BAS 491 Applied Sciences Capstone: Master Syllabus
Credits: 3
Canvas/Online
*Dates and times in this course refer to Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Textbook Requirement
There is no required textbook for this course. The APA manual (citation below) is strongly recommended. The capstone paper will adhere to this formatting.
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. (7th Edition).
Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
- Paperback ISBN: 9781433832161
Course Description & Objectives
(Prerequisite: BAS 490, with a grade of C or better)
In this culminating course, students complete a research-based capstone project, building on the foundation established in BAS 490 – Introduction to Research Methods. The project includes selecting and researching a topic (initiated in BAS 490), designing and implementing a specific plan of action, documenting and evaluating results, and delivering a write-up and presentation upon completion.
The primary goal of BAS 491 is to serve as a high-impact, integrative experience within the BAS degree. It helps students synthesize their concentration coursework with the research skills gained in BAS 490, applying critical thinking and discipline-specific knowledge to a real-world research project.
Offered by the Provost’s Office. May not be repeated for credit.
Mason Core Designation: Apex (https://catalog.gmu.edu/mason-core/). As per the Mason Core website, upon completing a Mason Apex course, students will be able to:
- Integrate skills, abilities, theories, or methodologies gained across a Mason student’s undergraduate education to explore complex issues in original ways.
- Communicate effectively the results of the student’s work with awareness of audience, purpose, and context using an appropriate modality (for example: written, oral, visual, material, embodied, multimodal).
This capstone course is offered fully online. To succeed, you must consistently put in the effort to stay on schedule and ensure your project is completed on time. If you feel you need assistance, please reach out to the instructor, the sooner the better. Nobody wants a failing or lacking project at the end of the semester!!
Technology Requirements
This course is fully online with no required in-person meetings. Canvas functions as your virtual classroom, where you will access all course materials and assignments.
Written papers may be created using any word processing software but must be submitted in .docx or .pdf format. For the virtual presentation assignment, students may choose the video presentation platform that best suits their needs.
Grading and Assignments
Final grades will be awarded in accordance with the Mason Grading System for undergraduate students. See the university catalog for policies and more information.
Please note that all assignment grades in this course count—no grades will be dropped.
Please do not ask for extra credit or ask for a “grade reconsideration” at the end of the semester.
The grading scale for this course is:
| A+ | A | A- | B+ | B | B- | C+ | C | C- | D | F |
| 97-
100% |
93-
96.9% |
90-
92.9% |
87-
89.9% |
83-
86.9% |
80-
82.9% |
77-
79.9% |
73-
76.9% |
70-
72.9% |
60-
69.9% |
0-
59.9% |
Final grades will be determined based on the following components:
| Graded Component | Points Possible |
| General Assignments | 125 |
| Discussion Board Forums | 80 |
| Capstone Progress Reports | 150 |
| Action Research Project (Capstone) | 645 |
| Total Possible Points: | 1000 |
*** Use of Generative AI in BAS 491: Unless otherwise instructed in a specific assignment, the use of Generative AI is NOT permitted in BAS 491. (Note: If your pre-approved capstone methodology includes the use of AI as part of your project, it can be used in accordance with your methodology.)
General Assignments
| General Assignments | 125 |
| Welcome Quiz (Week 1) | 10 |
| Upload Approved BAS 490 Proposal (Week 1) | 40 |
| Research Timeline (Week 2) | 50 |
| Capstone Writing Quiz (Week 8) | 25 |
Welcome Quiz – 10 pts: Students will complete a small quiz to demonstrate that they have read through the syllabus and viewed the material in the Welcome Folder in Canvas.
Upload Approved BAS 490 Proposal – 40 pts: Students will upload their approved Phase III Proposal (completed in BAS 490), incorporating any comments left by the instructor.
Research Timeline – 50 pts: Using the template provided in Canvas, students will map out research for the semester.
Capstone Writing Quiz – 25 pts: Students will complete a quiz on the writing and formatting of the capstone paper.
Discussions
| Discussion | 80 |
| Welcome & Re-Introduction Forum (Week 1) | 20 |
| How You’ll Conduct Your Research (Week 3) | 20 |
| Sharing Preliminary Findings (Week 7) | 20 |
| Review Classmates’ Presentations (Week 13) | 20 |
Students will complete discussions on topics as scheduled. Please read the below section carefully.
Discussion Board Expectations:
Throughout the course, you will participate in online discussions through Canvas. Each discussion has two required components:
- Original post– Your original post must clearly address the prompt and demonstrate thoughtful engagement with the topic. A strong original post is typically about 200 words, though the length may vary depending on the topic. Original posts are due by Friday at 11:59 PM of the assigned week.
