What is a capstone?

A capstone is an extended review paper about 60 pages in length (excluding tables, figures, and references). It should be an authoritative report based on a comprehensive literature search. The capstone should be on a topic relevant to your degree that interests you (very important!) and that allows you to make some conclusions and/or recommendations, but that has not already been dealt with by a previous capstone review. (Note, a list of previous capstone papers can be found here, and you can also request any updates from the OC's administrative coordinator, Missy Dore, email: missy@nova.edu (Ext. 3610).

This review paper is completed over 6 credit hours (6 months) and is defended in an oral presentation upon completion. You should note that once you register for capstone credits, you lock in and must keep taking credits until you complete. In short, you need to be organized before taking credits if you are to finish in a timely manner.

When should I start thinking about my capstone topic?

It's never too soon to start thinking about ideas for your capstone. Generally, about nine months into your program, you could start to think about finding two committee members - a major professor to serve as your primary advisor and a second committee member from the OC. Run your ideas for a capstone past them. In addition to your advisors, make sure that you also know how to get in touch with Missy Dore (email: missy@nova.edu) and the Oceanographic Center librarian, Kathy Maxson (email: maxson@nova.edu). Get comfortable with doing electronic searches of the literature available via the NSU libraries - Kathy can help here as well. Drop a line to the Director of Graduate Programs, Dr. Richard Spieler (spielerr@nova.edu) (copy to Jane Dougan douganj@nova.edu), to let him know that you are starting on the process, who you are approaching to be your advisor, and a bit of information about the topic you are thinking of pursuing. Jane can also put you in touch by email with any other distance students who are working on their capstones so that you can form a mutual support network!

Begin a literature review.

Once you have your two advisors, you can start to get to work on researching the literature prior to writing a capstone proposal. Your eventual capstone will need to include some 50 or more references, so make sure you choose a topic that is well covered in the academic literature. After a preliminary review of the literature, you should be ready to write your draft proposal, which sets out what you want to write about and the rationale behind your choice.

Write and submit a draft proposal to your committee.

Again, please consult the Directions for the Capstone Student document for more details, but at this stage, and after consultation with your advisors, you need to write and submit a draft proposal to your committee. Guidelines for the proposal are loose since it is up to the supervising committee to set out proposal demands. However, generally a proposal contains a title and an introduction setting out the topic and why it is worthy of review (include citations in the introduction). It is also useful to include an outline of chapters to be included in the review paper. In short, the proposal is to inform the committee that you have researched the topic, thought about how you would organize the paper, and have selected a topic that is worthy of discussion. If the proposal is accepted, the committee signs a signature page cover sheet (.doc .pdf). The onus is then on you to submit a copy of the proposal and signature page to the program office (Missy Dore's office at the Oceanographic Center).

Registering for capstone credits

Only at this point - once the proposal is accepted and submitted to the program office - can you begin to formally register for capstone credits. Students usually start to sign up for formal capstone credits at any point after they have completed 10 or more of the required 13 courses. As noted above, please be cautioned that once you begin this step, you must register for two consecutive terms of capstone credits = 6 credits. If you need extra time, once you have formally begun this process, you cannot "skip" a term but must continue to register for consecutive terms until your committee agrees that you are ready to defend.

Defending your capstone

Again, please refer to the details provided in the Directions for the Capstone Student document. All students must defend their capstone to their committee. Alternate means may be found for distance MS students who are at too great a distance to travel to the Oceanographic Center. This might for example take the form of a video presentation followed by a conference call with committee members.

Final stages

The capstone normally signifies the end of your degree program and its completion will coincide or follow your final course work. Assuming a successful defense, your committee will meet with you and discuss any editorial changes that are required. These must be dealt with in a timely manner (to avoid any additional tuition costs). When the final version is approved by your committee, you must submit at least 3 paper copies and 1 electronic copy to Kathy Maxson. These copies are bound by NSU and one is given to you, one is lodged in the administrative office and one is added to the library. Although not required, it is normal to present a copy (i.e. a 4th copy) to your primary supervisor. At this time, you can contact Missy Dore and obtain a 'completion of degree form'.