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 consult 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. Students should be sure to follow the requirements of their catalog year. Posted below are requirements for the 2025-2026 Graduate Catalog.

ProgramDegreeCulminating Project/
Coursework		Department
Resources
Adult and Higher EducationMSInternship (HRD 687) or Directed Study (HRD 698); Capstone (HRD 649)Program Requirements
Athletic TrainingMSClinical field experience & Capstone (ATH 651)Program Requirements
BiologyMSThesis Research (BIO 698) or Literature Review (BIO 697)Program Overview | Program Requirements
Computer ScienceMSInternship (COS 598); Thesis (COS 698) or Project (COS 696)Program Requirements
Counseling – Clinical Mental HealthMSPracticum (HCE 627, 690, & 691) & Internship (HCE 686)Concentration Overview | Program Requirements
Counseling – School CounselingMSPracticum (HCE 627, 690, & 691) & Internship (HCE 686)Concentration Overview | Program Requirements
Creative WritingMFAThesis ManuscriptCurriculum Overview | Program Requirements
CybersecurityMSCapstone or Thesis (CYB 698)Program Requirements
Digital Marketing AnalyticsMSPracticum (DMA 690)Program Requirements
Educational LeadershipMSEdInternship (EDU 685, 688, or 686)Program Requirements
Educational Psychology – Applied Behavioral AnalysisMSProfessional Practice (SPY 650)Program Requirements
LeadershipPhDDissertation (LOS 850 & 851)Program Requirements
Leadership StudiesMAThesis or Capstone (LOS 688 & 689) Program Requirements
Literacy EducationMSEdPracticum (EDU 639)Program Requirements
Music – CompositionMMRecital (MUP 690)Program Requirements
Music – ConductingMMRecital (MUP 690)Program Requirements
Music – EducationMMProfessional Portfolio (MUE 615) or
Thesis (MUS 695)		Program Requirements
Music – Jazz StudiesMMRecital (MUP 690); written examProgram Requirements
Music – PedagogyMMLecture-Recital or Thesis; written or oral exam Program Requirements
Music – Performance MMRecital(s) (MUP 690); written or oral examProgram Requirements
NursingDNPDNP Project (NUR 716, 717, & 718)Program Requirements
Nursing – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse PractitionerMSPracticum (NUR 642, 644, & 646)Program Requirements
Nursing – Family Nurse PractitionerMSPracticum (NUR 667, 668, & 669)Program Requirements
Nursing – Nursing Administration and LeadershipMSNPracticum coursesProgram Requirements
Nursing – Nursing EducationMSNPracticum courses Program Requirements
Nursing – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (across the lifespan)MSPracticum (NUR 673, 686, and 688)Program Requirements
Occupational Therapy MOTFieldwork (OTH 620 & 621)Program Requirements
Occupational Therapy – Entry-Level OTDFieldwork (OTH 620 & 621); Capstone (OTH 760, 770, & 780)Program Requirements
Occupational Therapy – Post-ProfessionalOTDCapstone (OTH 710, 720, & 730) Program Requirements
Policy, Planning, and ManagementMPPMCapstone (PPM 699), Public Service Internship (PPM 696), or non-credit academic portfolioCapstone Process | Program Requirements
Public HealthMPHField Experience (MPH 698) & Capstone (MPH 699)Capstone Project |
Program Requirements
Public Policy – Educational Leadership and PolicyPhDDissertation (EDU 708 & 799)Program Overview | Program Requirements
School PsychologyEdSPracticum (PSY 693 & 694); Internship (PSY 688)Field Based Training | Program Requirements
School Psychology PsyDPracticum (PSY 693, 694, & 750); Internship (PSY 688); Dissertation (PSY 760 & 788)Field Based Training | Program Requirements
Social WorkMSWGeneralist Field Experience (SWO 554 & 555) or Specialized Field Experience (SWO 654 & 655); Optional Thesis (SWO 695 & 696)Field Education Information | Program Requirements
Special Education – Inclusive Instruction for All Students (non-certification)MSRequired courseworkAreas of Focus | Program Requirements
Special Education – Teaching Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities (certification)MSField Experience (SED 625, 627, & 653); Internship (SED 688); Research Capstone (SED 699)Areas of Focus | Program Requirements
Statistics – Applied StatisticsMSOptional: Internship (STA 575), Master’s Thesis or Project (STA 590)Program Requirements
Statistics – BiostatisticsMSOptional: Internship (STA 575), Master’s Thesis or Project (STA 590)Program Requirements
Statistics – Data ScienceMSOptional: Internship (STA 575), Master’s Thesis or Project (STA 590)Program Requirements
Statistics – Applied Mathematics/ Operations ResearchMSOptional: Internship (STA 575), Master’s Thesis or Project (STA 590)Program Requirements
Teacher LeadershipMSEdCapstone (EDU 667) Program Requirements
Teaching and Learning (MTL) – Extended Teacher Education Program (ETEP)MSEdInternship (EDU 543 for Elementary; EDU 550 for Secondary and World Language); Capstone (EDU 643)Program Overview | Program Requirements
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)MSEdPracticum (EDU 623) or Thesis (EDU 689)Practica & Internship Overview | Program Requirements
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL): Initial PreK-12 ESL CertificationMSEdInternship (EDU 640) Practica & Internship Overview | Program Requirements

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