Track Selection Timeline

Applicable to students entering SMEA in fall 2025 (all dates pertain to the first year in graduate program)

Sept. 18 – Orientation

Capstone projects will be announced to students with capstone descriptions including:

• justification for the study
• question(s) to be answered
• analytical methods
• data sources
• deliverables
• projected cost of data collection/analysis

October 16 – Capstone Presentations

The selected capstone projects will be presented to students by the faculty advisor &/or clients. In consultation with the first year advisor, students select the track/option most appropriate for their career goals.

November 7 – Students Submit Capstone Selections

Students interested in being placed into a capstone group submit their preliminary capstone project selections.

November 21 – Capstone Matches Announced

First year prospective capstone students receive notification of their capstone matches.

December 12 – Track Selection Deadline

First year students submit one of the following to the Graduate Program Advisor (Tiffany Comtois-Dion):

Professional Track

• Capstone: Confirm participation on specific capstone project (include project title and capstone advisor). CC the Capstone Advisor (faculty assigned to capstone).
• Courses-only: Submit one-paragraph explanation of how the course-only approach meets the student’s career goals. Include name of faculty advisor who will oversee course selections and cc them.

Thesis Track

• Submit a one-page rationale for the thesis project and the name of the thesis chair.

April 10 – Submission Deadline

Deadline for first year students to submit one of the following:

Professional Track

• Capstone track: Students completing a capstone project will submit a capstone project management plan. Each student should submit their own capstone project management cover page and supporting documents.
• Courses-only track: Students completing the course-only option will submit a detailed plan of courses including the following elements as specified below (note that not every student will have courses in every category).
  • A list of content/topics the student wants to learn; how they contribute to the student’s career goals; a list of courses and departments that offer them;
  • A list of analytical skills the student plans to acquire; how they contribute to the student’s career goals; a list of courses and departments that offer them;
  • Professional skills the student plans to acquire; how they contribute to the student’s career goals; a list of courses and departments that offer them.

Thesis Track

• Students completing a thesis project will submit a thesis prospectus.

If a student in the capstone option of the professional track or in the thesis track misses the April 10 deadline, the student transfers to the course-only option in the professional track. In this case, the student submits the detailed plan of courses (as defined above) within one week.

June 12 – Thesis Committee Nomination

Deadline for first year thesis track students to submit their thesis committee nomination form.