Track Selection Timeline

Applicable to students entering SMEA in fall 2026 (all dates pertain to the first year in graduate program)

Sept. 28 – 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 8 – Track Selection Overview

All students are strongly encouraged to attend to learn more about all three track, discuss the options, and ask any questions they may have about each track.

October 15- 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 6 – Students Submit Capstone Selections

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

November 20 – Capstone Matches Announced

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

December 11 – 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 9 – 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 9 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 11 – Thesis Committee Nomination

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