Students who entered Tulane in the Fall of 2006 or thereafter follow "the new curriculum," which includes a capstone experience in their major during the junior or senior year [Note: Students only are required to complete a capstone in one major; a psychology major who has a secondary major in another discipline may complete his or her capstone in psychology OR in the other discipline].
The capstone in psychology has the following features and options:
Project format- The capstone experience is to culminate in a written paper or product, poster presentation or Powerpoint presentation. Exact medium will in most cases be determined by the sponsoring faculty member. Projects are to be done individually.
Content- The project requirement may be satisfied in several ways: by initiating and completing an empirical study; by completing a historical treatment or theoretical integration of a discipline or disciplines within psychology; or applying psychological principles and content to a problem in the community.
Sponsorship- Capstone opportunities are offered by department faculty, which includes regular full-time professors, professors of practice, adjunct faculty and visiting professors. Graduate students and individuals hired on a course-by-course basis do not offer capstone opportunities. The sponsoring faculty member determines whether the completed project fulfills the capstone requirement. The Department will strive to insure that sponsorships are distributed equitably among faculty members. Students should not therefore expect that a particular faculty member need sponsor their capstone project.
Courses- The capstone experience must be attached to a 3 credit course, preferably in the senior year but no sooner than second semester junior year.
Students may satisfy the psychology capstone with 500, 502, 504, or 618 OR by registering for 511 along with any 300-level or higher course. Approval for 511 generally is pro forma for 456, 457, 481, 482, 501, 503, and 658 as long as students are second-semester juniors and meet other prerequisites. Arrangements may be made with instructors for capstone projects in other 300-level or higher courses, and requires approval for co-registration in 511. [Double-majors do NOT need to complete a PSYC capstone if they complete a capstone in their other major]. Credits earned from the capstone count as part of the 23 credits in psychology at or above the 300-level, and the course also may satisfy additional requirements (e.g., 481, 482, 500, 658 all count as psychology lab courses).
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY CAPSTONE - Seniors and second-semester juniors enrolled in this course as a capstone experience will complete the lecture and laboratory portions of the course, and attend a weekly seminar previously reserved for graduate students. In seminar, students will read and discuss empirical research articles on current topics in the field of psychopharmacology, and lead one Powerpoint-assisted discussion of a topic of interest. PLEASE NOTE: The capstone is intended to be a culmination of a major's coursework in a specific area of study. Psychology majors who have taken only one course in the biological bases of behavior (e.g., Brain and Behaivor) are not encouraged to apply Psychopharmacology as a capstone. Psychopharmacology should only be taken as a capstone if a Psychology major has already taken coursework beyond Brain and Behavior. REGISTRATION: To register for Psychopharmacology as a capstone, you already must be registered for PSYC 653 (lecture) and a section of PSYC 654 (laboratory). Then contact Dr. Dohanich for approval (dohanich@tulane.edu) to register for PSYC 511 (capstone).
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