IDS 499 - Interdisciplinary Capstone

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Outcomes

1. Demonstrate the ability to work independently on a senior-level capstone project consistent with the interdisciplinary nature of the student's degree.
2. Demonstrate effectiveness in working with a mentor.
3. Complete a well-designed project that is professional and meaningful based upon the student's academic and career interests and goals.
4. Demonstrate presentation skills by presenting the capstone project in a manner consistent with the professional methods and standards of the disciplines involved.
5. Demonstrate project management skills

Description

Students will create an approved capstone project to showcase the skills and competencies developed in their interdisciplinary major. Students will work closely with a mentor to develop a project that demonstrates the fusion of their undergraduate coursework and experiences. Projects and papers should be significant and relevant to the student's academic or career objectives. Students in this course will demonstrate senior-level proficiency in research, visual communication, writing, and presentation skills.

Course Requirements

• Complete a project related to the areas of your interdisciplinary degree that requires a minimum of 50 hours during the semester you are registered for the course. If you do not complete the required 50 hour limit, your overall grade will be adjusted proportionally to the time you do complete. This means that if you complete 40 hours, your final grade will be 80% of the points you earned through the course.
• Report the time you spend working on the project. Progress reports are required to be submitted weekly. Work done on other course assignments (i.e. completion of readings, study guides, mentor/instructor meetings etc.) do NOT count toward the 50 hour requirement.
• Meet with your mentor 3 times during the semester
• Prepare a professional presentation of the project. The presentation venue will be included in the project proposal.Campus students are required to present at the Research and Creative Works Conference, while off-campus students identify and present to an interested and invested audience (i.e. to an employer, at another conference, at a city council meeting etc.).
• Submit the completed project to your mentor and make sure the mentor has evaluated the project and submitted the Mentor Evaluation Form to the instructor.

Learning Model Architecture

• Students will prepare by updating their project proposal based on project management concepts and meeting regularly with their mentor
• Students will teach one another by presenting their projects to their peers and by presenting their completed projects to an appropriate audience
• Students will ponder and prove by submitting their completed project and reflecting on the project process

Prerequisites

Prior to enrolling in the course, students are required to complete at least 80 credits. Students will also be required to fill out a project proposal and find a prospective mentor prior to enrolling in the course. In order to complete this requirement, contact interdisciplinarystudies@byui.edu for the proposal form and further instructions.

Required Materials

• All course materials are digitally available within the course. These include project management and interdisciplinary studies readings that students are expected to apply to their individual projects. These materials are available at no charge to the student.
• Students select study materials based on their project proposal.
• All students will need a webcam and microphone for this course.

Grading Policies

The course will be graded using the following weighted categories:

• Reporting: 10%
• Project Management: 30%
• Project: 60%

All assignments each week are due on Saturdays at 11:00 PM Mountain time. Late assignments (excluding Weekly Progress Reports) will only be accepted up to 7 days after the original due date and will be assessed a 20% penalty. No assignments can be turned in after the last day of the semester.

Weekly Progress Reports may be submitted up to 7 days after the original due date and will be assessed a 50% penalty.

The instructor reserves the right to change any part of this syllabus at any time during the semester in order to adapt to changing course needs. You will be notified prior to any changes that may take place.