Honors Program dean and Administrative Dean. In all cases, students pursuing capstone work should be in touch early with their Honors Dean for detailed advising regarding options and requirements.
Option D: Professional Graduate Program
Enrollment in a Rutgers program that combines undergraduate and graduate coursework and culminates in a graduate degree. The seven-year BA/MD program, Phase II of Access Med, and programs offered through the Graduate School of Education are among those which can be used for this option. Coursework must be taken in consecutive semesters.
Students must earn a minimum grade of a B in graduate coursework.
A student completing Options C, D, E, or G must write a scholarly analytic report (18-25 pages) about the work in the program. This report is designed to allow students to reflect on their Capstone coursework and/or experiences, to expand their knowledge of the field, and to enrich their engagement with the topic or experience.
This report is meant to be academic, intellectual, and professional, and to address the following questions:
- Reflect on your decision to pursue this capstone option. How does it connect your experience at Rutgers with your academic/career plans?
- How was the Capstone experience intellectually and/or professionally useful to you?
- Explain the project you pursued. What were the key issues or scholarly challenges?
- Dive deeper into a topic or question, drawing on additional scholarly literature. Include a bibliography of the works used.
- Analyze what you learned. What intrigued or surprised you about your work on the project?
The report will be due at the end of the final semester of the senior year, and will be reviewed by the Honors Program Dean and Administrative Dean. In all cases, students pursuing capstone work should be in touch early with their Honors Dean for detailed advising regarding options and requirements.
Option E: Experiential
Completion of a two-semester professional, certificate, or service learning experience, field placement, or internship under the supervision of a sponsoring department or academic unit. Only coursework completed through approved programs run by academic departments and university centers, bureaus, and institutes will be recognized.
The total credits earned must be at least six with a minimum grade of a B in all required coursework.
Examples (non-exhaustive and for illustration only) of programs and departments which offer possible experiences that would satisfy Option E are the School of Social Work, the Institute for Women’s Leadership, The Collaborative (Civic Engagement and Service Education Partnerships), the Eagleton Institute of Politics, History Public/General History Internships, and Health Administration and Public Health Internships.
A student completing Options C, D, E, or G must write a scholarly analytic report (18-25 pages) about the work in the two courses or experience in the program. This report is designed to allow students to reflect on their Capstone coursework and/or experiences, to expand their knowledge of the field, and to enrich their engagement with the topic or experience.
This report is meant to be academic, intellectual, and professional, and to address the following questions:
- Reflect on your decision to pursue this capstone option. How does it connect your experience at Rutgers with your academic/career plans?
- How was the Capstone experience intellectually and/or professionally useful to you?
- Explain the project you pursued. What were the key issues or scholarly challenges?
- Dive deeper into a topic or question, drawing on additional scholarly literature. Include a bibliography of the works used.
- Analyze what you learned. What intrigued or surprised you about your work on the project?
The report will be due at the end of the semester in which the student completes the second course or completes the program, and will be reviewed by the Honors Program Dean and Administrative Dean. In all cases, students pursuing capstone work should be in touch early with their Honors Dean for detailed advising regarding options and requirements.
Option G: Global
Interested in combining Study Abroad while at Rutgers with your SASHP Capstone? Let your Honors advisor know your intentions before you go abroad, so we can advise you on your planning, using this form.
Explore Rutgers Study Abroad Programs and their Access the World Initiative to learn more about your global options.
Academic Summer Study Abroad:
- Enroll in at least 6 credits in any Rutgers Study Abroad experience in the summer* (after sophomore or junior year); Note that students can enroll in two different 3-credit programs as long as they are in the same country, adjacent countries, or regions. Consult with your advising dean.
- Take one 3- 4 credit (non-online/non-hybrid) cognate course** in a related field after returning from study abroad in the fall or spring semester of the junior or senior year.
- Submit an 18 to 25-page scholarly capstone report by the end of the senior year.
See, for example, the Spanish Department’s Summer Study Abroad
See, for example, the French Department’s Summer Study in Paris
Service Learning Summer Study Abroad:
- Enroll in at least 6 credits of a Rutgers-approved service learning project; students may combine two different 3-credit service learning project.
- Take one 3-4 credit cognate course** in a related field in the fall semester of the senior year.
- Submit an 18 to 25-page scholarly capstone report by the end of the senior year.
Semester Study Abroad:
- Study abroad for a semester in Rutgers Study Abroad program, preferably in the junior year. Studying abroad the first semester senior year is permitted, but students may not study abroad in their final semester as part of their capstone requirement.
- Take one 3-4 credit cognate course** in a related field in the fall semester of the senior year.
- Submit an 18 to 25-page scholarly capstone report on your study abroad and research experience by the end of the senior year.
* Note that conducting research while abroad for a semester is currently only an option for students studying in France, Spain, and the UK.
Explore Rutgers Study Abroad Programs.
**Cognate course: A cognate course is a course related to the language, art, literature, religion, culture, history, anthropology, or politics of the country in which you studied. The cognate course must be at least 3-credits, must not be online or hybrid, and must be taken at Rutgers. There is no restriction on the level of the course. If you are taking a language course, please work with the language department for language placement. In some cases, your cognate course may count toward your honors Global Language Proficiency Requirement (GLPR). Please check with your advising dean to make sure that the course you select can serve as your cognate course.
The total credits earned must be at least six with a minimum grade of a B in all required coursework.
A student completing Options C, D, E, or G must write a scholarly analytic report (18-25 pages) about the work in the two courses or experience in the program. This report is designed to allow students to reflect on their Capstone coursework and/or experiences, to expand their knowledge of the field, and to enrich their engagement with the topic or experience.
This report is meant to be academic, intellectual, and professional, and to address the following questions:
- Reflect on your decision to pursue this capstone option. How does it connect your experience at Rutgers with your academic/career plans?
- How was the Capstone experience intellectually and/or professionally useful to you?
- Explain the project you pursued. What were the key issues or scholarly challenges?
- Dive deeper into a topic or question, drawing on additional scholarly literature. Include a bibliography of the works used.
- Analyze what you learned. What intrigued or surprised you about your work on the project?
The report will be due at the end of the final semester of the senior year, and will be reviewed by the Honors Program Dean and Administrative Dean. In all cases, students pursuing capstone work should be in touch early with their Honors Dean for detailed advising regarding options and requirements.
