BSPH CAPSTONE AND INTERNSHIP INFORMATION

Kensington, South Africa Lydia Onimo stops for a photo with her group of secondary students.  Lydia took part in Tulane's Center for Public Service this summer and worked with the University of Cape Town's SHAWCO (Students' Health and Wellness Centres Organisation).  Her program tutored local students in the Kensington area.

SPHU 456 (1-3 credit hours)

OPTIONS FOR THE CAPSTONE REQUIREMENT:

The Capstone experience is designed to integrate, synthesize and apply knowledge as developed through a student's academic program.

The undergraduate student has four options for completion of the capstone requirement:

1. Minimum 60-hour internship and a weekly internship seminar at the Center for Public Service.  Get more information and the internship application.
2. Student Research
3. Study Abroad program
4. Honors Thesis

The student must resolve all incompletes before registering for the capstone.

Students may register and begin the capstone only after she/he has completed 70 credit hour or four semesters of coursework.  Usually the capstone experience takes place in the semester before anticipated graduation.  However, it is never too early to start thinking about and investigating opportunities to fulfill this requirement.  The student must be at least a junior or a rising junior to do the internship over the summer.  This also implies that current sophomores must have already taken a Service Learning class before taking the internship.

CAPSTONE COMMITTEE:

The student capstone committee will consist of a student academic advisor and a second faculty member.  Applied disciplines such as Public Health (which necessitates and applied learning experience) may appoint a third member or replace the second member with the immediate supervisor of the student in the field.

CAPSTONE FORMAT:

The student must prepare a capstone plan which includes:

1. Scope and objective of the capstone,
2. Methodology for conducting the capstone,
3. Expected skills to be learned, and
4. A final report which is submitted to the student committee for evaluation.

CAPSTONE EVALUATION:

Capstone Committee members will evaluate the report and assign it a letter grade.

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Common Questions About the Capstone and Internship         

1. If I am doing the internship, how do I find placement?

Contact Christopher Lane, Internship Coordinator at the Center for Public Service, via e-mail or call (504) 862.3357 for more information and to pick up an application.

2. Should it be paid or unpaid? What about my GPA?

If you want this to be considered your public service, it must be unpaid.  The work done should be fairly clearly "public service".  Students must have a 3.0 GPA or the department advisor's consent.

3. Will I graduate if my capstone is not completed?

No.  You will be unable to graduate and your degree will not be granted until all documents are completed and approved.

**Please note that students are responsible for initiating and following through with this process**

Useful links:

Internship Application and Information weblink