The Capstone Project is the culminating academic experience for all Honors College students. Designed to reflect a student’s deep engagement with a specific discipline, question, or problem, the Capstone Project involves a substantial, sustained, and original writing, research, experiential or performance requirement leading to at least 6 credits.
All Capstones require the submission of either a Scholarly Report or the Final Project as the culminating work product.
The Scholarly Report, for Legacy students, is based on the "Curiosity, Knowledge, and Purpose" categories for reflection and analysis. A student explores and explains what led them to their studies and the specific project, then details what they learned through the course of the project, and closes out with a projection on how they see the project influencing their future and being used in their post-graduate education, career, and opportunities.
New students will see a slightly different focus on the reflection and analysis through the use of the categories of "Inspired, Empowered, and Connected." The overall approach will, however, remain the same.
For those who have a project that already requires an analytical outcome (a paper, an article, an academic poster, extensive lab notes, a performance and write-up, a thesis, etc.) as defined by their project mentors/advisors, this product may be submitted in lieu of the the Scholarly Report. A student does not have to do both.
Students choosing to complete their Capstone Project using a School Based Honors Project, Graduate Study, Graduate Program Completion, Experiential Capstone must complete a Scholarly Report. Your Scholarly Report will discuss the coursework, experience, or commitment in the program used to satisfy the capstone requirement. Reports must be submitted for approval to the Honors College Dean at the conclusion of your capstone work.
Students completing their Capstone Project using Departmental Honors (with the exception of students completing Departmental Honors in Computer Science or Math, who must do a Scholarly Report), Interdisciplinary Honors Thesis, or a Cook Scholars Thesis, do not need to complete a Scholarly Report for the Honors College. These students should follow the requirements for a thesis described by their advisor. The final version of the thesis must, however, be uploaded into the Canvas page for final certification of completion.
Legacy Scholarly Reports
Requirements and Information:
- A written analysis and reflection of suitable academic integrity, including date/information, scholarly references, and detailed alignment with the project proposal.
- The Scholarly Report, for all fields and disciplines should be ...
- between 10-14 pages of intellectual content (does not count additional pages below)
- standard fonts 12 pt. (Aptos or Calibri)
- standard 1" margins and double-spaced, 8.5" x 11".
- Title Page and Table of Contents (additional pages)
- Headings and Subheadings
- Running header
- Endnotes and references (requires additional pages)
- Any appendices (if applicable)
- Uses either APA or CMS writing format
Legacy Content: Curiosity. Knowledge. Purpose.
The Scholarly Report is a final project about the experience or work undertaken in fulfillment of the Capstone. It is, however, not a simple, descriptive summary of that experience or work. The Scholarly Report is a critical, analytic reflection organized around the Honors College mission and motto: Curiosity. Knowledge. Purpose.
The Scholarly Report will be organized under these three rubrics, and for each, you will be asked to consider and communicate how your studies have helped you to engage with and achieve the goals of the Honors College mission. Each section not only gives you an opportunity to communicate what you’ve learned, but—done effectively—will demonstrate awareness of applied skills that align with the Honors College mission. Make use of specific examples, evidence, and arguments from your Capstone. The structure, however, will follow a standard generalized framework. In this way, the Scholarly Report will be structured as follows:
Curiosity
Please offer a statement about the focus of your work. What question of particular interest drew you to pursue this particular capstone? What did you choose as your primary subject of study, creation, or experience? What motivated you? Why? Were you trying to solve a problem? Looking for an inspiration? Were the reasons academic or personal, or both? These are standard reflections at the beginning of almost every academic study–often in the introduction or preface. They are also the foundation of interviewing, scholarly presentations, professional development, and a key university learning goal—effective scholarly communication. Your capstone will become your calling card going forward. Knowing how to ask your own questions and tell your story is critical.
Knowledge
Please describe and provide an analysis of the work or experience completed, placing it within a scholarly context. Remember, you are not merely describing or narrating things you did or learned. Knowledge is based on critical thinking—meaning you must understand what you have done, including the challenges you’ve faced, and show that you can interpret, infer, and evaluate your own experience from multiple possible perspectives. Note the point about scholarly context. If you created a piece of work or pursued an experience, are you aware of what others in the field have already done? Do you know what their results, experiences, or outcomes were? To what or whom can you compare your own work? How can you differentiate it? Can you make decisions or offer reasoned judgements about your subject based on convincing arguments and evidence? This is basis of all future professional work or studies that you will pursue.
Evidence is key in scholarly work. Assertions, opinions, and views must be supported by data, documentation, and a respect for and knowledge of the work of others. The Scholarly Report must include a bibliography of relevant scholarly literature or sources, demonstrating your knowledge of your chosen Capstone domain. Again, this is the foundation of professional work. Knowing how to back up your ideas is critical. It is also a sign of distinction to be extremely conversant in the latest developments in the current state of a field. Use appendices for materials if relevant.
Purpose
The point of the Capstone is to serve as a statement of your complete experience. The Scholarly Report should therefore also be a reflection on the ways that you have been changed and the impacts that you have made on the world, or will make. How does your Capstone reflect your Honors College experience? What did you learn about community, collaboration, and connections to your personal scholarly directions? Offer examples. What were the key issues or scholarly challenges that you mastered as a result of participation in the program and—through your own growth--how will you be able to translate some of these into actions in the world?
