MA in International Development: Capstone Options
There are four capstone options for MAID students. There are some commonalities and some differences between each option. Please carefully review the
options and keep in mind that each professor you select as a supervisor may have their own requirements. As such, it is very important to consult your faculty
supervisor. For the MA Thesis and SRPs, you must begin the process by the 9th week of the semester preceding the semester in which you plan to register.
Capstone
Requirements
Individual or
Team
Substantial Research Paper
(SRP) SIS-795
Individual original research of
an ID theme/research question.
Applied Substantial Research
Paper (SRP) SIS-795
Individual original research of an
ID theme/research question.
Students may work in a team of
two with another ID student.
Prior arrangements with the same
faculty supervisor must be made
for a team project. Each student
registers individually.
Based on ID related practical
experience with an NGO, client,
organization, etc. Also includes
secondary literature review and
analysis. A research question,
preliminary outline and
bibliography must be approved by
your faculty supervisor prior to
registration.
Type of
Research
Includes secondary or primary
material, or both. A research
question, preliminary outline and
bibliography must be approved
by your faculty supervisor prior
to registration.
Supervision
A faculty supervisor is required.
Students may find a supervisor
in another department of SIS or
AU; in that case, the student
should explain the requirements
to the 'external' supervisor.
Please be sure to consult the ID
Program Director when you
identify your faculty supervisor.
A faculty supervisor is required.
Students may find a supervisor in
another department of SIS or AU;
in that case, the student should
explain the requirements to the
'external' supervisor. Please be
sure to consult the ID Program
Director when you identify your
faculty supervisor.
SRP Group
required?
Yes. Students who work with a
non-IDP faculty member will
need to become a part of, and
participate in all meetings of an
IDP SRP group. Please make
Yes. Students who work with a
non-IDP faculty member will
need to become a part of, and
participate in all meetings of an
IDP SRP group. Please make sure
SIS Practicum
SIS-793
Students work in teams with
students from across SIS
programs. A typical course has
8-15 students and is divided into
teams of 3-6 students.
MA Thesis
SIS-797
Individual original research of an
ID theme/research question(s).
Teams execute consulting
projects for real world clients
including U.S. and international
government agencies, non-profit
organizations and businesses.
Students review relevant
literature, interview industry
experts, and develop
recommendations for their
clients.
The practicum is supervised by a
faculty leader who has ties with
the client(s) and arranges the
project(s).
Includes secondary or primary
material, or both. Conduct
preliminary research on potential
topics. A research question,
preliminary outline and
bibliography must be approved
by your faculty supervisor prior
to registration.
No. SRP group not required.
Teams meet in weekly class
sessions, plus team meetings
arranged outside of class. Skills
modules on consulting, project
Your faculty thesis committee is
made up of two faculty
members- a primary faculty
supervisor, and a secondary
faculty reader. Network with
faculty to determine their
availability and relevance to the
research topic. You are
responsible for finding a faculty
supervisor/primary as well as the
secondary reader.
Yes. Students will need to
become a part of, and participate
in all meetings of an IDP SRP
group. Please make sure to meet
with an IDP professor in order to
(Last revised 2/24/2015) 1
MA in International Development: Capstone Options
Capstone
Requirements
Substantial Research Paper
(SRP) SIS-795
sure to meet with an IDP
professor in order to join her/his
group for group meetings.
Applied Substantial Research
Paper (SRP) SIS-795
to meet with an IDP professor in
order to join her/his group for
group meetings.
Before you
register
'Pre-enroll' with a professor in
the semester prior to that in
which he/she intends to register
for the SRP. Week 9: obtain
preliminary faculty agreement to
supervise the SRP; Week 12: get
agreement in principle from the
faculty member, based on a one
page outline.
'Pre-enroll' with a professor in the
semester prior to that in which
he/she intends to register for the
SRP. Week 9: obtain preliminary
faculty agreement to supervise the
SRP; Week 12: get agreement in
principle from the faculty
member, based on a one page
outline.
