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Capstone(s)... What are they and how do they work???
#1
Is there anyone willing to explain exactly what a Capstone is and what the process is to apply and take this?  When making a degree plan, do I need to apply for and take this Capstone within a certain amount of time in order to graduate accordingly? 

Sorry, still new to this, learning and want to make sure I plan accordingly and have a clear understanding. 

Also, does any of the Capstone fulfill any part of the degree itself? Or, do I need to take any courses with the college (i.e.; TESU) in addition to the Capstone?

Thanks in advance for any feedback! I couldn't find anything in the search feature.
Completed:
The Institues-Insurance Ethics (2cr)                          
Sophia.orgDeveloping Effective Teams (1cr), The Essentials of Managing Conflict (1cr)
CSMLearn- CSMLearn Course (3cr)
TEEX- Cybersecurity 101, 201, 301 (11cr)
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#2
I will try to answer your question to the best of my knowledge, based on my experience at TESU.
A Capstone essentially reflects the ‘pinnacle’ of all your learning. You are expected to synthesize your learning, conduct some research in your chosen field, and contribute to newer understanding in that field. In doing so, you deepen your own understanding of that subject/field, and you also display your knowledge/competence. A Capstone is also an immersion into academic writing - something one has to increasingly do in graduate school.
Considering all this, it is ideal to complete the Capstone as your final course, after you have gained considerable knowledge and understanding through all the other courses. At TESU, one is required to have 100 credits applied to one’s degree before enrolling for the Capstone, and this requires all or most of the core subjects or AOS- Area of Study. Some of us here attempted the Capstone, while simultaneously also completing other courses and earning credits. From my experience, this proved a little challenging, even though I needed to complete only 3 courses (9 credits) alongside the Capstone. My personal recommendation would be to transfer 117 credits, and then enrol for the Capstone, so you can dedicate all of your focus and available time to research, and producing the Capstone project.
Based on when you choose to graduate, there are certain windows for when you should be completing the Capstone. These details are available on the TESU website.
The Capstone program in TESU stretches over 12 weeks, and comes in two variants: Online study, and Guided study. I opted for the Online study, which was split into 5 major assignments + one final Capstone project (which is essentially a compilation of the previous five assignments, but incorporating the suggestions/corrections offered by your mentor). Additionally, there were online discussions one had to participate in. The assignments had to be submitted every second Sunday. Each Capstone batch of students will be guided by a mentor, a Professor. You get to select your mentor, and join his/her batch at the time of enrolling for the Capstone.
All of what I have described are the general elements of a TESU Capstone course. There might be slight variations based on whether you are doing a Lib. Studies or a BSBA Capstone. I believe since I completed it in June, the Lib. Studies Capstone also has some newer elements now. Capstone structures might also slightly vary in other universities. So, you might need to review their websites and carefully understand what it entails.
TESU BALS-Psych. + ASNSM(Math) 

TEEX(6): Cybersec. 101/201/301
The Institutes(2): Ethics
Sophia(2): Ess. Of Managing Conflict, Dev. Effective Teams
NFA(1): Comm. Safety Edu.
GED(10): NAS-131, SOC-273, MAT-121, HUM-101 (1)
Study.com(75): Intro to Psych., Soc. Psych.-1, Growth & Dev. Psych., Personality Psych., History & Systems of Psych., Org. Theory, Library Science, Comm. at Workplace, Intro to World Religion, I/O Psych., Ethics in Soc. Sc., Org. Comm., Eng. 104, Eng. 105, History of Vietnam war, Sp. Ed. History & Law, Diff. Ed., Classroom Mgmt., Foundations of Ed., Abnormal Psych., Rsch. methods in Psych., College Math, Intro. to Geometry., Calculus (6).
Saylor (15): Intro. to Mol. & Cellular Bio., Comp. Politics, Corporate Comm., Env. Ethics, Principles of Comm. 
TESU (1): Cornerstone, Lib. 495 Capstone.
CSM (3): Quant. reasoning. 
Aleks (6): Trigonometry, Intro to Statistics. 

MS-Psychology; Walden University 
GPA: 4/4
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#3
This is amazing information!  Thank you for your super detailed response.  I appreciate this all so much!  

