Capstone
Full course description
Capstone is the culmination of a student’s academic work at UCM and is comparable in function to a Bachelor
Thesis. It is a full semester module for which students receive 20 ECTS. Studens are expected to develop and carry out an individual research project. During the first weeks, students will work on finding an Advisor, developing an idea and suitable methodology for their capstone, resulting in a Proposal at the end of their first Capstone period.
Students work on Capstone individually, and are expected to complete their research project independently. Throughout the Capstone trajectory, the Advisor provides the student with advice and guidance on the content of the Capstone product. Although there will be open office hours with the Capstone team, the Advisor is the main point of contact for the student. Meetings with the advisor are intended for discussing the content of the Capstone and for receiving feedback on the work in progress and the final product. The student is expected to demonstrate professional behaviour and academic integrity both during contact with the advisor, as well as in their written communication and work.
A First Version of the capstone (at the end of the second period) will be discussed with the Advisor, allowing the student to make changes before submitting their Final Version of Capstone in the third period.
Course objectives
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The student is able to generate a specific research question that allows for conducting independent research.
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The student is able to justify a suitable methodology that aligns with the research question.
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The student is able to carry out independent research under supervision of an academic.
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The student is able to demonstrate professional behavior and academic integrity in their academic work.
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The student is able to implement constructive feedback in their academic work.
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The student is able to create an academic product that demonstrates they can adequately translate independent research into a final thesis.
Prerequisites
To participate in Capstone students should be in their last semester at UCM (usually the sixth Semester, except for transfer students) and have at least 140 ECTS at the start of Capstone.
N.B.: Capstone encompasses the regular two skills trainings and project of a UCM semester. Participating in Capstone as part of the regular workload at UCM is doable, but demanding. Therefore, having a higher workload due to e.g. additional courses, skills trainings and/or projects is not recommended.
- E.F.L. Maegherman