Capstone

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.

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.  

Completion of two graduate level courses (non-hybrid; non online) in the same department or program with a minimum grade of a B. 
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 Request Form available at 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:

• An explanation of the choice to complete the Capstone Requirement using Options C, D, E, or G (as opposed to writing a Departmental or Interdisciplinary Honors Thesis);
• A statement about the focus (or foci) of the work;
• A bibliography and survey of the scholarly literature pertaining to the coursework or experience
• An analysis of the "outcomes" of the work completed, including data sets; results, and knowledge gained; and
• Answers to the following questions:
• How did work in the two courses or experience in the program enhance/enrich the student’s undergraduate studies?
• What were the key issues or scholarly challenges that the student mastered as a result of taking the two courses or as a result of participation in the program

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 student’s faculty advisor. In all cases, students pursuing capstone work should be in touch early with their Honors Dean for detailed advising regarding options and requirements.  Students can also view these sample Scholarly Analytic Reports.

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 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:

• An explanation of the choice to complete the Capstone Requirement using Options C, D, E, or G (as opposed to writing a Departmental or Interdisciplinary Honors Thesis);
• A statement about the focus (or foci) of the work;
• A bibliography and survey of the scholarly literature pertaining to the coursework or experience
• An analysis of the "outcomes" of the work completed, including data sets; results, and knowledge gained; and
• Answers to the following questions:
• How did work in the two courses or experience in the program enhance/enrich the student’s undergraduate studies?
• What were the key issues or scholarly challenges that the student mastered as a result of taking the two courses or as a result of participation in the program

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 student’s faculty advisor. In all cases, students pursuing capstone work should be in touch early with their Honors Dean for detailed advising regarding options and requirements.  Students can also view these sample Scholarly Analytic Reports.

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, the Undergraduate Certificate in Computational Genetics, 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:

• An explanation of the choice to complete the Capstone Requirement using Options C, D, E, or G (as opposed to writing a Departmental or Interdisciplinary Honors Thesis);
• A statement about the focus (or foci) of the work;
• A bibliography and survey of the scholarly literature pertaining to the coursework or experience
• An analysis of the "outcomes" of the work completed, including data sets; results, and knowledge gained; and
• Answers to the following questions:
• How did work in the two courses or experience in the program enhance/enrich the student’s undergraduate studies?
• What were the key issues or scholarly challenges that the student mastered as a result of taking the two courses or as a result of participation in the program

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 student’s faculty advisor. In all cases, students pursuing capstone work should be in touch early with their Honors Dean for detailed advising regarding options and requirements.  Students can also view these sample Scholarly Analytic Reports.

Interested in combining Study Abroad while at Rutgers with your SASHP Capstone?

Academic Summer Study Aboard: 

1. 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.
2. Take one 3- 4 credit cognate course** in a related field after returning from study abroad in the fall or spring semester of the junior or senior year.
3. 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: 

1. Enroll in at least 6 credits of a Rutgers-approved service learning project; students may combine two different 3-credit service learning project.
2. Take one 3-4 credit cognate course** in a related field in the fall semester of the senior year.
3. Submit an 18 to 25-page scholarly capstone report by the end of the senior year. 

Semester Study Abroad:

1. Study abroad for a semester in Rutgers Study Abroad program, preferably in the junior year. Studying abroad the first semester senior year is also allowed.
2. Conduct research while abroad; submit your plans for research to the SASHP and your Rutgers country/region Study Abroad director in advance; or take a cognate course** in a related field when you return to Rutgers.
3. 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 can be a language course in the language spoken in the country you studied abroad, or a social sciences or humanities course related to the art, literature, religion, culture, history, anthropology or politics of the country in which you studied. The course should be at least a 3-credit course and should 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:

• An explanation of the choice to complete the Capstone Requirement using Options C, D, E, or G (as opposed to writing a Departmental or Interdisciplinary Honors Thesis);
• A statement about the focus (or foci) of the work;
• A bibliography and survey of the scholarly literature pertaining to the coursework or experience
• An analysis of the "outcomes" of the work completed, including data sets; results, and knowledge gained; and
• Answers to the following questions:
• How did work in the two courses or experience in the program enhance/enrich the student’s undergraduate studies?
• What were the key issues or scholarly challenges that the student mastered as a result of taking the two courses or as a result of participation in the program

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 student’s faculty advisor. In all cases, students pursuing capstone work should be in touch early with their Honors Dean for detailed advising regarding options and requirements.  Students can also view these sample Scholarly Analytic Reports.