Step-by-Step Process
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Step 1 |
Discuss career goals with student, course work previously completed and MDS program. |
Incoming students meet with the appropriate admission rep. Current students meet with appropriate academic advisor. |
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Step 2 |
Obtain and review transcript, identify potential cognate areas.
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Appropriate academic advisor, in coordination with identified MDS liaisons |
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Step 3 |
Communicate with student about 2 potential cognate areas |
Admissions communicates with incoming student. Advisor communicates with current student. |
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Step 4 |
The following documents are generated, to be approved by MDS Liaisons and Department chairs, and appropriate Deans:
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Appropriate Advisor |
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Step 5 |
After cognates have been approved by Department chairs and Deans:
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Appropriate Advisor |
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If student agrees to move forward continue with remaining steps. |
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Step 6 |
Contact students no later than the start of the semester prior to capstone semester to discuss the expectations for the capstone and who to serve as capstone mentor. Review requirements including need of approved proposal by registration time for the following semester. REMIND as needed. |
Appropriate Advisor |
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Step 7 |
Confirm capstone mentor to student. Encourage students to contact the capstone mentor and faculty mentor to plan project. Answer student and faculty questions. |
Appropriate Advisor |
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Step 8 |
Student prepares MDS Capstone Proposal Approval Form. (Located on the AU Portal on the students' form page. Click on the Student Forms button) Fill out form, attach proposal for review and approval. Enter the Capstone Mentor's email address. |
Student |
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Step 9 |
Upon receiving the digital form, review and approve the proposal (request revisions, if needed). The Capstone Mentor will enter the Chairs' and Deans' email addresses. The final signed electronic MDS Capstone Approval Form ends up in the Registrar's Office at which point the student is registered for MDS 490 with Capstone mentor as instructor. |
Capstone Mentor, Department Chair Dean Registrar's Office |
Assessment
Assessment of student learning outcomes for MDS majors is conducted as part of the MDS 490 Capstone. The Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) common to all MDS Capstones (below) and the specific SLOs for a selected capstone project will be assessed.
- Identify an important problem or question using knowledge from one or both of the cognate areas.
- Research information from relevant journals/books and possibly from media sources. This may also include researched data from experiments, observations or interviews.
- Synthesize findings to create a final paper, performance, media production, or other appropriate means of sharing knowledge.
