Capstone Options

The Thesis/Creative Project option offers students the opportunity to complete sustained original research or creative activity. Students in the sciences and humanities advance their research skills significantly, while students in the creative arts and technologies polish and perfect their crafts. The thesis/creative project requires students to examine complex concepts and issues carefully, and their work is expected to meet the scholarly standards of their discipline and of the Honors College.

The Study Abroad Option offers students the opportunity to develop an academic project based on participation in a semester- or year-long study abroad program. Students choosing this option work with a faculty mentor to develop a research project prior to their study abroad semester. While abroad, they learn how to practice their academic skills and training in the context of living in a foreign culture, and in so doing develop a better sense of the value of their discipline to understanding the larger world, and of their own development as global citizens. The written and oral products of this option are expected to meet the scholarly standards of their discipline and of the Honors College.

The Professional Option offers students the opportunity to develop an academic project based on a paid or unpaid off-campus faculty-mentored internship, co-op, or practicum related to their academic major. Students choosing this option work with a faculty mentor to develop a research project prior to beginning the professional placement. Students seek to adapt what they have learned in on-campus coursework to the workplace, and in so doing develop a better sense of both the real-world significance of their academic training and their own development and skills as professionals. The written and oral products of this option are expected to meet the scholarly standards of their discipline and of the Honors College.

The Service-Learning Option offers students the opportunity to develop an academic project based on a community service-learning placement. Students choosing this option work with a faculty mentor to develop a research project prior to placement with an organization. Students seek to adapt their academic training and skills to the goals of a community service organization or cause, and in so doing explore both the social significance of their on-campus training and their own development as citizens. The written and oral products of this option are expected to meet the scholarly standards of their discipline and of the Honors College.

Important Notice

In an effort to provide students with an exceptional academic experience, the Honors College seeks to designate courses for Honors credit taught by some of the most rigorous faculty in the university. Students are strongly encouraged to approach instructors who are full-time, tenured/tenure track faculty members or lecturers as mentors for their Capstone projects. In order to ensure rigor and maintain consistency, graduate students and part-time, adjunct faculty members are not eligible to supervise an Honors Capstone project. Any exceptions to this policy must be reviewed and approved by the Honors College.

College-Specific Requirements for the Honors Capstone

Each major college has set forth their own specific requirements for the Honors Capstone project. Please refer to the college-specific Honors degree plan to determine the options for your specific major (https://www.uta.edu/academics/schools-colleges/honors/academics/honors-degree).

Capstone Examples

Previous Capstone projects can be found in the Carolyn A. Barros (CAB) Library in College Hall #100-A or, beginning Spring 2022, in the UTA Libraries Research Commons at UTA Libraries Honors Capstones (uta.edu).