Overview
The Race and Ethnic Studies senior project is a significant component of the Race and Ethnic Studies curriculum and is required of all majors. (For a full description of the program’s graduation requirements please consult the college catalog.)
All graduating majors must complete an intersectional research paper, or a comparable creative project demonstrating knowledge of more than one disciplinary approach to the study of race, ethnicity, and/or critical indigenous studies. The project’s specifications may be determined by the student in consultation with either their RACE 396: Research and Creativity instructor or RACE 398: Independent Research supervisor.
Options for Completion
Senior majors are strongly encouraged to fulfill their capstones by taking RACE 396: Research and Creativity. In an instance in which registering for the capstone may not be possible due to, for example, off-campus study, a student may complete their capstone through RACE 398: Independent Research.
OPTION 1–RACE 396: Research and creativity
Beginning in spring 2021, RACE senior majors may take a research seminar that introduces students to knowledge and cultural production in Race and Ethnic Studies. This spring course provides a class structure and cohort workshop community for senior majors to develop and complete their capstone projects. Offered annually, this course will also be open to juniors who wish to complete this degree component during spring of junior year. Concentrators may also register by permission of the instructor.
Option 2–RACE 398: Independent Research
In late fall of senior year, a student will identify a topic, consult with a RACE program faculty affiliate who will serve as their IR supervisor, and notify the program director. The student will also advise of their intention to undertake RACE 398: Independent Research to receive academic credit for their senior project research.
If a student chooses this option, the student should include a reflective component about how the project fulfills program ILOs and integrates previous coursework in Race and Ethnic Studies into their independent research activities. The student will present their work during the senior project poster session and reception. On Reading Day, the RACE 398 faculty supervisor will advise the program director of whether the student has satisfactorily completed the senior project. The program director will then notify the registrar.
Senior Project Learning Outcomes
In October 2019, the Race and Ethnic Studies faculty approved the following intended learning outcomes to guide senior project evaluation.
Students will demonstrate:
- Interdisciplinary and intersectional creative or critical approaches to the study of race, ethnicity, and/or indigeneity.
- Synthesis of their coursework in Race and Ethnic Studies by developing a project that builds off of their previous study in a RACE elective or extends a capstone in a discipline or another interdisciplinary field.
- Reflection on how their senior projects meet RACE program ILOs. Specifically, student projects should demonstrate through research or creative work the ability to examine core concepts and theoretical approaches within the field of race and ethnic studies.
- Engaged community praxis such as participating in RACE’s annual senior project poster session and reception.
Senior Project Timetable
November-December
Please complete a senior project survey to inform the program director of your plans for your capstone. Students may consult the program website for past senior project examples and meet with a RACE program advisor to explore possibilities.
Early May
Students will present their findings during the annual senior project presentations and reception traditionally held in Buntrock Crossroads. By May 1, if undertaking the capstone by project committee, they will submit their reflections to their project committees for review.
Reading Day
Project committees, the RACE 396 instructor, and RACE 398: Independent Research supervisors notify the program director whether the senior projects have been satisfactorily completed. The program director then informs the students and the registrar.
Updated October 2022
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