Advanced Methods at Purdue (AMAP) in the Behavioral, Health, and Social Sciences

Capstone Experiences

We receive many inquiries about what capstone experiences are possible. Below are some examples from past certificate students. Certificate students can alternatively propose their own idea for a capstone experience (email idea to AMAP@purdue.edu).

Past approved capstones:

  • Serving as a teaching assistant (TA) for a graduate-level method course
    • E.g., Students have TA'ed for SOC680, SOC 681, POL605, and others
    • Some instructors allow students to TA as an independent study to fulfill the capstone
  • Serving as a methodological resource for a research project
    • One student served as a methodological expert for a research project that developed and fielded an online survey.
  • Writing a journal article-length methods paper or dissertation chapter
    • Papers must primarily focus on research methods
    • Student must be first/lead author
    • We do not require method papers to be published for the capstone. However, the papers must be of high quality that are suitable for publication
  • Conducting an interdisciplinary workshop on an advanced methodological technique
    • Workshops are typically designed to be two or three hours on method-related topics.
    • Students can co-teach a workshop. E.g. Two certificate students taught a workshop on "data collection in the transnational context"
  • Participating in an approved Data Mine project
  • RA'ing for AMAP
    • AMAP offers a year-long full-time RA'ship to one student each year

Although the above are examples of past capstone experiences, students can propose their own capstone experience (AMAP@purdue.edu). We are open to student ideas for their own capstones.