The Capstone Experience at Wilkes University

• In Event: 3423 - Teaching and Learning Symposium Roundtable
  In Informal Discussion Roundtable: Table 1: Assessment and Curriculum

Abstract

This presentation will discuss the capstone experience for sociology majors. Unlike a capstone class at many other institutions, ours is actually a composite of three courses. Each course is designed to assist the student in developing a research paper that is publicly presented during a student’s senior year. The three courses are: SOC 370 Quantitative Methods, SOC 371 Research Methods, and SOC 390 Senior Capstone. This presentation will also discuss how the capstone course is used as an assessment of the sociology major, and how the curriculum has been modified as a result of this assessment.

The information presented here should be useful to individuals interested in thinking about various ways that a capstone experience can be formulated, and how it can be used improve teaching and learning at the undergraduate level.

Authors

• Robert C. Tuttle, Wilkes University

• Michael S. Garr, Wilkes University