DEVP E-598 Precapstone Tutorial

The semester prior to capstone enrollment (no earlier), you register for the noncredit DEVP E-598, the Global Development Practice Precapstone Tutorial. While the tutorial is noncredit, your due diligence throughout the semester is required. You will receive a grade of AR (met all requirements) or NM (requirements not met) for this course.

The tutorial is conducted through advising sessions with Judith Rodriguez where the following topics will be discussed:

  1. Your professional experience and knowledge which you hope to apply and enhance during the capstone project.
  2. Ideas regarding the types of communities and/or organizations; e.g., corporate, non-profit or government that you will want to work with.
  3. Strategies for leveraging your professional and personal network to identify, qualify and secure a commitment with the right client for the capstone project.
  4. Identification of stakeholders within client organization(s) potentially impacting, or being impacted by, the capstone project.
  5. The importance of obtaining a commitment from an executive in the client organization(s)to support the capstone project.
  6. The consulting methodology to be used during the capstone project and the importance of project scoping, as well as properly setting the client’s expectations.

Before enrolling in the Precapstone Tutorial, you must first meet with your Academic Advisor, Capstone Advisor, and submit and obtain approval for your Prework.

Pre-advising

After you have met with your Academic Advisor to determine eligibility to start the Capstone process, schedule a meeting with your Capstone Advisor, Judith Rodriguez, by the following dates:

  • Between April 1 – June 1, to seek permission to enroll in Fall DEVP 598 Precapstone Tutorial (in preparation for Spring DEVP 599 Capstone)
  • Between September 1 – October 15, to seek permission to enroll in Spring DEVP 598 Precapstone Tutorial (in preparation for Summer DEVP 599 Capstone)

Prework

Permission to enroll in the tutorial is contingent upon timely submission and approval of your Prework. The Prework demonstrates that you have done enough prior research and have identified and secured a commitment from a client commitment for the project to begin the capstone process.

Following approval of the Prework, you will develop a draft Statement of Work (SOW) for review and feedback by the course instructor. Refer to the syllabus for details.

Prework Submission Guidelines:

Prework Submission. Create a two page Word document (no first-person use) that answers all the following points, in detail, and includes section headers corresponding to each question. Please be sure to include your full name on the Word document. Submit the Word document by email to ALMcapstones@extension.harvard.edu “DEVP E-598 Global Development Practice Prework” in the subject line.

  1. Provide your full name, address, email address, employer, current job title and prior degrees.
  2. Describe the areas of interest that you would like to focus on as you work with a client organization(s) to create a Development Plan.
  3. Do you have a prospective client or clients in mind for the project? If so, please list the client or clients.
  4. Provide the name and title of the client executive sponsor of the project.
  5. What do you hope the project will accomplish?
  6. To what extent do you envision your project creating unique value and/or importance?
  7. How has your coursework prepared you for this undertaking?

Given the uniqueness of each student’s professional competencies/experience, interest and career aspirations, it is recommended that students work as individuals on capstone projects; i.e., not with teams.

Prework Submission Deadlines:

To ensure approval by the final deadline, and permission to enroll in the DEVP 598 Precapstone Tutorial (in preparation for the DEVP 599 Capstone), your Prework should be submitted early in the submission cycle. Please refer to the dates below for important Prework submission and approval deadlines.

To enroll in the Fall DEVP 598 Precapstone Tutorial and the Spring DEVP 599 Capstone:

  • Prework Submission Begins: July 18
  • Prework Approval Deadline: August 1

To enroll in the Spring DEVP 598 Precapstone Tutorial and the Summer DEVP 599 Capstone:

  • Prework Submission Begins: November 7
  • Prework Approval Deadline: January 2