- Peer responses– In addition to your original post, you are required to respond to at least two classmates. These responses should move beyond simple agreement and meaningfully engage with your peers’ ideas. You might expand on a point they made, offer constructive feedback, or share a related perspective. There is no required word count for replies, but they should demonstrate genuine effort and critical Brief responses such as “I agree” or “Good point” without explanation will not receive full credit. Reply posts are due by Sunday at 11:59 PM of the assigned week.
Although discussion posts are more conversational than formal essays, all discussion posts and replies must be grammatically correct and written in complete sentences. Please avoid abbreviations, sentence fragments, or informal language commonly used in text messages. As this is a college-level course, your writing should reflect appropriate academic standards. To ensure quality, it is recommended that you draft your responses in a word processor before posting them to Canvas. The use of Generative AI is NOT permitted in the Discussions.
Please note that you will not be able to view your classmates’ posts until you submit your own original response. Timely participation is essential, as your classmates depend on your contributions for a meaningful and productive discussion experience. “Late” original posts (received on Saturday or Sunday of the assigned week) will receive a 10% grade reduction. No posts will be credited after the conclusion of the Discussion period (Sunday at 11:59 pm).
Capstone Progress Reports
| Progress Reports | 150 |
| Progress Report 1 (Week 5) | 50 |
| Progress Report 2 (Week 7) | 50 |
| Progress Report 3- Results “Sneak Peek” (Week 9) | 50 |
You will submit progress reports three times in the semester to help you stay on track with your research timeline. Although these reports are submitted to the professor, they are primarily for your benefit. Regularly checking in allows you to monitor your progress, recognize if you’re falling behind, and seek help if needed.
Action Research Project (Capstone)
| Action Research Project | 645 |
| Peer Review of First Draft (Weeks 10 & 11) | 125 |
| Final Draft of Paper to Instructor (Week 12) | 120 |
| Virtual Presentation (Week 13) | 150 |
| Final Paper/Project (Week 15) | 250 |
You have already completed your research proposal in BAS 490. This semester, in BAS 491, you will carry out the research you proposed—collecting data, analyzing results, and reporting your findings in a final manuscript. Details on how to write the full capstone paper will be provided in Week 8. Your final paper should present your completed study in full, demonstrating your ability to carry out and report on independent research.
Peer Review:
Peer review is a standard part of professional research and publication. Receiving feedback from peers offers valuable insights, helping you identify both the strengths and weaknesses of your draft. Peers can provide input not only on writing mechanics but also on content and structure. Peer review teams (typically made up of two students) will be assigned in Week 9. In Week 10, you will receive full instructions for the assignment, along with a template to guide your review, which is due in Week 11.
When you send your draft to your partner, you are required to copy the instructor on the email. If a peer is falling behind or not participating, review teams may be adjusted. Please note: your grade will not be affected by a partner who fails to meet expectations. If any issues arise with your peer review partner, contact me as soon as possible.
Final Draft of Paper (post-peer review):
After the peer review process is complete, you are expected to review your partner’s feedback and incorporate any suggestions you find helpful into your paper. You will also incorporate comments left by the instructor. You will then submit your revised final draft in Canvas for instructor review in Week 12
Virtual Presentation:
For your presentation, you are expected to demonstrate professional and effective oral communication skills. This includes speaking clearly, tailoring your content appropriately to your audience, using a suitable tone, and being both concise and informative. Your final presentation should be 15 to 20 minutes in length.
In Week 13, you will submit your presentation to the instructor and share a link to it in the discussion forum. During Week 14, you will select two peers’ presentations to review and provide constructive feedback using the provided template.
Final Paper/Project:
Your final paper is the culminating product of your Capstone, building upon the work you began in BAS 490. Complete
details about the paper’s requirements are available in Canvas. Your paper must be professionally written, demonstrating strong communication skills, including clarity, conciseness, proper grammar, and an appropriate tone. It must also display the academic rigor required of a capstone project. You will submit your Final Capstone paper in Week 15. This is a final document. It must be submitted by the due date and there will be no opportunity for updates/corrections, etc.
Peer reviews, presentations, presentation feedback, and the final capstone paper will not be accepted late.
Course and Institution Policies/Resources
Late Submissions
Should a learner have a “life situation” that could lead to a late submission, extensions will be granted only if the student contacts the professor *BEFORE* the assignment’s due date. Having another assignment due for another class is never an excuse for a late submission.
Unexcused late submissions will be penalized 10% of the assignment’s total points per day until there are no more points.
Classroom Conduct
In our online classroom, students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is conducive to learning, as directed by the instructor. Any student who negatively impacts the opportunity for other students to learn will be warned – if disruptive behavior continues, the student will be removed from the course.
