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Capstone Project Requirement

Capstone Project Policy

Overview

All Fletcher students complete a capstone project during their final year for students in 2-year programs or their final semester for students in 1-year programs. The capstone project must evidence scholarly and/or professional analysis informed by the sustained and appropriate application of analytical methodologies. The capstone project is a significant analytical piece of work. It represents work of a higher standard than what is normally expected of a term paper and provides an opportunity for students to draw on their methodological, analytical, and substantive learning in a comprehensive written study.

While all capstone projects build on significant analytical work, the specific form of the final project can differ widely. Students and faculty may choose different forms in pursuit of their pedagogical aims or a student's professional goals. Students create an agreement with the supervising faculty in the semester before enrollment that outlines the expectations the capstone project.

The detailed requirements for any capstone project are determined by the supervising faculty member and can take a wide range of forms, including but not limited:

  • A traditional academic research thesis (note that students who intend to apply to the PhD program must choose a traditional academic research thesis for the capstone project).
  • A policy paper (whether for a government, an NGO or an international organization, whether or not for a real client)
  • An operational plan (in development, in business, in public diplomacy, etc.)
  • A case study
  • A business plan

Capstone Course

All students will be enrolled in the non-credit capstone course in either their third or final semester. Completion of this course with a letter grade is required to graduate. Capstone may not be taken pass/fail or for audit.

Capstone Agreement Form

In the semester prior to enrollment, students work with the supervising faculty member to create a capstone agreement. This may include the scope of the capstone project, timelines, frequency of check-ins, work submitted, and criteria for grading. 

Once the student and the faculty have an agreement in place, the students completes the Capstone Agreement Form, which is submitted to Registrar's office. The supervising faculty member's endorsement of the agreement will be verified. The capstone supervisor must be a Fletcher faculty member. The Capstone Agreement Form is due Mar 18 and should only be submitted with a complete agreement in place.

Students who do not have a capstone agreement in place by the deadline may be assigned a faculty capstone supervisor.

Completed Capstone Project

Upon completion of the capstone project, students may submit the title page to the Registrar's office in order to add the capstone to their transcript. A final grade is submitted by the supervising faculty in SIS to indicate the degree requirement is satisfied.

Your Capstone Project Title Page should contain the following information:

(MALD, MA, MIB, or LL.M.) CAPSTONE

TITLE

SUBMITTED TO PROFESSOR(S)

COURSE(S)

(SEMESTER, YEAR)

NAME OF STUDENT

In (partial) or (full) fulfillment of the (MALD, MA, MIB, or LLM) Capstone requirement

(DATE OF SUBMISSION)