EDU 695 Syllabus

Course Description

This required Capstone course is the culminating experience for students in the Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction program. EDU 695 is designed to allow MS candidates an opportunity to share their advanced knowledge of curriculum and instruction through a formal Capstone Project. This experience emphasizes the integration of theory and practice, encouraging students to connect their academic learning to authentic challenges in their professional environments. The course must be taken at Charter Oak State College. (3 credits)

Prerequisites

EDU 501: Integrated Foundations of American Education
EDU 503: Curriculum Design Models
EDU 505: Culturally Responsive Pedagogy
EDU 507: Differentiated Instruction
EDU 509: Digital Literacy Teaching/Learning
EDU 513: Standards-Based Instruction and Assessment
EDU 590: Foundations of Adult Learning
Integrated ED Program Models and Family Partnerships

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

Synthesize research in curriculum and instruction to construct a cohesive framework that informs the Capstone Project design. [CAEP RA1.1, RA1.4]
Critique current instructional practices and policies in professional contexts, identifying gaps and opportunities for innovation. [CAEP RA1.3, RA2.2]
Design a comprehensive Capstone Project that integrates scholarly literature and methodological rigor into a real-world educational challenge. [CAEP RA1.1, RA1.4, RA2.1]
Implement project management strategies and inquiry processes to plan, develop, and refine all components of the Capstone Project. [CAEP RA2.1, RA2.2]
Produce a graduate-level research paper and accompanying project deliverables that demonstrate mastery of academic writing conventions, APA formatting, and ethical scholarship. [CAEP RA1.1, RA2.1, RA3.2]
Defend the Capstone Project’s design, findings, and implications through a formal presentation to peers, faculty, and/or stakeholders, effectively articulating its contribution to the field of curriculum and instruction. [CAEP RA1.4, RA3.2, RA3.3]

Course Activities and Grading

Assignments	Weight
Capstone Project (Final Project)	100%
Total	100%

Required Textbooks

(Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle):

Burke, J., and Dempsey, M. (2022). Undertaking Capstone Projects in Education: A Practical Guide for Students. New York, NY: Routledge. ISBN-13: 9780367743529

Course Schedule

Week	SLOs	Readings and Exercises	Assignments
1	1,2	Topic: Building the Foundation for a Capstone Project Read and Review: Read Undertaking Capstone Projects in Education (Burke and Dempsey, 2021) Foreword, Ch.1, 2, 3, 4 Read How to Write a Research Question (George Mason University Writing Center, 2018) Read Literature Review Outline Sample (Claremont Graduate University Center for Writing and Rhetoric, 2025) View Advanced Searching on the New EBSCO User Interfaces(EBSCO Tutorials, 2024) [Youtube Video]	Read and review assigned material Review the lecture material Engage in discussion with Instructor about Project Idea(s) Submit Weekly Milestones Literature Review Outline, 50% complete
2	1,2,3	Topic: Designing the Capstone Project Read and Review: Undertaking Capstone Projects in Education (Burke and Dempsey, 2021) 5, 6, 7 View What is Research Methodology? (Warren, 2024) [Youtube Video] View Literature Review - Step by Step Guide For Graduate Students(Stuckler, 2021) [Youtube Video]	Read and review assigned material Review the lecture material Elements of the Project Narrative will be defined in the lecture Submit Weekly Milestones Project Narrative Lit. Review Outline, 100% complete
3	4,5	Topic: Working on the Capstone Project: Phase 1 Read and Review: Undertaking Capstone Projects in Education (Burke and Dempsey, 2021) 8 Read Writing a Literature Review(Purdue University Online Writing Lab, 2025) Review the APA Style and Grammar Guidelines(American Psychological Association, 2024)	Read and review assigned material Review the lecture material. Access Informed Consent Form in Course Materials > Resources Participate in Discussion Board; share Project Narrative Submit Weekly Milestones Written Literature Review
4	4,5	Topic: Working on the Capstone Project: Phase 2 Read and Review: Undertaking Capstone Projects in Education (Burke and Dempsey, 2021) 9 Review Table 9.1, “Examples of Capstone Project Artifacts” (Burke and Dempsey, 2021) Read Examples of Artifacts (Arkansas Department of Education Teacher Excellence Support System, 2021)	Read and review assigned material Review the lecture material Engage in discussion with Instructor (Mid Project Check-In). Discuss progress on objectives articulated in the Project Narrative Submit Weekly Milestones Artifacts (in progress)
5	2,4,5	Topic: Working on the Capstone Project: Phase 3 Read and Review: Read Seeing the Light- Together (Mink, 2014) Read School/ Family/ Community Partnerships: Caring for the Children We Share (Epstein, 2010) Read Essential Tech for Family-School Communication, Appendices A & B, p.14-20 (National PTA Initiative, 2021) Review Figure 9.3, “Examples of Implications for Practice” (Burke and Dempsey, 2021)	Read and review assigned material Review the lecture material Participate in Discussion Board; share Implications for Practice Submit Weekly Milestones Data Summary Outreach (in progress)
6	5,6	Topic: Orally Presenting the Capstone Project Read and Review: Read Tips for a Memorable 5-Minute Research Presentation(Cornell University Graduate School, 2025) View How to Give the Perfect Presentation (Stuckler, 2022) [Youtube Video] View How to Make a 15-Minute Research Presentation (Price, 2023)	Read and review assigned materials Review the lecture material Elements of the Self-Evaluation will be defined in the lecture Submit Weekly Milestones Oral Presentation Self-Evaluation
7	2,4,5	Topics: Reflecting Upon & Refining the Capstone Project Read and Review: Read An Authentic Assessment at the Graduate Level: a Reflective Capstone Experience (Fraser and Wotring, 2022) Review the Program Learning Outcomes for a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction(Charter Oak State College, 2025)	Read and review assigned material Review the lecture material Reflection criteria will be defined in the lecture Participate in Discussion Board; share feedback on Oral Presentations from Week 6 Submit Weekly Milestones Reflection
8	1,2,3,4,5,6	Topic: Submitting the Final Capstone Project Read and Review: Review Rubric for Final Project: Curriculum and Instruction Capstone	Read and review assigned material Review the lecture material Engage in discussion with Instructor (End-of- Project Check-In). Submit Final Project Curriculum and Instruction Capstone Complete Course Evaluation

COSC Accessibility Statement

Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.

COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources

Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.

EDU 695: Curriculum and Instruction Capstone