Capstone Project
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The intent of the Capstone Project is to provide an integrative, field-based experience in which students are able to synthesize and apply the knowledge they have gained through the Certificate Program’s required and elective courses. Students in the Certificate Program come from a wide range of academic disciplines, and flexibility has been built into the Capstone Project to meet individual student needs, interests and, career goals.
Scope of work
The scope of work for the Capstone Project will typically include one academic quarter of fieldwork experience in a capacity that is related to emergency preparedness and response. Students will be responsible for planning, developing, and implementing their Capstone Projects with the guidance of a Certificate Advisory Committee Member. Fieldwork experiences will culminate in the completion of a written report and presentation.
Timeline
Capstone Projects will generally be one academic quarter in duration, and the timeline should include planning, development, implementation, and project write-up.
Deliverables
All students will be required to complete the following Capstone Project deliverables.
Pre-project implementation deliverables:
- Complete project proposal prior to project implementation and obtain approval from the Certificate Advisory Committee. Proposals should include information on the proposed project, the scope of work, proposed timeline, and learning objectives.
- Students will be asked to identify six learning objectives related to emergency preparedness and response that will enhance their preparedness for future career goals and opportunities.
- Of these six self-identified learning objectives, students will examine the Columbia University BT Core Competencies and ensure that at least three competencies are covered in their learning objectives.
- In addition, students will be required to address the Certificate Program’s general learning objectives as a means to apply skills and concepts emphasized in the Certificate Program curriculum to the work of their Capstone Project. (Please see the Student Guide for Columbia University BT Core Competencies and General Learning Objectives.)
- Complete an online self-assessment resource to critically apply key concepts of emergency preparedness and response to the Capstone experience prior to project implementation.
Post-project implementation deliverables:
- Provide a 10-page written report and 10- to 15-minute oral presentation on the Capstone experience, using PowerPoint and other appropriate audiovisuals. Both the report and the presentation should provide a description of the organization or community (including a description of the political, economic, and social context) in which the project was conducted, as well as a description of the project itself. The report and presentation should additionally provide an analysis and reflection on the experience, specifically highlighting the ways in which the project related to the student’s identified goals and the overall Certificate curriculum.
Options
- Students may use degree requirements such as a practicum or clerkship to serve as their Capstone Project, provided that the project is appropriately focused on emergency preparedness and response, and is approved by the Certificate Advisory Committee. If this option is selected, students must also register for an additional two credits of independent study through which the Capstone Project deliverables will be completed. The work of the Capstone Project must extend above and beyond what is normally required of the student’s degree requirement.
- Students may complete their Capstone Project solely through independent study credits only. If this option is selected, students must enroll in a minimum of three credits of independent study.
For more details on the Capstone Project, see the Student Guide.