Huntingdon College | Political Science | Booklist | Courses | Dates | Office Hours | Required | Special Needs | What's New?
The Senior Capstone is normally taken in the Fall before graduation, and is intended as the bridge between undergraduate and postgraduate study. The culmination of undergraduate learning, it utilizes broad knowledge of the major field. To this end, for a few weeks seminar participants engage in some classic readings to obtain a survey of the finest research in the field. As preparation for graduate or professional research, participants prepare a research proposal and once this is approved, develop a full research paper. In order to refine their presentation skills and to provide assessment data for the college, they also present the research findings to a college forum. Some students will probably have developed a real interest in particular topic during their studies and take this chance to pursue it. It is encouraged to arrive at the capstone seminar with a paper topic in mind and some preliminary research.
preparation for postgraduate or professional study critical thinking about classic articles research and presentation skills. development of a professional résumé, and plans for career and/or further study. maturing in knowledge of, and use of, the political science discipline some self-assessment data about the political science program
BOOKS:critical discussion of classic articles in political science critical discussion of research paper materials a competent résumé and a plan for career and/or further study a competent research proposal a competent research paper a competent oral presentation of research examination essays demonstrating competence in the subfields of political science. NEW
Behavior: you are expected to comply with the HC Honor Code and with specific rules placed on our Requirements page above.Approximate grade formula NEW: research paper 30%, research presentation 20%, examination 20%, class participation 20% and proposal 10%. (In a research seminar of this kind, an exact formula is impractical.) Presentations of readings and active discussion in the seminar, which will meet approximately for the first five weeks and last five weeks of the semester. Present informally career plans and summary of applications to jobs, or postgraduate or professional schools. Early in capstone term (or if seeking Honors, before the start of spring term) students write a full research proposal detailing what topic and subtopic they intend to explore, the scope of the project and data to be used. Finally, the proposal notes hypotheses and limitations of the project. Students deliver a prospectus comprising an Abstract of 1-2 pages; a Bibliography of one page, and an Outline of less than one page. Later, they deliver a Literature Survey. These elements will be graded on the basis of ABOL. Once this is approved, the students conduct original research which may include (in addition to secondary sources) fieldwork and the use of primary data; they complete a major individual research paper of about 20-25 pages.
- graded on basis of CROW: Content, Research, Organization and Writing
- Typically (but it varies with the nature of the project) this 20-25 paper comprises:
- about 1-2 pages of introduction to the problem or issue, the scope of the paper and the limitations of the research. For examples, how many decades covered; countries examined; or policy case studies will there be?
- A literature survey of about 2-3 pages explains what scholars have previously found on the subject, and the debates in the literature. What schools of thought are there?
- Three or four content sections of about 4-7 pages each (one per country; case study; or historical era; for instances) totalling about 15-20 pages
- A findings or conclusions section of about 1-3 pages
- sections may be signalled by headings, if it clarifies the paper for the reader
- the references list should be about 1-2 additional pages of mainly good quality (academic and government) sources.
The draft research findings may be presented informally to the seminar. The research project will be formally presented to a class or some group of faculty and students, using appropriate audio-visual techniques (such as MS Powerpoint, a web page, or a poster session.)
- graded on basis of CASO: Content, Audio Visuals, Speaking and Organization
A comprehensive essay examination to ascertain competence in at least three of the four subfields of political science. NEW graded on basis of CIPA: the subfields of Comparative government; International relations; Public administration; and American Government, theory and law. Each essay graded on the basis of NCOW: Narrative (argument and theme), Content (key concepts and facts), organization (paragraphs, structure) and writing You may elect not to write on one subfield, for which you may not yet (in senior Fall term) have taken a required course. A locally designed multiple choice test examining recall of key concepts and major facts from all four subfields. Students are encouraged to develop a portfolio of revised essays and research projects from previous courses. Students may be required by the college to take a standardized national test (MFAT for majors in PSC)
HC's Attendance Policy:
"All students are required to attend, at a minimum, 75% of the meetings of every class in which they are enrolled. Individual faculty may set more stringent attendance policies. Failure to meet minimum attendance requirements will result in a failing grade.
Students are expected to arrive for class on time.
Students are expected to provide adequate notification of expected absences, and to make up missed work or examinations according to the faculty member’s criteria."
"Faculty at Huntingdon College make every effort to accommodate unique and special needs of students with respect to speech, hearing, vision, seating, or other possible adaptions. Please notify the Disability Services Intake Coordinator, Ms. Camilla Irvin, as soon as possible of requested accommodations."