Senior Capstone
The capstone experience is fundamental to the completion of a major as part of the degree requirements for the Bachelor's degree. All students complete a senior capstone, whether it be in the form of an individual class, an independent project, an internship, or a senior thesis. The senior capstone offers an opportunity for undergraduates to do extensive research or work in a specialized field. Each major has its own specific designations and requirements for the capstone, and students should work closely with their academic advisor to complete this requirement.
Senior Thesis
The thesis, required in some majors, is a written research project that is intended to demonstrate ability to do mature work within the field of study. The thesis topic must be developed in conjunction with the thesis advisor. If, for extenuating reasons, a thesis is incomplete, the student may seek an Incomplete grade from their Thesis Advisor, if permitted by the department (see the Incomplete Grades section of this catalog).
Internship
Students have the option of completing an internship in many majors. An internship provides the opportunity for a student to integrate work and formal education with professional experience in his/her major field of study, to test the chosen career path, and to be involved in activities similar to those of full-time employees. While some competitive internship opportunities may be available through the University, it is generally the student’s responsibility to secure an internship site. Students should consult the Career Center for more information about internships at www.fus.edu/services/careers.
To be eligible to enroll for a credit-bearing internship to fulfill a major requirement, the student must have earned at least 60 semester hours of university credit (Junior class level), including at least 18 credits (6 courses) within the major with a grade of C or above in each of these courses, and be in good academic standing. Students must have fulfilled any additional internship requirements set by the individual department. The student and supervising professor have the option of designating the internship class as fulfilling a writing-intensive requirement.
The student must meet the minimum requirement of 90 clock hours at the work site, in addition to time spent completing academic requirements assigned by the faculty supervisor. Regular tuition for the academic semester for which the student is registered is charged for any internship experience. Internships are graded using the standard grading scale for courses at Franklin University.