The semester before you plan to register for the capstone, notify your program advisor, Jody Clineff, of your intention to start the project. You then set up a meeting with your capstone advisor, June Erlick, to discuss your potential topic and timeline for completing the work so that it meets the approval deadlines. June will also help focus your topic to meet the requirements of the project.

You will receive an email from June Erlick letting you know that your capstone proposal is approved. Jody Clineff will then set you up with your capstone director and will send you an email with the director’s contact information and a reminder to register.

Once your proposal is approved and registration has opened for the term, you may register for the capstone online as you would register for any other course. When you complete the process, you will be given a ‘WP’ status. Jody Clineff will then verify that you are approved to register and your status will be changed to ‘RE.’ Once this happens and you have been set up with a capstone director, you are able to start work on your project.

Your capstone director is a journalism instructor or professional in the field who has expertise relevant to your topic. Although you are expected to work independently on your project, the director will meet with you several times over the semester to answer questions, discuss your progress, read drafts, and offer feedback. Your director reads the final project and issues a letter grade.

Although the final decision about who will serve as director must be made by the program office, you are welcome to request a particular instructor. However, we ask that you not contact the instructor directly.

The final capstone project must total 5,000 words. Capstone proposals need to contain outlines of five aricles of 1,000 words each, including anticipated sources. However, your capstone director can grant permission for fewer longer articles totalling 5,000 words. If your project contains a multi-media component, discuss with your capstone advisor and capstone director how it will be counted in your final project.

Yes! The Dean’s Prize for Outstanding ALM Capstone in journalism is awarded each year at the diploma-awarding ceremony. This award recognizes work that embodies the highest level of accomplishment. Capstone directors may make nominations; program officials choose the final prize winner.