The Dean College Senior Capstone Course: A Look at Four Recent Projects
At Dean College, the majority of students complete a Capstone research project in their senior year, prior to graduation. The purpose of the Capstone is to provide an integrative experience that allows students to apply what they have learned in their academic courses at Dean.
“The Capstone course provides an opportunity for our students to pursue independent research on a topic of their choice,” explained Robin Bowman, Assistant to the Dean for the School of Liberal Arts. “The Capstone then culminates in a research paper, completed under the supervision of a faculty advisor, and then a formal presentation of their results.”
The benefits of completing a Capstone in college are many, including:
- Research, communication, and analytical skills;
- Integration of knowledge;
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills;
- Personal growth and confidence; and
- Preparation for real-world applications.
Dean College’s Professor of Sociology, Kristin Holster, PhD says, “Successfully completing a Capstone course requires dedication, commitment, and self-discipline. Students must overcome challenges, which helps them to develop their confidence. We frequently hear from alumni currently in graduate school that their Capstone experience prepared them well for what is expected of them.”
At the end of 2023, seniors presented their fascinating research to the Dean community. We caught up with four of them to learn a little about their experiences.
Annabelle Cutrer, Dance and Psychology (majors)
Harmonizing Futures: Optimizing Alumni Networks in Performing Arts Higher Education
Q: What was the purpose of your Capstone project?
A: My senior project aimed to bridge the gap between alumni, specifically of Dean College’s Joan Phelps Palladino School of Dance, and the school community. The overarching goal of this project was to create an event proposal designed to enhance alumni engagement and bring them back to campus, fostering a stronger sense of community. As a soon-to-be graduate, I hope to return to Dean as an alumna, which was a big inspiration for my project.
Q: What conclusions did you come to at the end of your Capstone?
A: The results of my survey revealed that dance alumni are very interested in returning to campus to connect with students in a variety of ways. Dean is very special to a lot of people, which was shown in the answers given by alumni. Although there is excitement about future alumni events, results revealed that most alumni (63%) felt neutral when asked about their feelings toward the current alumni program.
Q: How do you think doing a Capstone at Dean prepared you for your future after graduation?
A: In this specific case, I think my Capstone will open up opportunities for all alumni and soon-to-be graduating seniors, including myself. Ideally, the Joan Phelps Palladino School of Dance will use my research and results as motivation to create a strong community between current dance majors and alumni. When it is my turn to take on the role of alumna, I want to have the chance to come back and connect with current dancers and alumni.
Kyle Ingram, Exercise Science (major)
Testing and Comparing VO2max Scores Among Different Positions in Lacrosse
Q: What was the purpose of your Capstone project?
A: The purpose of this study was to compare the oxygen consumption (VO2max) in different lacrosse team positions, while also analyzing which position on the field will consume the most oxygen. The athletes' Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER) was also analyzed.
Q: What conclusions did you come to at the end of your Capstone?
A: I discovered that the position of attackmen had the highest VO2max average, followed by midfielders, and then defenders. The higher the VO2max score was, the individuals tested tended to burn more fat than carbohydrates. This indicates that the VO2max test was not super challenging for the athlete and that the athlete was very conditioned. Body fat percentage was also measured and averaged per position (defenders had the highest).
Q: How do you think doing a Capstone at Dean prepared you for your future after graduation?
A: It prepared me for a potential Capstone project in the future at graduate school. It also utilized all the skills and knowledge I have gathered over the years at Dean, culminating in a research project that can help me down the road with career projects or obstacles I might run into.
MacKenzie Fillion, Biology (major), Psychology (minor)
Gram-Negative Bacteria in Vaping Devices
Q: What was the purpose of your Capstone project?
A: The purpose of my Capstone project was to see if there were gram-positive and gram-negative (harmful) bacteria present within the mouthpiece of vaping devices, as well as to bring awareness to the negative side effects of vaping with visual and textual evidence.
Q: What conclusions did you come to at the end of your Capstone?
A: This study has begun to address the gap regarding bacteria in vaping devices. The results from this study provide insight that gram-negative bacteria are the leading bacteria in these devices, allowing them to harm the human body and create further health implications. Individuals can eliminate exposure to gram-negative bacteria by giving up or avoiding smoking habits. For those who continue to struggle with addiction, it is important that companies strongly enforce policies regarding proper hygiene, follow manufacturing rules, and limit the amount of chemicals that users can be exposed to. These changes could be highly difficult to make since vape products are manufactured internationally, and it is difficult for one country to enforce legislation on another.
Q: How do you think doing a Capstone at Dean prepared you for your future after graduation?
A: I believe my Capstone experience at Dean has prepared me in many ways for my future after college. The main lessons I have learned through this experience include acquiring independent critical thinking skills; the ability to design and conduct experimental studies; maximizing resource utilization; and effectively communicating crucial messages to a wide audience.
Meena Kasthambadi, Early Childhood Education (major)
Effect of Hospitalization on Young Children’s Emotional and Educational Needs: A Review of Literature
Q: What was the purpose of your Capstone project?
A: My goal is to help Early Childhood Educators, or any other professionals who work with children, learn how being hospitalized impacts them. There are all sorts of ways to help children emotionally and physically when they are transitioning back into the classroom.
Q: What conclusions did you come to at the end of your Capstone?
A: The goal of Early Childhood Educators and Child Life Specialists is to educate the whole child, and this cannot be done without a thorough understanding of the characteristics and educational needs of young children who are or have been hospitalized.
Q: How do you think doing a Capstone at Dean prepared you for your future after graduation?
A: This Capstone paper has helped me tremendously for my future after Dean. My goal is to become a Child Life Specialist after graduation and to accomplish this, I will need to go to graduate school. My whole Capstone paper had to do with children in an Early Childhood and Child Life Specialist setting.