One last questions if you don't mind. I'm assuming since you suggested transferring over the 117 credits, that the Capstone itself counts as 3 credits to make the 120 total needed.  If that is in fact the case, where would those 3 credits apply in the degree?
Completed:
The Institues-Insurance Ethics (2cr)                          
Sophia.orgDeveloping Effective Teams (1cr), The Essentials of Managing Conflict (1cr)
CSMLearn- CSMLearn Course (3cr)
TEEX- Cybersecurity 101, 201, 301 (11cr)
Reply
#4
You are welcome. The Capstone usually has a separate standing in the academic evaluation. But one could consider it the most important element of the AOS. So, those 3 credits are usually counted as part of the Upper Level course requirements for the AOS, and for the degree as a whole.
TESU BALS-Psych. + ASNSM(Math) 

TEEX(6): Cybersec. 101/201/301
The Institutes(2): Ethics
Sophia(2): Ess. Of Managing Conflict, Dev. Effective Teams
NFA(1): Comm. Safety Edu.
GED(10): NAS-131, SOC-273, MAT-121, HUM-101 (1)
Study.com(75): Intro to Psych., Soc. Psych.-1, Growth & Dev. Psych., Personality Psych., History & Systems of Psych., Org. Theory, Library Science, Comm. at Workplace, Intro to World Religion, I/O Psych., Ethics in Soc. Sc., Org. Comm., Eng. 104, Eng. 105, History of Vietnam war, Sp. Ed. History & Law, Diff. Ed., Classroom Mgmt., Foundations of Ed., Abnormal Psych., Rsch. methods in Psych., College Math, Intro. to Geometry., Calculus (6).
Saylor (15): Intro. to Mol. & Cellular Bio., Comp. Politics, Corporate Comm., Env. Ethics, Principles of Comm. 
TESU (1): Cornerstone, Lib. 495 Capstone.
CSM (3): Quant. reasoning. 
Aleks (6): Trigonometry, Intro to Statistics. 

MS-Psychology; Walden University 
GPA: 4/4
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#5
(07-15-2019, 11:33 PM)Idreamofadegree Wrote: If that is in fact the case, where would those 3 credits apply in the degree?

They are part of your Area of Study within the credits needed for your major. They are also upper-level courses, so they count for UL requirements as well.

(07-15-2019, 11:50 PM)Supermind Wrote: You are welcome. The Capstone usually has a separate standing in the academic evaluation. But one could consider it the most important element of the AOS. So, those 3 credits are usually counted as part of the Upper Level course requirements for the AOS, and for the degree as a whole.

Jinx!

Shanghai Intl. School Leadership Team Member, College Counselor, SAT-, PSAT-, & SSD-Coordinator. Reverts to PADI Divemaster when near a coast.

BS Anthropology (Minors: History, Brazilian Studies) | Tulane (3.90, summa cum laude)
BA History & Political Science (Minors: Pre-Law, Intl. Studies, Social Studies, Criminal Justice, & Business Admin) | UMPI 
MS Early Childhood Studies: Administration, Management, & Leadership | Walden (3.90)
Certificate Teachers College College Advising Program | Columbia
Certificate College Access Counseling | Rice
Certificate College Admissions Specialist | American School Counselors Association
Goals: A) EdD/MS in Higher Ed; B) 51/195 Countries; C) Find 3rd good hamburger in Shanghai (accomplished June '19, August '21, and...?)

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#6
(07-15-2019, 11:33 PM)Idreamofadegree Wrote: This is amazing information!  Thank you for your super detailed response.  I appreciate this all so much!  

One last questions if you don't mind. I'm assuming since you suggested transferring over the 117 credits, that the Capstone itself counts as 3 credits to make the 120 total needed.  If that is in fact the case, where would those 3 credits apply in the degree?

TESU now requires a cornerstone (considered a first course, but you can take it anytime) and a capstone (final course), so you can only transfer in 114 credits.  I believe all the Big3 now have both a required (with them) cornerstone and capstone.  With TESU the Capstone is one of the UL AOS courses - again, I believe this is also the same with the other two Big3
Amberton University
- MS Human Relations and Business - 2022
Thomas Edison State University (TESU)
- BSBA General Management - 2018
- ASNSM Computer Science -2018

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#7
(07-16-2019, 07:35 AM)allvia Wrote: TESU now requires a cornerstone (considered a first course, but you can take it anytime) and a capstone (final course), so you can only transfer in 114 credits.  I believe all the Big3 now have both a required (with them) cornerstone and capstone.  With TESU the Capstone is one of the UL AOS courses - again, I believe this is also the same with the other two Big3

OH, ok!  I see now.... makes more sense now that you said that.  Thank you!!!

So, one would need to leave approx 6 credits (2 courses) open in their degree plan to be taken at TESU, correct?  With 3 of those credits (one course) being one of the UL AOS classes?  What about the other 3 credits (one course)?  Can that be any class or also needs to be UL?

I guess my next question would be, in order to maximize cost savings, you would almost want to attempt 2 courses and a capstone in the same semester (I don't know if TESU does semesters or quarters) as to avoid paying for 2 semester enrollments? Or does that matter?

Let me repeat that last part correctly correctly.....