New Scholarly Reports (Fall 2025 and beyond for those in NEW Curriculum)
Overview and Information:
- A written analysis and reflection of suitable academic integrity, including date/information, scholarly references, and detailed alignment with the project proposal.
- The Scholarly Report, for all fields and disciplines should be ...
- between 16-20 pages (does not include additional pages noted below)
- standard fonts 12 pt. (Aptos or Calibri)
- standard 1" margins and double-spaced, 8.5" x 11".
- Title and Table of Contents Pages (additional pages)
- Headings and Subheadings
- Running header
- Endnotes and references (additional pages)
- Any appendices (if applicable)
- Uses either APA or CMS writing format
The Scholarly Report is a final project about the experience or work undertaken in fulfillment of the Capstone. It is, however, not a simple, descriptive summary of that experience or work. The Scholarly Report is a critical, analytic reflection organized around the Honors College mission and motto: Inspired. Empowered. Connected.
The Scholarly Report will be organized under these three rubrics, and for each, you will be asked to consider and communicate how your studies have helped you to engage with and achieve the goals of the Honors College mission. Each section not only gives you an opportunity to communicate what you’ve learned, but—done effectively—will demonstrate awareness of applied skills that align with the Honors College mission. Make use of specific examples, evidence, and arguments from your Capstone. The structure, however, will follow a standard generalized framework. In this way, the Scholarly Report will be structured as follows:
New (Fall 2025 and after) Content: Inspired. Empowered. Connected.
The Scholarly Report is the culminating task in completion of your Capstone project when your project has no other tangible research-based or intellectual outcome. The Report is intended to focus on the experience or work undertaken in fulfillment of the project’s goals. It is not, however, a simple, descriptive summary of that experience or work. The Scholarly Report is a critical and analytical reflection organized in such a way as to highlight the tangible values of inspiration, empowerment, and connectedness.
The Scholarly Report will be organized under these three categories, and for each, you will be asked to consider and communicate how your studies have helped you to engage with and achieve your goals. Each section gives you an opportunity to communicate what you’ve learned, and—done effectively—will demonstrate awareness of applied skills, growth in intellectual applications, the emergence of new knowledge, and your overall success, as aligned with the Honors College mission. In your writing you will be able to make use of specific examples, evidence, and arguments from your Capstone while encasing them within a values structure.
The Scholarly Report will be structured as follows:
Introduction.
Starting with your project synopsis, you can also provide a summary of your outcomes and success.
Section I: Inspired.
Begin with a detailed and expansive statement about the focus of your work. What question of particular interest inspired you to pursue this topic and project? What did you choose as your primary subject of study, creation, or experience? What motivated you? Why? Were you trying to solve a problem? Looking for an inspiration? Were the reasons academic or personal, or both? These are standard reflections at the beginning of almost every academic study. They are also the foundation of interviews, scholarly presentations, professional development, and a key university learning goal—effective scholarly communication. Your capstone will become your calling card going forward. Knowing how to ask your own questions and tell your story is critical.
Section II: Empowered.
Please describe and provide an analysis of the work or experience you completed, placing it within a scholarly context and how that context empowered your progress. Remember, you are not merely describing or narrating things you did or learned. Knowledge is based on critical thinking—meaning you must understand what you have done, including the challenges you’ve faced, and show that you can interpret, infer, and evaluate your own experience from multiple possible perspectives. Note the point about scholarly context. If you created a piece of work or pursued an experience, are you aware of what others in the field have already done? Do you know what their results, experiences, or outcomes were? To what or whom can you compare your own work? How can you differentiate it? Can you make decisions or offer reasoned judgements about your subject based on convincing arguments and evidence? This type of reflection on how you were empowered by the course and outcomes of your work is the basis of all future professional work or studies that you will pursue.
Evidence is key in scholarly work. Assertions, opinions, and views must be supported by data, documentation, and a respect for and knowledge of the work of others. Again, this is the foundation of professional work. Knowing how to back up your ideas is critical. It is also a sign of distinction to be extremely conversant in the latest developments in the current state of a field.
Section III: Connected.
The point of the Capstone is to serve as a statement of your complete experience. The Scholarly Report should therefore also be a reflection on the ways that you have been changed and the impacts that you have made or will make. How does your Capstone reflect your Honors College experience and connect with your future goals? What did you learn about community, collaboration, and connections to your personal scholarly directions? Offer examples. What were the key issues or scholarly challenges that you mastered because of participation in the program and—through your own growth—how will you be able to translate some of these into actions in the world?
Conclusion
What is the whole picture? What comes next? Where will this take you and what do you want others to take away from the work? Giving guidance means that you get to shape how someone else learns from your work and what they take away.
Sources and End Notes
The Scholarly Report must include additional pages for the notes (footnotes or endnotes, depending upon your field and preference) and a bibliography of relevant scholarly literature or sources, demonstrating your knowledge of your chosen Capstone domain. You may also create and use appendices for additional materials (charts, data sets, etc.) if relevant.