Senior Capstone Experience
Washington College’s Senior Capstone Experience (SCE) represents the culmination of previous academic work and intellectual thought and as such requires demonstrated student initiative, significant preparatory work, active inquiry, and creative integration of acquired knowledge and skills.
SCE Guidelines
Washington College’s Senior Capstone Experience (SCE) represents the culmination of previous academic work and intellectual thought. As such, it requires initiative, significant preparatory work, and active inquiry. The CMS SCE requires students to integrate the knowledge and skills acquired through the major in their original project, demonstrating mastery of a body of knowledge. Students will engage in a long-term, substantive project that combines research, writing, and presentation of original ideas.
Upon successful completion of their SCE, students will receive a grade of Pass, Fail, or Honors. Passing and Honors SCE projects earn four academic credits that count toward the total number of credits needed to graduate from the College. To graduate as a CMS major, students must pass their SCE.
SCE Honors
CMS students with a major GPA of 3.5 can attempt an Honors capstone. Students who complete an Honor’s capstone and maintain a 3.5 GPA through the end of the senior year earn Departmental Honors, conferred at graduation.