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Capstone Experience

The objectives of the capstone experience are:

  • to demonstrate one’s ability to interpret texts in one or more Slavic languages using a set of essential research tools, methodology, and a sound command of cultural knowledge;
  • to cultivate clear and logical written expression in the context of an independent project;
  • to serve as a bridge between the student's academic work and his/her direction in the professional world.

Ideally, the capstone experience will recapitulate a concentrator’s experience in Slavic Studies and help her/him identify and broaden their knowledge of a particular area of the Slavic world, which s/he would want to explore in the future or apply in their future profession.

Students can have the capstone experience in two forms:

  • writing an Honors thesis by taking SLAV199 for two semesters (refer to the Honors Thesis instructions);
  • completing a Capstone Project, which can be accomplished by satisfying any one (or a combination) of the following:
    • finishing an UTRA project with a faculty sponsor in Slavic Studies
      developing a course paper into an elaborate research paper of under the supervision of a faculty member
    • submitting a finished research project, conducted during one of our study abroad programs
    • GLISP (Global Independent Study Project) sponsored by a faculty member in Slavic Studies
    • ISP (Independent Study) under SLAV1981 (Research in a Slavic language(s))
    • organizing an undergraduate conference on Slavic topics
    • giving a paper in a scholarly conference on Slavic topics
    • publishing a journal or newspaper article related to the Slavic field
    • completing a translation project involving advanced knowledge of a Slavic language
    • organizing/assisting a Slavic language study group such as GLISP.

Timeline:

You will need to start laying the foundations of your capstone project in your Junior Year. This
will involve consultation with the concentration advisor and a faculty sponsor, whose interests
intersect with yours. By the end of the ADD/DROP period of your Senior Year, you will submit
a detailed proposal, and you will have the opportunity to present this to the department at a
dedicated concentrators’ presentation day towards the end of the semester.