Academic Standards
Academic Standards exist to promote authentic scholarship, support the institution’s goal of maintaining high standards of academic excellence, and encourage continued ethical behavior of faculty and students to cultivate an educational community which values integrity and produces graduates who carry this commitment forward into professional practice.
As members of the George Mason University community, we are committed to fostering an environment of trust, respect, and scholarly excellence. Our academic standards are the foundation of this commitment, guiding our behavior and interactions within this academic community. The practices for implementing these standards adapt to modern practices, disciplinary contexts, and technological advancements. Our standards are embodied in our courses, policies, and scholarship, and are upheld in the following principles:
- Honesty: Providing accurate information in all academic endeavors, including communications, assignments, and examinations.
- Acknowledgement: Giving proper credit for all contributions to one’s This involves the use of accurate citations and references for any ideas, words, or materials created by others in the style appropriate to the discipline. It also includes acknowledging shared authorship in group projects, co-authored pieces, and project reports.
- Uniqueness of Work: Ensuring that all submitted work is the result of one’s own effort and is original, including free from self-plagiarism. This principle extends to written assignments, code, presentations, exams, and all other forms of academic work.
Violations of these standards—including but not limited to plagiarism, fabrication, and cheating—are taken seriously and will be addressed in accordance with university policies. The process for reporting, investigating, and adjudicating violations is outlined in the university’s procedures. Consequences of violations may include academic sanctions, disciplinary actions, and other measures necessary to uphold the integrity of our academic community.
The principles outlined in these academic standards reflect our collective commitment to upholding the highest standards of honesty, acknowledgement, and uniqueness of work. By adhering to these principles, we ensure the continued excellence and integrity of George Mason University’s academic community.
Student responsibility: Students are responsible for understanding how these general expectations regarding academic standards apply to each course, assignment, or exam they participate in; students should ask their instructor for clarification on any aspect that is not clear to them.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Disability Services at George Mason University is committed to upholding the letter and spirit of the laws that ensure equal treatment of people with disabilities. Under the administration of University Life, Disability Services implements and coordinates reasonable accommodations and disability-related services that afford equal access to university programs and activities. Students can begin the registration process with Disability Services at any time during their enrollment at George Mason University. If you are seeking accommodations, please visit https://ds.gmu.edu/ for detailed information about the Disability Services registration process. Disability Services is located in Student Union Building I (SUB I), Suite 2500. Email: [email protected]. Phone: (703) 993-2474.
Student responsibility: Students are responsible for registering with Disability Services and communicating about their approved accommodations with their instructor in advance of any relevant class meeting, assignment, or exam.
FERPA and Use of GMU Email Addresses for Course Communication
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) governs the disclosure of education records for eligible students and is an essential aspect of any course. More information about Student Privacy and Student Rights under FERPA can be found at: http://registrar.gmu.edu/ferpa/
Registered students will be given access to a section of the Canvas Learning System for this course. Canvas will be used as the primary mechanism to disseminate course information, including announcements, lecture slides, assignments, and grades.
Students must use their GMU email account to receive important University information, including communications related to this class. Instructors will not respond to messages sent from or send messages regarding course content to a non-GMU email address.
Communication with the instructor on issues relating to the individual student should be conducted using Mason email – not in the public discussion board on Canvas. Federal privacy law and Mason policy require that any communication with a student related in any way to a student’s status be conducted using secure Mason systems – if you use email to communicate with the instructor you MUST send messages from your Mason email account.
Student responsibility: Students are responsible for checking their GMU email regularly for course-related information, and/or ensuring that GMU email messages are forwarded to an account they do check.
Student Privacy and Additional Resources
Instructors respect and protect the privacy of information related to individual students. As described above, issues relating to an individual student will be discussed via email, telephone or in person. Instructors will not discuss issues relating to an individual student with other students (or anyone without a need to know) without prior permission of the student.
Graded work other than exams will be returned to individual students directly by the instructor (or by a faculty or staff member or a teaching assistant designated by the instructor or via another secure method). Under no circumstances will a student’s graded work be returned to another student.
