New College Capstone Options
You have a choice between two models for your Moral Issues in Society (Capstone) course at New College. Both require that you show you have mastered the Mission Course skills which are:
- Writing
- Research
- Moral reasoning
- Critical thinking
- Civic Engagement
As always, there are many resources on campus (including your instructor) which will help you fine tune these skills, but your final project on either model is expected to showcase what you have learned through your St. Edward’s education.
Traditional Model
This course is based largely in the classroom and the library (or online). It requires that you ultimately write a 20-30 page paper on a controversial moral issue in today’s society. These include topics like illegal immigration, FEMA and the re-building of New Orleans, mandatory vaccinations, health care reform, school funding and the education crisis, and many others. You will pick your subject of investigation, becoming an expert on it through the study of its history, stakeholders, and implications for both public policy and individual citizens. Your topic might be something you have touched on before and always wanted to learn more about or it could be entirely new to you. The purpose is for you to show off your skills as a college educated person addressing the very real problems which face our society. As the St. Edward’s Mission Statement promises: “graduates … should be prepared, through training in critical and creative thinking as well as moral reasoning, toanalyze problems, propose solutions and make responsible decisions.”
The course is designed to assist you in the larger project by building your final paper in three stages. The first is a 5-7 page paper outlining your topic and the beginnings of your research on background, history, and stakeholders. After receiving feedback on that paper, you revise and incorporate it into a larger Paper Two which includes deeper research and objective presentation of both sides exhibiting critical thinking and values analysis. Finally, you will choose a solution to the controversy which you consider the best option and justify it. After extensive feedback on this second paper, you will be ready to finalize your work in Paper Three. Thus, the processis calculated to give you clear instruction and evaluation at every step of your project enabling you to write a scholarly research paper which makes you – and St. Edward’s – proud!
Civic Engagement Model
This model of the Capstone course focuses on the local community, emphasizing ways in which citizens can become involved and make a real difference. It further focuses on ways in which communities and universities can inform one another and work together towards building a better society. It begins with the choice of a topic which comes under the heading of “civic engagement,” broadly defined as any action which is intended to improve the community. As such, projects can include improvements as well as solutions to problems. Past projects include: gentrification of the Eastside, foster children who “age out” of the system, homeless children and schools, elder care centers, buy local programs, Austin’s green belt, preservation of downtown (vs. “big box” stores), and many others.
The format of the course is to spend half of the time on field research and half on traditional scholarly research. Field research includes attending meetings, investigating websites, email, phone, and face to face interviews, visits to local venues (music, restaurants, businesses, museums, etc.), and many other options. (Field research can also be done completely online.) The scholarly research is much the same as in the traditional version, utilizing the research and scholarly skills developed in your major and general education courses. After synthesizing the field and scholarly information, students present their projects at the New College Civic Engagement Capstone Symposium an, an exciting opportunity to share their accomplishments with family, friends, faculty, members of the community, and fellow students. Participation in the Symposium can take the form of either an audience-based, formal presentation or the presentation of findings in a poster session.
If you would like more information on either of these options or might like to sit in on a class or two to determine which model best suits you, please contact Jennifer Greene at .