Comparative Aspect Capstone Project
Group: Capstone teams typically Individual: A thesis must be authored
Group vs. Individual work in groups of 2 to 5 students.
Fixed at two (2) semesters: Begin in
fall, complete in spring.
Time Frame
Varies depending on the project but
usually between 30 and 50 pages.
Length of Written Capstone project is not published by
Product GW but may be presented to client
(if applicable).
May answer a question of practical
importance or develop, test, and
evaluate an intervention,
curriculum, or protocol for
Nature of Project
application within a particular
agency or community setting.
Applied knowledge resulting in
tangible products.
Written for real or hypothetical
Target Audience(s) client and the instructor
Each team member must participate
in the final capstone presentation.
Summary of Presentations are evaluated by
Presentation/Defense instructors and clients (if
applicable).
 Designed to demonstrate
that student can draw
together her/his classroom
experiences into an applied
project.
 An additional measure of
Original Intellectual
quality of a capstone project
Contribution?
may also relate to how
effectively it contributes to
carrying out the goals and
objectives of the agency
where the capstone project
was done.
1
Master’s Thesis
alone.
At least two (2) semesters with up to an
additional calendar year to complete.
Student determines pace of thesis
completion.
Typically approximately 100 pages (70-
150 page range). Length varies with
topic and research methods. Thesis is a
well-written and polished product that
will be published through Gelman
Library.
Student should become a “mini-expert”
by answering a question which
contributes to new knowledge and is
generalizable or transferrable beyond a
single setting.
Written for an academic audience
While there is no formal defense of the
master’s thesis, thesis director and
second reader may request a thesis
defense or culminating presentation to
evaluate completion of thesis project.
 Yes. Paper should aspire to
provide original intellectual
insight that contributes new
knowledge to the existing
literature.
 Student’s work should stand up
to review by practicing
professionals or researchers in
the field.
Comparative Aspect Capstone Project
 Team format simulates
cooperation often required
in professional world
Professional  Opportunity to make
Considerations professional-style
presentation
 Potential to try working for
a client
 1 credit of IAFF 6898 (fall)
 3 credits of IAFF 6899
(spring)
 Courses must be taken in
Required sequence
Courses/Credit Hours  IAFF 6899 to be completed
in student’s final spring
semester
 Must be able to work with
others (possibly across
geographic distances)
 Usually completed on
Personal
shorter time frame than
Considerations
thesis
 Receive 4 credits for a
substantial amount of work
Team works with course instructor
as faculty advisor.
Advisor
 Letter grade determined by
instructor
 IAFF 6898 and IAFF 6899
Grading
graded separately
Master’s Thesis
 Helpful for students who intend
to enter a PhD program or to
enter a research-oriented job
 3 credits of IAFF 6998
 3 credits of IAFF 6999
 Credits must be taken in
sequence
 Students who do not complete
thesis project upon completion
of IAFF 6999 must register for
Continuous Enrollment each
semester (up to 1 calendar
year) until thesis is completed
 Must be able to work
independently including setting
your own milestones and
deadlines
 Requires strong research skills
and written command of
English
 Must have high tolerance for
reading, writing, and rewriting
Individual solicits and engages a thesis
director (full-time faculty member) and
second reader (full- or part-time faculty
member).
 Letter grade determined by
thesis director and second
reader
 Grade assigned to both IAFF
6998 and IAFF 6999 upon
completion of the thesis project