Faculty and staff will take care to protect the privacy of each student’s scores and grades. A variety of student services are available:
- Distance Education Services, University Libraries (http://library.gmu.edu/distance)
- Writing Center (http://writingcenter.gmu.edu/)
- Learning Services (https://learningservices.gmu.edu)
Title IX Resources and Required Reporting
As a part of George Mason University’s commitment to providing a safe and non-discriminatory learning, living, and working environment for all members of the University community, the University does not discriminate on the basis of sex or gender in any of its education or employment programs and activities. Accordingly, all non-confidential employees, including your faculty member, have a legal requirement to report to the Title IX Coordinator, all relevant details obtained directly or indirectly about any incident of Prohibited Conduct (such as sexual harassment, sexual assault, gender-based stalking, dating/domestic violence). Upon notifying the Title IX Coordinator of possible Prohibited Conduct, the Title IX Coordinator will assess the report and determine if outreach is required. If outreach is required, the individual the report is about (the “Complainant”) will receive a communication, likely in the form of an email, offering that person the option to meet with a representative of the Title IX office.
For more information about non-confidential employees, resources, and Prohibited Conduct, please see University Policy 1202: Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct and Other Forms of Interpersonal Violence. Questions regarding Title IX can be directed to the Title IX Coordinator via email to [email protected], by phone at 703-993-8730, or in person on the Fairfax campus in Aquia 373.
Student opportunity: If you prefer to speak to someone confidentially, please contact one of Mason’s confidential employees in Student Support and Advocacy (SSAC), Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Student Health Services (SHS), and/or the Office of the University Ombudsperson.
University Counseling Services
Life is stressful and we all need a little support sometimes. Students are encouraged to contact Counseling & Psychological Services (3129 Student Union Building I, http://caps.gmu.edu/) at 703-993-2380 for assistance with any kind of psychological/life problem or crisis.
Religious Holidays
A list of religious holidays is available on the University Life Calendar page. Any student whose religious observance conflicts with a scheduled course activity must contact the instructor at least 2 weeks in advance of the conflict date in order to make alternate arrangements.
Important Dates
Dates for adding, dropping the course, etc. are available via: http://registrar.gmu.edu.
**By being enrolled in this class, you understand that you are agreeing to adhere to the policies and actions required of you by both the instructor and the institution. You agree to the content and regulations of the most recent student/institution handbook. If you feel this will be difficult, you are welcome to drop the class.
Course Calendar
NOTE: The content within the modules in the Canvas course site will be the final authority for due dates. The Syllabus below is intended as a global view of the semester’s work but is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.
| Session | Content | Activities | Assignments Due |
| Week 1
|
Welcome, Research Review | – Welcome and Introductions
– Submit research proposal from BAS 490 |
Discussion:
• Welcome & Re-Introduction Assignments: • Welcome Quiz • Submit proposal from BAS 490 |
| Week 2
|
Research Timeline | – Create a research timeline | Assignment:
• Submit Research Timeline |
| Week 3
|
Begin Research | – Begin research
– Discuss research plan |
Discussion:
• How you will conduct your research |
| Week 4
|
Work on Project | – Work on project | No Assignment Submission |
| Week 5
|
Progress Report 1 | – Submit PR1
– Work on project |
Assignment:
· Submit PR 1 |
| Week 6
|
Work on Project | – Work on project | No Assignment Submission |
| Week 7
|
Share Preliminary Findings, Progress Report 2 | – Submit PR 2
– Discuss preliminary findings – Work on project |
Discussion:
• Sharing Preliminary Findings Assignment: · Submit PR 2 |
| Week 8
|
Capstone Writing Quiz | – Info and quiz on how to write the capstone paper
– Work on project/writing |
Assignments:
· Capstone Writing Quiz |
| Week 9
|
Progress Report 3- Results
“Sneak Peek”, Peer Reviewers Assigned |
– Submit PR3
– Peer reviewers assigned – Work on project/writing |
Assignment:
· Submit PR3 |
| Week 10
|
Peer Review Draft | – Submit draft for peer review
– Finish all research and writing |
Assignment:
• Submit first draft of your paper to peer reviewer and instructor. |
| Week 11
|
Peer Evaluation | – Finalize review of peer’s
paper |
Assignment:
• Submit feedback to your peer and the instructor |
| Week 12
|
Final Paper Draft | – Incorporate feedback received from your peer
– Submit draft to Instructor |
Assignment:
• Submit final paper draft to Instructor in Canvas |
| Week 13
|
Presentation | – Finalize and submit presentation. | Assignment:
• Submit presentation to instructor in Canvas Discussion: • Link to Final Presentation Forum |
| Week 14
|
Presentation Review | – Choose two peers’ presentations to watch and review. | Discussion:
• Provide constructive feedback to two peers |
| Week 15
|
Final Paper | – Incorporate feedback from your draft into your final paper. | Assignment:
• Submit final paper in Canvas |
Important Dates: GM Academic Calendar (withdrawal dates, university holidays, and other important deadlines).
Note on the use of AI within course documents: Contents within the syllabus and course may utilize Generative AI for wording and to ensure clarity. All assignments are graded by the instructor without the use of AI.