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Capstone Experience

Purpose

The Capstone Experience is the culminating academic event for all LIS students. Students participate in the Capstone Experience during the last semester of their graduate program in order to meet the comprehensive requirement of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies.

The Capstone Experience is designed to give students the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to organize and synthesize knowledge as developed throughout their academic program, and to defend positions on current issues in library and information science, and the larger, dynamic information environment.

The Capstone Experience is graded on a PASS/FAIL basis.

Students enrolled in the Capstone Experience will utilize the official Capstone Experience "course" in Blackboard to submit all components of the Capstone Experience for evaluation. The Capstone course is also the official online communication venue for Capstone-related activities once the exam period commences.

Qualifications for Taking Capstone

Important Note: To be approved for Capstone, you MUST have done the following:

• Completed and passed all three (3) Core classes--SLIS 5000, SLIS 5200, and SLIS 5600.
• Completed your Practicum Experience or be registered for SLIS 5090 course in your last semester (i.e., to complete during same semester as the exam) or:
  
  
  • The Practicum/Field Experience Waiver Form must be completed, approved, and in your file the semester PRIOR to submitting the application below.
  • If you are a School Library Program of Study student you must have the Proficiencies Checklist completed PRIOR to submitting the application below to be cleared for the Capstone Experience.


• All other students, each Program of Study (POS) has different guidelines for Practicum and/or Field Experience requirements. Check with your POS Advisor if you are unsure of your requirement.
• Each student’s academic record will be checked for errors or missing coursework/course credit to ensure you have the required status to participate in the Capstone Experience.

Problems that may prevent YOUR participation in the Capstone Experience

• Not having enough hours on your record in combination with your last semester course(s) to graduate.
  
  
  • YOU have the responsibility to ensure the necessary credits have been earned for graduation.
  • YOU must double-check your record prior to submitting an application for capstone.


• Incompletes ("I") on your record.
  
  
  • YOU must double-check your record, clear up any incompletes by speaking with the faculty involved.
  • YOU must resolve any incompletes to be fully processed and submitted to the registrar's office. This must be completed PRIOR to submitting an application for capstone.
  • After YOU submit the application for the Capstone Experience if there is an incomplete in any course you will NOT be cleared and will have to wait until the next semester.

If you are unsure of your status, check with the Department of Library and Information Sciences office and/or your official transcript.

Structure of the Capstone Experience

The Capstone Experience is comprised of two (2) activities:

Part One: Essay Examination

Students must prepare formal answers to three (3) Essay Questions designed to synthesize knowledge from their coursework and educational experience. This part is conducted in the Blackboard website over 7 days (see Capstone Calendar for dates).

Part Two: End of Program Questionnaire

Each student must complete the LIS End of Program Questionnaire (EOP). The End of Program Questionnaire is a survey of LIS graduates concerning the courses, program, faculty, facilities, and educational technology.

NOTE: Each student must submit three (3) completed essays.

Evaluation of the Capstone Experience

Each Capstone Essay Question is evaluated and graded on a PASS/FAIL basis by two (2) faculty with expertise related to the question subject matter. All essays are numbered and evaluated without knowledge of students’ identities.

Students must receive a Satisfactory grade on all three (3) essays in order to pass the Capstone Experience.

• Students who receive an unsatisfactory grade on one (1) or more essays will not pass the Capstone Experience.
• Students who do not pass the Capstone Experience may re-take the Capstone Experience only once.

Dissemination of Results of the Capstone Experience

The Capstone Experience Committee notifies the Department of Library and Information Sciences Chair of the results for all students. The Department Chair notifies the Graduate School of the official results. Students are officially informed of their results in writing from the Department of Library and Information Sciences Chair after the completion of the Capstone Experience.

Graduation Application and Degree Plan

Each student will receive a UNT graduation application and a copy of his or her degree plan after clearance to participate in the Capstone Experience. Students are responsible for mailing both the completed application and the degree plan to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies.  See the Capstone Calendar for the application deadline. Also check the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies website for additional information regarding graduation.

UNT Library Access for LIS students

For More Information

Capstone Committee
lis-capstone@unt.edu
Department of Library and Information Sciences: 940-565-2445
University Metro (817) 267-3731, x2445
Fax: 940-565-3101