First, you register for the noncredit, DEVP E-598, Global Development Practice Precapstone Tutorial, the semester prior to capstone enrollment (no earlier), where you'll receive individual advice from your capstone advisor, Judith Rodriguez, on your capstone proposal. The tutorial is not a course. You work independently on your proposal by submitting multiple proposal drafts and scheduling individual appointments. You need to make independent progress on the proposal without special prompting from the research advisor.
You register for the tutorial in:
- fall, if you plan to take the capstone in the spring
- spring, if you plan to take the capstone in the summer (*this sequence is required for international students who need a student visa)
See Precapstone Tutorial for specific proposal requirements, and see Timeline for mandatory proposal submission deadlines.
Second, you register for the on-campus capstone as your final, one-and-only course. Due to the heavy demands of the capstone course, you cannot be registered in any other courses. Moreover, all other degree requirements must be fulfilled in order to draw upon your entire GDP training and expertise to produce a final capstone project worthy of a Harvard degree. Capstones are offered on campus in the fall and spring semesters as well as during the intensive three-week summer term.
| Task | Spring Capstone | Summer Capstone |
|---|---|---|
| Meet with your academic advisor to confirm eligibility to register in the noncredit Global Development Practice Precapstone Tutorial (log in to the Degree Candidate Portal to sign up for an appointment). | April 1 to Jun 1 | Aug. 1 to Sept. 1 |
| Schedule an appointment with your capstone advisor to discuss your capstone proposal topic (log in to the Degree Candidate Portal to sign up for an appointment). | April 1 to July 1 | Sept. 1 to Oct.15 |
| Register for the noncredit for the Global Development Practice Precapstone Tutorial. | July 15 | Nov. 3 |
| Submit the prework. Your research advisor needs to ensure that your project idea and tentative research plan is acceptable. You will be dropped from the tutorial if your prework is not approved. This deadline date should not be the first time that your research advisor is learning about your proposed project! See first task above. | Between July 18 -Aug. 1 | Between Nov. 7 - Jan. 2 |
| Complete the tutorial. You will move from a tentative prework to a clearly articulated consulting plan that you'll begin the following term. | Fall term | Spring term |
| Register for Global Development Practice Capstone. | Nov. 3 | Summer registration period |
| Complete your capstone project. | Spring term | Summer term |