Registration
Prepare a research proposal
(preliminary outline and
bibliography) well in advance. If
the faculty is satisfied with the
proposal, the student takes the
proposal and attaches it to the
registration checklist and
independent study registration
forms, to the faculty for
signature. Once signed by the
faculty, the student delivers the
independent study checklist and
signed registration form
attaching a copy of the proposal
to SIS Graduate Advising (See:
http://www.american.edu/sis/gra
dadvising/independentstudy.cfm)
There will be no formal
supervision over the summer,
although students may carry out
research and write over the
summer.
Prepare a research proposal
(preliminary outline and
bibliography) well in advance. If
the faculty is satisfied with the
proposal, the student takes the
proposal and attaches it to the
registration checklist and
independent study registration
forms, to the faculty for signature.
Once signed by the faculty, the
student delivers the independent
study checklist and signed
registration form attaching a copy
of the proposal to SIS Graduate
Advising (See:
http://www.american.edu/sis/grad
advising/independent-study.cfm)
Summer
There will be no formal
supervision over the summer,
although students may carry out
research and write over the
summer.
SIS Practicum
SIS-793
management, effective
teamwork, interview skills, data
visualization and presentation
skills are available to students.
Review past practica
www.american.edu/sis/practica
Attend Practica “Meet & Greet”
informations sessions at the
beginning of the semester before
you apply for the practica (held
early in the semester prior to
registration).
Submit a cover letter and resume
for each practica to which you
want to apply and rank order
your preferences.
(http://www.american.edu/sis/pr
actica/). Applications are due
early in the semester before you
register for a practicum. You
may apply for as many Practica
as you want. As with any job
application, your cover letter and
resume should be tailored to
each Practicum. Applicants will
be notified about their selection
to participate in a practicum
prior to the advance registration
opening date for the coming
semester.
Typically, there are 1-3 summer
practicum options, though it
varies each summer.
MA Thesis
SIS-797
join her/his group for group
meetings.
'Pre-enroll' with the primary
professor in the semester prior to
that in which he/she intends to
register for the SRP. Week 9:
obtain preliminary faculty
agreement to supervise the SRP;
Week 12: get agreement in
principle from the faculty
member, based on a one page
outline.
MA thesis registration uses the
same independent study checklist
and registration form as an SRP
or Applied SRP. A formal thesis
proposal, signed by both the
primary and secondary readers
must be attached to registration
forms. Thesis requirements are
found in the Office of the
Provost’s Guide to Preparation
of Theses and Dissertations for
information on writing a thesis
proposal.
http://www.american.edu/provos
t/grad/etd/index.cfm
There will be no formal
supervision over the summer,
although students may carry out
research and write over the
summer.
(Last revised 2/24/2015) 2
MA in International Development: Capstone Options
Capstone
Requirements
Time to
complete
SRP Group or
Practicum
Team
Meetings
Presentation
Requirement
Grading
Expected
Outcomes/
Takeaways
Substantial Research Paper
(SRP) SIS-795
Students are expected to
complete the 3 credit SRP in the
semester in which they register.
Please consult your academic
advisor.
Applied Substantial Research
Paper (SRP) SIS-795
Students are expected to complete
the 3 credit Applied SRP in the
semester in which they register.
Please consult your academic
advisor.
SIS Practicum
SIS-793
One semester (3 credit)
“course.”
During their membership of an
SRP group, students will have to
attend group meetings called by
their Faculty Supervisor. Most
ID faculty members require
students to attend three group
meetings. Students in a group
will also be encouraged to hold
further unsupervised meetings
amongst themselves or possibly
with other groups to informally
discuss their experiences and
findings. Students are also
encouraged to meet their faculty
supervisors on a one-on-one
basis.
Fifteen-minute formal
presentations after which they
will be questioned both by the
supervisor and their colleagues.
During their membership of an
SRP group, students will have to
attend group meetings called by
their Faculty Supervisor. Most ID
faculty members require students
to attend three group meetings.
