Biology
Capstone Requirements
Thesis students, under the direction of their advisor, will complete a research project in their area of interest that will contribute to the scientific knowledge of that discipline. Non-thesis students, under the direction of their advisor, will develop a comprehensive scholarly paper addressing a specific area within the discipline of biology that contributes to the student's understanding of the process of science.
Business
Capstone Requirements
All Master of Business Administration students have the opportunity to complete an Applied Research Project that focuses on the student’s primary area of interest in business.
Chemistry
Capstone Requirements
Most students in the Master of Natural Science program complete an original research project and submit and orally defend a written thesis document. Students may choose to complete a comprehensive scholarly paper and a comprehensive examination in the area of emphasis in lieu of the thesis requirement.
Communication Disorders
Capstone Requirements
All students participate in a capstone experience through completion of a graduate research project. This experience may entail completion of a graduate thesis or a non-thesis research project.
Community Counseling
Capstone Requirements
The Community Counseling program capstone requirements are to acceptably complete a Comprehensive Professional Counseling Portfolio, Personal Counseling Position Paper, Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam, and a Comprehensive Oral Exam. For detailed information, please browse through our Student Handbook.
Community Wellness
Capstone Requirements
Each student will obtain an approved internship in a public or not-for-profit agency. The student will write a scholarly internship paper, and present and defend it during an oral examination. Or, in place of the internship, and with the approval of the faculty advisor, a student may choose to do scholarly research on a specified topic. The student will write a master’s thesis, and present and defend it during an oral examination. The Thesis Guidelines are available online.
Criminal Justice
Capstone Requirements
All Criminal Justice students must complete a thesis on their primary interest of study or complete a graduate-level internship and write and defend an internship paper.
Criminal Justice - Cooperative With MO Southern State
Capstone Requirements
All Criminal Justice students must complete a thesis on their primary interest of study or complete a graduate-level internship and write and defend an internship paper. Thesis and internship requirements can be obtained from the School of Graduate Studies at Southeast Missouri State University.
English
Capstone Requirements
There are two options the completion of a thesis or the completion of a comprehensive exam. Candidates who choose the exam option must also submit a graduate paper. The thesis option can be fulfilled by completing a scholarly thesis, a creative project, or a creative teaching project. If choosing the comprehensive written exam, students must enroll in GR698 Masters Comprehensive Exam in the semester they plan to take the exam. The exam will consist of one question on research methods; one question on a close reading of poetry, fiction, drama, or nonfiction; and a self-generated question to be formulated in conjunction with the advisor. Exams will be offered once in the fall, once in the spring, and once in the summer.
History
Capstone Requirements
Candidates may elect to write a thesis, or enroll in six additional hours of 600 level credit, write a graduate paper, and take comprehensive examinations.
Human Environmental Studies
Capstone Requirements
Thesis (both quantitative and qualitative formats) and non-thesis paper options are available. The creative thesis option is available for interior design students only.
Mathematics
Capstone Requirements
The Master of Natural Science degree offers two options. The Capstone requirement for Curriculum A is a thesis involving original research. Curriculum B requires the writing of a comprehensive examination over six graduate courses and an expository graduate paper.
Nursing
Capstone Requirements
All students in the MSN program will complete either a thesis with GR699 OR a non-thesis scholarly paper with GR698.
School Counseling
Capstone Requirements
The School Counseling program capstone requirements are to acceptably complete a Comprehensive Professional Counseling Portfolio (CPCP), Personal Counseling Position Paper, Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam, and a Comprehensive Oral Exam. See the Graduate Bulletin for more details.
Science Education
Capstone Requirements
Students in our program engage in an action research project – an investigation often executed within their own classrooms; this research is the basis for the required scholarly paper.
TESOL
Capstone Requirements
There are two options; the thesis or the graduate paper. Students choosing the graduate paper may also choose between comprehensive written exams or the portfolio.