Capstone Projects

The purpose of the Capstone Project is to demonstrate the student's ability to independently explore a new topic, demonstrate appropriate application of the materials, and successfully communicate the information in a professional and academically rigorous format. The proposal should indicate that these expectations will be met. The capstone course is also the only course in the curriculum that allows the students to gain in-depth knowledge about a specific topic of the students' choice.

Early fall semester, faculty members attend information sessions in order to present their research interests to the students. This helps each student select a major professor and committee of faculty members with whom to work on their project, and assists students in identifying an area of interest for their Capstone Project during their first active semester in the MBC program. A capstone committee includes a chair (also referred to as Major Professor) and a minimum of two other faculty members who will serve in the role of members of the committee. Students are expected to work with their major professor on the development of the Capstone proposal. A draft proposal is usually completed by mid-semester (October), with final proposals due in late fall. The final proposal consists ofan abstract, introduction, background, literature review, methodology, proposed data analysis, etc., which is covered during the Research Methods in Building Science course . Approval of the final proposal by the committee chair and committee members is indicated by their signatures on a cover sheet attached to the proposal. The major professor and committee members must sign their names personally to the approval page. There can be no temporary substitute members and no other person may sign a committee member's name on an approval page, even with the authorization of the committee member involved and the major professor. Any exceptions occasioned by unusual circumstances require Graduate program officer approval.

Last Day to Turn in Capstone Proposal will be set each Fall semester by the Graduate Program Officer and the instructor for the research methods course .

Last Day to Turn in Completed Capstone Project: All revisions to the Capstone Paper will be incorporated prior to printing the required bound copies. One copy should be given to each committee member, one copy to the admin support specialist for the program, and additional personal copies, ifdesired. A PDF file of the final project should be e-mailed to the admin support specialist. A sample recommended organization is available on the BSCI website. Formatting requirements are in accordance with the APA Publication Manual, available in the graduate resource library.

Date of Capstone Defense/Presentation must be coordinated between the student and his/her committee, and will be held during spring semester. The defense includes a 30 minute presentation of the Capstone Project and results. All graduate students are encouraged to attend Capstone Defense presentations.

Responsibilities of the Major Professor and the Committee The major professor will guide the student on research, analysis, writing, and other scholarly aspects of the work. Members of the student's committee contribute, but the primary responsibility is that of the major professor. Submission of a Capstone is defined as the time at which the first complete draft of such is submitted to the major professor for review. The major professor and all committee members read the manuscript critically. Each may suggest improvements and refuse approval pending additional work. When committee members and the major professor approve the final project, they certify that the Capstone is clear and accurate, that it represents an original and worthwhile contribution, that the suggestions made by them are incorporated into the final work, and that the work conforms to the standards of Auburn University and to Graduate School specifications.

Capstone projects are usually presented during spring semester. However, non-construction undergraduates have an opportunity to gain valuable construction industry experience through a summer internship, which is encouraged by graduate faculty. If the internship option is exercised, the student would enroll the following fall semester and present his/her Capstone project prior to the Last Day for Doctoral and Non-Thesis Final Oral Exams date as printed in the AU Bulletin, as well as completing any necessary electives.