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Senior Project

The senior project is a capstone experience required for all Cal Poly students receiving a baccalaureate degree. It integrates theory and application from across the student's undergraduate educational experiences.

The senior project consists of one of the following:

1. A research paper of 35-50 pages in length, double-spaced
2. A self-guided research project, which must have a substantial written component

The senior project is related to the student's field of study, future employment, and/or academic goals. It is carried out under direct faculty supervision by the following regular faculty: Craig Arceneaux, Chris Den Hartog, Ron Den Otter, Anika Leithner, Dianne Long, Matthew Moore, Allen Settle, Linda Shepherd, Michael Latner, Elizabeth Lowham, Ning Zhang, or Jean Williams. The precise nature or form of a senior project is to be determined by the student and faculty advisor. We recommend working with a faculty member with whom you have taken classes and/or whose area of expertise lends itself to your project.

To satisfy the senior project requirement, you must either: enroll in POLS 461 and POLS 462 at the same time, or enroll in POLS 481. POLS 461 and 462 are independent study sections in which you work independently with your senior project faculty advisor. With this option, you do not meet in a class; rather, you meet individually with your senior project advisor. POLS 481, the Senior Project Seminar, is usually offered only once a year. In this class, students must attend a regular class and do their senior projects under the direction of the professor teaching the class.

To begin the Senior Project process, first talk with a member of the Political Science faculty who is likely to be knowledgeable about topics in which you are interested. Also, be aware that different faculty members have different philosophies about how to develop a senior project. In POLS 481, the instructor of that class will be your supervisor. Also set up a tentative schedule for when sections of the project will be completed.

Consider topics/projects related to prior course research. The topic has to fall under the umbrella of "politics," but this can include broad coverage of a big issue, in depth treatment of a particular one, a political biography of an important public figure, historical analysis, or any number of domestic and foreign policy issues. The Resources page has various links useful for exploring topics of interest and for conducting research. Note that many faculty require that you complete the Senior Project Contract prior to beginning your senior project.

The senior project is an opportunity to be especially creative and scholarly. Take it seriously. Begin work on it as soon as possible and stay in touch with the faculty supervisor on how work is progressing. You are not a Cal Poly graduate and you do not receive a diploma until a senior project is completed.

Outcomes
Students are expected to demonstrate one or more of the following learning outcomes.

1. Ability to reduce a topic to specific points of analysis.
2. Ability to organize the points of analysis into a logical sequence.
3. Ability to apply acquired competencies to the successful completion of a project.
4. Ability to obtain, evaluate, synthesize, and apply project-related information.
5. Ability to develop and follow a project plan.
6. Ability to estimate hours of labor and/or cost of materials necessary to complete a project.
7. Ability to organize, illustrate, and write clear and concise project documentation.
8. Ability to accept supervision when needed.

General Requirements
The department's requirements are noted below.

1. The total number of senior project units must be 4 quarter units.
2. Normally 30 hours of student work will be required for each unit of credit granted, thus a senior project should occupy approximately 120 hours from start to finish.
3. The student is responsible for identifying costs and potential funding sources for senior project prior to initiation of the project. Costly projects are discouraged.
4. It is the student's responsibility to become informed about the university's intellectual properties policy and human subjects policy (where applicable). If your project involves research on people (including interviews or polls), you must obtain clearance from the Human Subjects Committee prior to beginning work. This process can take several weeks.
5. All senior projects must include a literature review. A literature review is an explanation and synthesis of the state of scholarly debate about some issue. In simple language, it is evidence that you have read much of the existing literature and that you can explain what the major positions are, how and why people disagree, where there are gaps or unanswered questions, and where things might be headed next. A literature review is not just several short book reports strung together. Instead, it should be a synthesis of the ideas and arguments in the field.
6. All senior projects must include some element of original research. Examples include conducting interviews, presenting original readings of primary documents, performing original analyses of data, and conducting an original opinion poll.

Procedural Requirements
The faculty of the Department of Political Science has adopted the following guidelines as the minimum standards required for the successful completion of a senior project in this major. These guidelines are only procedural.

1. It is recommended that you use a style manual such as A Manual for Writers of Term Papers by Kate L. Turabian for all submitted written material.
2. All senior projects shall represent, in the opinion of the faculty advisor, the hours required to successfully complete a minimum of four units of work.
3. The proposed subject of the senior project must be agreed to by the faculty member overseeing the project prior to beginning.
4. If these criteria are successfully met, and the project is technically correct, it shall be approved as fulfilling the department's minimum requirements for graduation. The grade shall be determined by the advisor's professional evaluation of the substance of the project.
5. Senior Projects may only be submitted on CD-ROM given to the faculty advisor.
6. Submission of Senior Project to the Library is optional. See Library for more information.

Rough Schedule

Week 1-On the first day of the quarter, you should have a clearly stated research question and a description of the methods you plan to use. You should also have an advisor who has agreed to supervise the project.

Week 2-By the end of the second week, you should have identified most of the literature relevant to your project.

Week 3-Reading

Week 4-By the end of the fourth week, you should have an outline of the literature review ready.

Week 5-By the end of the fifth week, you should have an outline of the entire project ready.

Week 6-Writing

Week 7-Writing

Week 8-Turn in a complete rough draft to your advisor

Week 9-Revising

Week 10-Make final revisions, and turn in the final draft no later than the Monday of exam week.

For answers to additional questions regarding Senior Projects, contact a faculty member who specializes in a topic of interest to you. See the Political Science Department's faculty pages for further information on faculty specializations.