Information for Students

A successful Capstone experience requires the commitment of several individuals and/or groups of individuals that comprise the Capstone network, including faculty, students, client organizations, and university administrators. To ensure the best experience for all parties, certain expectations have been set forth as outlined below. It is critical that each member of the Capstone becomes familiar with these expectations and remain accountable throughout the experience.

Fall 2012 Registration Information:

To register for Capstone I for the Fall semester, students must complete an Intention to Enroll Survey, housed at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/capstone2012-13 and follow the directions outlined at the completion of the survey to request an access code.

Students are expected to:

• Review and uphold the Capstone objectives, policies, requirements and timeline. 

• Participate actively throughout the Capstone project, sharing their experiences, knowledge and skills to enhance the process for all involved and to provide the best product to the organization. 

• Learn about the organization by researching various sources, including the organization’s website and written materials or publications. 

• Identify the academic literature necessary to provide a framework in which the project will be implemented. 

• Establish, develop and maintain an open dialogue with the organization. 

• Develop an explicit working agreement governing the scope of the project with the organization.

 • Conduct themselves in a collegial and professional  manner with their fellow students and the organization. 

• Demonstrate a capacity for cooperation and resilience, as shown by adapting to changing and complex circumstances, balancing competing demands  and accepting uncertainty and lack of clarity when necessary.  

• Place value on the team management, project management, and partnership aspects of the project. 

• Allow for flexibility with their project if needed, knowing that real-time public health projects do not always go as originally planned. 

• Contact program faculty and/or administrators with  any questions or concerns regarding the Capstone requirements. 

• Manage the financial expenses of the project in a professional and conservative manner according to the guidelines of the NYU MPH Program and submit original receipts for expenses.

• Attend mandatory pre-departure session, if traveling overseas. 

• Meet all deadlines, as determined by their team, the organization, and the NYU MPH Program. 

• Prepare a final report including a paper that integrates didactic knowledge with the team’s findings – and includes an abstract, background, project goal, project methods, results, conclusions and future directions as well as the agreed-upon final product. 

• Present the paper to the NYU MPH Capstone faculty for review.  

• Present the final product to the organization. 

• Deliver an oral presentation of the project at the end of the semester to the NYU public health community.