The senior project is a three-credit, independent effort required for the human ecology degree. It is a significant intellectual endeavor, experiment, research project, or original work which is intended to advance understanding in a particular academic area and bring together the skills and knowledge acquired during the student’s college career. It is a major work at an advanced level, occupying at least one term, earning three credits. The three credits of a senior project may be spread over two or more terms if the research requires more than 10 weeks or if the student wishes to combine the senior project with course work in their final terms. Many approved senior projects take place primarily off campus.
With the exception of the spring term prior to graduation, senior project enrollment may be combined with course enrollment even if the total load is four credits. If a student wishes to conduct a senior project, in whole or in part, in the spring term and enroll for one or more classes, registering for more than three credits total, they must gain approval through an appeal to the Review and Appeals Committee prior to the end of the add/drop period for the spring term.
Once a student registers for their senior project, they will have one academic year (three consecutive terms) to complete it, barring extensions. If at the end of that time period the project is not completed the student will be withdrawn from the institution. When a student re-enrolls to complete their project, they must reapply through the office of admission and pay all applicable admission fees, as well as a one-time senior project registration fee. The project must be completed by the end of the term. If the student does not complete the project in the allotted time, the next enrollment will be at the full rate of three credits with a new proposal required and with one academic year to complete the project.
A COA faculty member or a non-COA expert may serve as the senior project director. This person is responsible for the final evaluation and may or may not be the faculty member on a student’s permanent advising team. In addition, resource persons outside the college may be used. Non-COA project directors are eligible for a $400 honorarium.
The review and appeals committee posts deadlines for submission of senior project proposals; the deadlines are listed on the back cover of this catalog and online. Students wishing to register for senior project credits must obtain a signature from the chair of the review and appeals committee on their registration form. In order to obtain a signature from the chair of Review and Appeals, a student must have submitted a complete proposal to the committee for review.
Proposals should be readable by the general community and free of jargon. The relevance of the project within the context of a COA education should be clear. A completed proposal should be submitted to the review and appeals committee before registering for senior project credits. Project proposal cover sheets are available in the registrar’s office and online with a checklist of required elements included.
The following elements must be included in a senior project proposal:
- Statements describing purpose, methodology, schedule for completion, criteria for evaluation, manner of final presentation, and the role of the project director
Detailed description of the way in which this project is a culmination of the student’s work at COA, including academic background, career goals, and qualifications to do this work
- Documentation of how the student will achieve 450 academically engaged hours
- Bibliography and/or other references which place the work in a theoretical context, demonstrating what will be new learning or original synthesis
- A cover sheet bearing signatures of the permanent advising team members and the project director, including the preliminary project title
Note: Senior projects without completed and approved proposals cannot receive credit, which may result in a student not being able to graduate.
Questions? Contact Barbara Carter.