I guess my next question would be, in order to maximize cost savings, you would almost want to attempt 2 courses and a  (capstone included) in the same semester (I don't know if TESU does semesters or quarters) as to avoid paying for 2 semester enrollments? Or does that matter?
Completed:
The Institues-Insurance Ethics (2cr)                          
Sophia.orgDeveloping Effective Teams (1cr), The Essentials of Managing Conflict (1cr)
CSMLearn- CSMLearn Course (3cr)
TEEX- Cybersecurity 101, 201, 301 (11cr)
Reply
#8
(07-16-2019, 10:00 AM)Idreamofadegree Wrote: ...
I guess my next question would be, in order to maximize cost savings, you would almost want to attempt 2 courses and a  (capstone included) in the same semester (I don't know if TESU does semesters or quarters) as to avoid paying for 2 semester enrollments? Or does that matter?

There are no semester fees. TESU charges on a per credit basis, so it doesn't matter if you take them separately. TESU runs 12 week terms, with a new term starting every month.

Special case: If you sign up for more than 10 credits in a single term, then you get a fixed price for the term, up to 16 credits. Since this is hard to do, especially if one of the courses is the capstone, most people won't.
NanoDegree: Intro to Self-Driving Cars (2019)
Coursera: Stanford Machine Learning (2019)
TESU: BA in Comp Sci (2016)
TECEP:Env Ethics (2015); TESU PLA:Software Eng, Computer Arch, C++, Advanced C++, Data Struct (2015); TESU Courses:Capstone, Database Mngmnt Sys, Op Sys, Artificial Intel, Discrete Math, Intro to Portfolio Dev, Intro PLA (2014-16); DSST:Anthro, Pers Fin, Astronomy (2014); CLEP:Intro to Soc (2014); Saylor.org:Intro to Computers (2014); CC: 69 units (1980-88)

PLA Tips Thread - TESU: What is in a Portfolio?
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#9
davewill



There are no semester fees. TESU charges on a per credit basis, so it doesn't matter if you take them separately. TESU runs 12 week terms, with a new term starting every month.

Special case: If you sign up for more than 10 credits in a single term, then you get a fixed price for the term, up to 16 credits. Since this is hard to do, especially if one of the courses is the capstone, most people won't.


Thank you so much!!! I truly appreciate all the input.  It's because of people like yourselves that succeeding at this feels remotely reachable.  I can't begin to express the appreciation for the support members provide here.  When you're just starting out, like myself, this can all seem so daunting. Then, when searching through the forum, I feel lost. So, the fact that you more experienced members take the time to answer even the basic questions truly does help.  Smile
Completed:
The Institues-Insurance Ethics (2cr)                          
Sophia.orgDeveloping Effective Teams (1cr), The Essentials of Managing Conflict (1cr)
CSMLearn- CSMLearn Course (3cr)
TEEX- Cybersecurity 101, 201, 301 (11cr)
Reply
#10
(07-16-2019, 10:00 AM)Idreamofadegree Wrote:
(07-16-2019, 07:35 AM)allvia Wrote: TESU now requires a cornerstone (considered a first course, but you can take it anytime) and a capstone (final course), so you can only transfer in 114 credits.  I believe all the Big3 now have both a required (with them) cornerstone and capstone.  With TESU the Capstone is one of the UL AOS courses - again, I believe this is also the same with the other two Big3

OH, ok!  I see now.... makes more sense now that you said that.  Thank you!!!

So, one would need to leave approx 6 credits (2 courses) open in their degree plan to be taken at TESU, correct?  With 3 of those credits (one course) being one of the UL AOS classes?  What about the other 3 credits (one course)?  Can that be any class or also needs to be UL?

I guess my next question would be, in order to maximize cost savings, you would almost want to attempt 2 courses and a capstone in the same semester (I don't know if TESU does semesters or quarters) as to avoid paying for 2 semester enrollments? Or does that matter?

Let me repeat that last part correctly correctly.....

I guess my next question would be, in order to maximize cost savings, you would almost want to attempt 2 courses and a  (capstone included) in the same semester (I don't know if TESU does semesters or quarters) as to avoid paying for 2 semester enrollments? Or does that matter?

Yes, the Capstone is a required UL AOS course for TESU - and must be taken with the school.

The Cornerstone also must be taken with them (TESU) - the course is specific, SOS-110: Critical Information Literacy, and it is 3 credits (LL) - and falls under general education requirements.

TESU does not have semester enrollment fees - so if your going to be transferring in the 114 credits (& paying the residency fee) there is no financial benefit to take them in the same term. However, taking them in the same term may help you 'speed up' graduation (as they are each 12 week courses - taking them in two terms makes it 24 weeks of TESU courses). With that said, it is often recommended here that once you commit to TESU as your school choice that you get the cornerstone (SOS-110) out of the way; it also puts you in as an active enrollment student for the next year, locks in your catalog, and gives you full access to the academic advisors and such.
Amberton University
- MS Human Relations and Business - 2022
Thomas Edison State University (TESU)
- BSBA General Management - 2018
- ASNSM Computer Science -2018

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