The Capstone Research Requirement
Frequently Asked Questions
about the Capstone Research Requirement
1) What is the Capstone Requirement?
All Health and Societies majors and Science, Technology and Society majors must complete a research project during spring of junior year or fall of senior year.
2) When do I fulfill the Capstone research requirement?
The Capstone requirement must be fulfilled during spring term of junior year or fall term of senior year.
3) How do I fulfill the Capstone requirement?
The requirement may be fulfilled in any of the following ways:
(a) Completion of any 400-level HSOC or STSC course
This includes courses cross-listed from other departments at the 400-level.
- OR -
(b) Completion of HSOC/STSC 420
Enrollment in 420 is by permission only. First priority goes to students who are planning to write a senior thesis.
- OR -
(c) Research undertaken as part of an internship or independent study under the supervision or sponsorship of a Penn faculty member. Students will register for HSOC or STSC 499. Proposals must be approved in advance, no later than the end of the add period. The final product for this Capstone option may take one of various forms, including:
* A research paper, in the model of a scholarly article or honors thesis
* A review essay or literature review
* A grant proposal
NOTE:
1) 400-level courses are open for all students. They are not exclusively for capstone students.
--Students may take a 400-level course before the spring term of junior year.
--A 400-level course only counts for the capstone if taken during spring term of junior year or fall term of senior year.
--Students may take multiple 400-level courses.
--Students may take a 400-level course even if they are fulfilling their Capstone Research Requirement in another 400-level course, or if they are taking 420 and 498 to fulfill the capstone and write an honors thesis.
2) The course in which the capstone research requirement is fulfilled may not and cannot fulfill any other part of the major.
