Depending on your graduate program, you may be required to complete a capstone, thesis, or dissertation as part of your degree requirements. This page is designed to help you determine which, if any, of these you will need to complete for your program, and provide guidance on department and campus resources available to you.

The Different Types of Culminating Projects

See each section below for details on what comprises each type of culminating project.

Typically completed during the final semesters of a graduate degree program, a Capstone project serves as the culmination of a student’s educational experience. Usually, the Capstone project is completed alongside a semester-long seminar course designed to help a student workshop and fine-tune their ideas with their peers.

Specifications for the Capstone project will vary by department. Please see your academic department’s website or your faculty academic advisor for additional details.

A thesis is a final research paper required for the completion of many master’s degree programs. All students completing a thesis should follow University guidelines for preparation and submission.

Your department may also have specific requirements that you should be aware of. Please see your academic department’s website of your faculty academic advisor for additional details.

A dissertation is a final research paper required for the completion of many doctoral degree programs. Dissertations usually call for doctoral candidates to conduct their own research, and offer the opportunity to contribute new knowledge to their field of study.

Program faculty and staff will have specific information about the options available in a given academic program. These may include the following projects:

  • Internship or Field Experience
  • Academic Portfolio
  • Comprehensive Exam

Program Information

Use the table below to find out what the project requirements are for your specific degree program. We recommend referring to your department, faculty academic advisor, or thesis/capstone advisor for additional information.

ProgramDegreeCulminating ProjectDepartment Resources
BiologyMSThesis (Research or Literature Review)Program Requirements
Business AdministrationMBACapstone (Practicum)MBA 698 Course Description
Business Administration – EngineeringMBACapstoneEGN 602 Course Description
Business Administration – AccountingMBACapstone (Practicum)MBA 698 Course Description
Business Administration – Business AnalyticsMBACapstone (Practicum)MBA 698 Course Description
Business Administration – FinanceMBACapstone (Practicum)MBA 698 Course Description
Business Administration – Health ManagementMBACapstone (Practicum)MBA 698 Course Description
Business Administration – SustainabilityMBACapstone (Practicum)MBA 698 Course Description
Creative WritingMFAThesisNone
Adult and Higher EducationMSInternship/Directed Study and Professional PortfolioCurrent Student Resources
Counseling – Clinical Mental HealthMSInternship and portfolioProgram Requirements
Counseling – RehabilitationMSInternship and portfolioProgram Requirements
Counseling – School CounselingMSInternship and portfolioProgram Requirements
Educational LeadershipMSEdTk20 SubscriptionProgram Requirements
Educational Psychology – Applied Behavioral AnalysisMSCulminating Project (SPY 607)Program Requirements
Educational Psychology – School PsychologyMSInternshipSPY 688 Course Description
Literacy EducationMSEdPracticum (EDU 639)EDU 639 Course Description
Montessori Early Childhood EducationMSEdCapstoneEDU 643 Course Description
School PsychologyMSInternshipSPY 688 Course Description
Special Education – Effective Instruction and Assessment for Students with Suspected and Identified DisabilitiesMSCapstoneSED 699 Course Description
Special Education – In-ServiceMSCapstoneEDU 600 / SED 699 Course Description
Special Education – Integrated General Education and Special Education Education Initial Teacher CertificationMSCapstoneSED 699 Course Description
Special Education – Pre-ServiceMSCapstoneSED 699 Course Description
Teacher LeadershipMSEdCapstoneCurrent Student Resources
Teacher Education – Extended Teacher Education ProgramMSEdCapstoneEDU 643 Course Description
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)MSEdPracticum (EDU 623)EDU 623 Course Description 
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) – K-12MSEdPracticum (EDU 623) and Internship (EDU 640)EDU 623 Course Description and EDU 640 Course Description
Leadership StudiesMACapstone project OR thesisThesis Guidelines
Music – CompositionMM45 Minute RecitalProgram Requirements
Music – ConductingMMExit requirements vary by departmentProgram Requirements
Music – Jazz StudiesMMRecital and written examProgram Requirements
Music – Music EducationMMProfessional Portfolio (MUE 615) or Thesis (MUE 695); Tk20 SubscriptionCourse Descriptions
Music – PedagogyMMFinal lecture, recital, or thesis; written or oral examProgram Requirements
Music – PerformanceMMWritten or oral exam; recital varies by degreeProgram Requirements
Nursing – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse PractitionerMS568 clinical hours; Clinical ProjectProgram Requirements
Nursing – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse PractitionerMS568 clinical hours; Clinical ProjectProgram Requirements
Nursing – EducationMS224 experiential hours (Practicum); Clinical Project 
Nursing – Family Nurse PractitionerMSPracticum and clinical projectNUR 667 / NUR 668 / NUR 669 / NUR 658 Course Descriptions
Nursing – Option for Non-NursesMSPracticum and clinical projectNUR 667 / NUR 668 / NUR 669 / NUR 658 Course Descriptions
Nursing – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse PractitionerMSPracticumNUR 673 / NUR 688 / BUR 686 / NUR 658 Course Descriptions
Nursing – RN to Master of Science Degree ProgramMSAccording to APRN track aboveAs above according to SPRN track
Occupational TherapyMOTFieldworkMOT Student Handbook
Policy, Planning, and ManagementMPPMCapstone, Internship, or non-credit PortfolioDept website, Academic Resources and Internships
Public HealthMPHCapstoneDept website, Capstone (MPH)
Social WorkMSWResearch Project or Thesis OptionThesis guidelines under “MSW Program”
StatisticsMSProject or Thesis (up to 6cr) optionProgram Requirements
LeadershipPhDDissertationProgram Requirements
NursingDNPDNP ProjectNUR 705 / NUR 706 Course Descriptions
Public Policy – Educational Leadership and PolicyPhDDissertationProgram Requirements
School PsychologyPsyDDissertationDoctoral Dissertation

Campus Resources

Listed here are a few of the resources available for students who working on their capstone, dissertation, and thesis guidelines. This list is by no mean exhaustive, and we recommend referring to your department, faculty academic advisor, or thesis/capstone advisor for additional suggestions.

Office of Research Integrity and Outreach (ORIO) – ORIO can assist students who are conducting research to navigate complicated issues such as:

  • Using human or animal subjects
  • Biosafety
  • Avoiding and managing conflicts of interest
  • Adhering to guidelines for responsible research

USM Libraries – See the library for assistance with:

  • Locating research articles
  • Questions regarding binding and printing
  • Publishing your capstone, thesis, or dissertation to the Digital Commons

Contact: Mary Holt, Library Specialist – Digital Initiatives and Access Services