Please carefully go through Capstone Project Agreement (CPA) and MSSI Capstone Project Requirements.

– The MSSI capstone is a significant academic assignment. Especially, as stated in the CPA: “A project report is typically about 25 pages single-spaced, not including the cover page, table of contents, references, figures, tables, etc.” MSSI capstones often go beyond that.

– Research is teamwork. We will strictly enforce the requirement that two or three students should work together.

– You definitely need to work closely with your capstone mentor(s).

Please pay close attention to the three deadlines for submitting the proposal, mid-project update, and final report. Each team must submit an electronic copy in PDF through email directly to the MSSI Program Director for each deliverable. All team members including the capstone mentor(s) must be included (by cc’ing) in the email submission.

• (1) February 5th: a project proposal of 2 pages and the CPA

  – An optional equipment request may be submitted if applicable. It must clearly justify the need for the equipment and describe the specific plan to use it.

  – Each team is required to have an advising session on report writing and literature search. More information will be given.

  Please plan proactively! Talk to the MSSI director ASAP if there is a delay in finding your capstone mentor or teammates.

  • To submit the CPA, please fill out its first page and sign the top section of the second page. Please include information about the capstone faculty mentor and other personnel (external mentors and/or research assistants) as applicable.
  • The project proposal should have descriptions of the problem/challenge, any potential solutions in consideration, and a plan to execute the project. Please find one Capstone Proposal Example that serves only as a reference for organization and format.

• (2) March 12th: a mid-project progress summary of 2 pages and an annotated report outline

  – If needed, an advising meeting will be scheduled on the report outline for approval.

  – Each team will give a briefing presentation in the session on March 29th, Wednesday, 11 am- 11:50 am, at Hodson 213.

  For the mid-project progress update, each team must turn in two documents, i.e., a progress summary and an annotated project report outline. Here are two past reports [Example 1][Example 2] so you know what they should look like (it can always be improved!).

  • The progress summary should describe what has been completed, what still needs to be done, and any significant changes to the project proposal.
  • The annotated report outline is the first version of your project report including all the sections according to MSSI Capstone Project Requirements. Each section has a concise description of the content to be included, specific to the project topic and tasks.
  • The outline must include a review of at least five literature items on current the state of the art. The references and citations should follow the “Reference Style” specified in MSSI Capstone Project Requirements.
  • The outline should have at least 1000 words, excluding a reference list, illustrations, figures, tables, etc.
  • The submitted outline will be reviewed and approved, if needed, through an advising meeting.

• (3) April 23rd: a complete project report

  – The report should be complete with all the sections, references, and appendices.

  – Final project presentations will be from 9:30-2:00 on May 3rd, Wednesday at Malone 107.

  Revisions are allowed afterward until the faculty mentor approves the project.

  • Please submit the final report in PDF to the MSSI Program Director.
  • You may turn in the CPA signed by the capstone mentor later when it is ready.
  • Include the report abstract as text in the submission email that will go on the ISI website.
  • Please submit the final report and all other project deliverables to your capstone faculty mentor as required.

For graduation, in addition to the above submissions, you need to submit a Qualifying Project Form (QPF) signed by the capstone faculty mentor to the program (Ms. Revelie Niles), per the specified due date.

More information will be provided when available.

Updated April 2023