Students in a group will also be
encouraged to hold further
unsupervised meetings amongst
themselves or possibly with other
groups to informally discuss their
experiences and findings.
Students are also encouraged to
meet their faculty supervisors on
a one-on-one basis.
Teams meet with their faculty
supervisor prior to the semester
of registration for team
assignments. Meetings during
the semester of registration
include the normally scheduled
weekly class and other times
arranged in advance with team
members.
Fifteen-minute formal
presentations after which they
will be questioned both by the
supervisor and their colleagues.
An SRP is graded on an A/F
scale. A student must receive a B
or better to meet the capstone
requirement.
Raise a research question.
Conduct a focused literature
survey.
Develop analytical skills.
An SRP is graded on an A/F
scale. A student must receive a B
or better to meet the capstone
requirement.
Identify a researchable problem
with a client(s).
Analyze a problem identified by
the client, work with/receive
Student teams lead a
presentation to the AU
community (invitees based on
the wishes of the students and
professors) to get feedback and
then a final presentation to their
clients.
Practica are graded on an A/F
scale. A student must receive a B
or better to meet the capstone
requirement.
Engage in real world teamwork
experience in project
management, project design,
teamwork, client relations, and
MA Thesis
SIS-797
Students are expected to
complete the 6 credit MA Thesis
in two semesters although some
theses take longer to complete.
Please consult your academic
advisor.
During their membership of an
SRP group, students will have to
attend group meetings called by
their Faculty Supervisor. Most
ID faculty members require
students to attend three group
meetings. Students in a group
will also be encouraged to hold
further unsupervised meetings
amongst themselves or possibly
with other groups to informally
discuss their experiences and
findings. Students are also
encouraged to meet their faculty
supervisors on a one-on-one
basis.
Fifteen-minute formal
presentations after which they
will be questioned both by the
supervisor and their colleagues.
No formal defense of the thesis
is required other than the SRP
group presentation.
Theses are graded SP/UP
(Satisfactory
Progress/Unsatisfactory
Progress) (similar to pass/fail).
Demonstrate analytical skills
through a broader and deeper
research paper.
Please note: MA Theses are
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MA in International Development: Capstone Options
Capstone
Requirements
Substantial Research Paper
(SRP) SIS-795
Write a research paper of
publishable quality.
Eligibility
To register for the SRP, students
must have completed 18 credits
prior to the start of the SRP and
be in good standing
academically
You may travel to conduct your
own research. This cost will not
be covered by the Program,
though you may apply for
fellowships such as the Clark
Fellowship or TinkerWalker/IDP Travel Fellowship.
50 pages of double spaced text
(appropriate citation of sources
and bibliography not included).
Travel
Final paper
Applied Substantial Research
Paper (SRP) SIS-795
advice from the client, and write a
paper.
Develop analytical skills.
Present a document using a
relevant literature review and
analysis of the problem identified
by the student and the client.
To register for the Applied SRP,
students must have completed 18
credits prior to the start of the
Applied SRP and be in good
standing academically
You may travel to conduct your
own research. This cost will not
be covered by the Program,
though you may apply for
fellowships such as the Clark
Fellowship or Tinker-Walker/IDP
Travel Fellowship.
50 pages of double spaced text
(appropriate citation of sources
and bibliography not included).
SIS Practicum
SIS-793
consulting.
Fine-tune oral and written
presentation skills.
MA Thesis
SIS-797
placed in the university library
archives as published material.
To apply for a practicum,
students must have completed 18
credits prior to the start of the
practicum and be in good
standing academically
A limited number of practica in
the spring and summer semesters
include international travel.
To register for the MA Thesis,
students must have completed 18
credits prior to the start of the
MA Thesis and be in good
standing academically
You may travel to conduct your
own research. This cost will not
be covered by the Program,
though you may apply for
fellowships such as the Clark
Fellowship or TinkerWalker/IDP Travel Fellowship.
Approximately 100 pages of
double spaced text (appropriate
citation of sources and
bibliography not included).
Varies by client needs.
(Last revised 2/24/2015) 4