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STS Senior Capstones (Fall 2025)

As a graduation requirement, all STS students must complete a senior capstone course during their final year. All capstones satisfy the Applied Learning and Writing Intensive College graduation requirements. Students can either take STS 400W - Senior Seminar or STS 401W - Internship. Students who wish to register for either capstone must have completed at least 90 credits. Students cannot register for the capstone on their own. If interested in registering for STS 400W - Senior Seminar, please contact Kathy ( Kathleen McCormick) and she can help you register for the course. If interested in registering for STS 401W - Internship, please contact STS Internship Coordinator, Prof. Karin Huijgens ( Karin Huijgens).

Senior Seminars

STS 400W - Senior Seminar - Qualitative Research for STS  (two sections offered)
Prof. Francesca Polo | On Campus | Tue/Thu 1:40pm - 2:55 pm | 3 credits | ALW: CRN 94742
Prof. Francesca Polo | On Campus | Tue/Thu 3:05pm - 4:20 pm | 3 credits | WA1: CRN 91323
Qualitative Research in STS offers undergraduate students a hands-on introduction to the foundational concepts and techniques of qualitative research, focusing on the intersection of Science, Technology, and Society. Students will learn how to design and conduct qualitative studies using methods like semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Through active participation, they’ll create interview questions, conduct mock focus groups, and analyze real data. The course emphasizes ethical research practices, including informed consent and confidentiality. Students will also gain practical skills in data collection, thematic analysis, and coding. By the end of the course, students will complete a final research project exploring an STS-related issue using qualitative methods. No prior research experience is required, and this course is open to Senior Status students in the STS department. Whether you're planning a career in research or simply curious about qualitative methods, this course bridges theory with practice and provides valuable skills for both academic and professional settings.

STS 400W - Senior Seminar - Human Services 
Prof. Karin Huijgens | On Campus | Mon/Wed 1:40pm - 3:05pm | 3 credits | WAL: CRN 91130
In this capstone course students will integrate STS skills and knowledge learned, and apply this to the field of human services. The course will address the current multidisciplinary problems facing this field. Topics will include homelessness, food insecurity, structure of social service programs and insurances, mental health, and legal issues including immigration. Students will evaluate the application of personal ethics, setting of boundaries, and dealing with stress for providers of human services. In addition, the course will assist students in preparing for their career after graduation. This will include resume writing and interview skills.

STS 400W - Senior Seminar - Academic Research & Report Writing (two sections offered)
Prof. Michael Passero | ONLINE | 3 credits | WAJ: CRN 91499
Prof. Michael Passero | ONLINE | 3 credits | JAW: CRN 93868
This capstone seminar serves as a culminating experience for the Science, Technology, and Society program. The final goal of this course will be for students to conduct academic research and generate research abstracts, sentence outlines, a professional oral presentation, and professional report on a topic of their choosing. While the curriculum is broad-based in scope, lectures will pay particular attention to the fundamental concepts of academic research, oral communication, and written communication.

Internship

STS 401W - Internship 
Prof. Francesca Polo | ONLINE | 3 credits | ALW: CRN 91143
This course is designed for Science, Technology and Society (STS) majors who wish to complete a semester-long (or equivalent) internship as part of their course of study. Students may choose an internship at a corporation or a civic, educational, governmental, or not-for- profit organization after consultation with and permission of the department chair. Any internship should support learning outcomes and/or career development in the sciences, technology, and/or society. Enrollment in this course is restricted to students with senior status in the STS Program. Students enrolled in an internship will meet periodically with their advisor and will be required to submit internship notes and both a draft and final report of the internship experience at the end of the semester. This is a writing-intensive course. Prerequisite(s): Senior status in STS program and approval of Department Chair

Students who wish to pursue an internship must contact the STS Internship Coordinator, Prof. Karin Huijgens ( Karin Huijgens).