The capstone experience should be the culminating work in the program. As with the liberal studies courses, these capstone courses will help students refine essential skills. The Liberal Studies Committee has developed these guidelines to ensure that the senior capstone experience will demonstrate continuity with the beginning of a student's liberal studies career. The emphasis will be on the essential skills the student has developed during their NAU career.
All senior capstone proposals should be accompanied by the *Updated* Liberal Studies Syllabus Proposal Form.
Capstone experiences will differ depending on the major, and may be as varied as an internship, an art show, a research paper, a recital, or a presentation at a conference. Programs are not required to submit course syllabi, but to submit a single proposal which defines a "capstone experience" (or experiences) within that particular major, as well as articulates learning outcomes which demonstrate how/when the student will do the following:
- Demonstrate competency in at least two of the essential skills (critical thinking, effective writing, effective oral communication, scientific reasoning, quantitative reasoning).
- Demonstrate understanding of core concepts within the major, discipline, or program.
Courses must be offered at the 400-level and must be three or more credits. However, the three credits may be earned through a variety of experiences. For example, a student might complete an internship (2 credits) and an independent study (1 credit) to fulfill the capstone requirement.
Programs may offer more than one kind of capstone experience (seminar, student teaching, independent research project, internship, etc.) for their majors.