LGBT Studies Certificate Capstone Instructions

Capstone Instructions

All students will complete a three-credit-hour capstone experience after completing a minimum of nine credit hours in the certificate program. The capstone experience will be supervised by a member of the faculty approved by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Committee.

The capstone experience should be an internship, community service project, or research apprenticeship that integrates curricular activities with each student’s unique interests. The capstone experience should be based in principles of use-inspired, transformative research, or creative activity that bridges the student’s curriculum with lived experiences of LGBT communities. Ideally, the capstone experience integrates theory with experience, scholarship with change, and/or research with outcomes.

The purpose of an internship or community service project is to give students in the certificate program the opportunity to gain practical experience in working with lesbian and gay issues. Some students may work in lesbian and gay communities, e.g., Arizona Human Rights Fund, Body Positive, PFLAG, GLAAD, GLSEN, community newspapers, while others may work on lesbian and gay issues in context of governmental, business, nonprofit, or other community service agencies. Students will be given guidance in selecting an appropriate internship/community service experience, depending upon their interests and abilities. This internship/community service experience should give them important, practical knowledge about their certificate project and establish a reciprocal relationship between the student and the sponsoring agency.

The purpose of a research apprenticeship is to create an intensive scholarly experience for students who plan on pursuing graduate education. In an apprenticeship, the student works alongside a professor who is engaged in original research or creative activity and participates in the scholarly process. The research apprenticeship engages the student in productive, generative, and creative processes. The apprenticeship is intended primarily as a learning experience for the student, but the relationship is beneficial to the faculty as well, as the student participates in all stages of the research or creative activity. The project in most cases will be one suggested by the faculty member or part of an ongoing project in which the faculty member is involved.

Prerequisites to Begin Your Capstone Experience

  1. Completion of nine credit hours of certificate courses
  2. Completion or co-enrollment of Introduction to LGBT Studies course
  3. LGBT Certificate has been entered as a Plan of Study in PeopleSoft (see academic advisor)

Steps to Completing Your Capstone Experience

Semester prior to capstone experience:

  1. Determine the type of internship, community service project, or research apprenticeship you wish to complete.
  2. Identify an ASU faculty member who will provide capstone experience supervision. Students should consider faculty members of previous classes within the certificate program, their major, or other classes in which LGBT issues were a primary focus.
  3. Meet with your faculty member to develop a proposal for your capstone experience. Please email your capstone proposal to mmbaile4@mainex1.asu.edu. You will receive direct feedback from the LGBT Certificate committee regarding the acceptance of your proposal, and/or if additional information is required.
  4. Once capstone experience proposal has been accepted please complete the following critical steps prior to the beginning of the semester the capstone experience will be completed:
    • Meet with your faculty member to obtain a five digit class number (formerly schedule line number) for an independent study in the faculty member’s department. Also obtain the subject number (course prefix) and catalog number (course number). Example: 99999, WST 494
    • Provide this information to your LGBT Certificate academic advisor, which will be entered into your ASU Degree Audit.
  5. Go to ASU Interactive to request your ASU Degree Audit to verify your capstone experience class is appropriately listed. Also verify all other LGBT Certificate Program classes are appropriately listed. Please see certificate academic advisor if there are problems with your Degree Audit.
  6. During the semester, you will be contacted by an LGBTQ advisor regarding making a brief presentation on your capstone experience. Details regarding this presentation will be provided at that time.

Faculty Mentors for Your Capstone Project

One of the questions LGBT Certificate advisors most commonly here is, “Who can serve as my faculty mentor for the capstone project?”

While we do not have a list of available faculty, the reality is that any ASU faculty member can oversee your capstone. We are confident you may actually already know of potential individuals who could serve in this role.

Here are some questions to consider that could help you determine appropriate faculty:

  • With which of your ASU instructors have you made a personal connection through current or previous classes in your major, or through general education classes?
  • With whom have you connected at an intellectual level?
  • Who have been your favorite teachers so far at ASU?
  • Thinking of faculty members whose courses you have taken, which professor would you want to be able to write a letter of recommendation for you for graduate school, professional school, or employment?

If you are unable to answer any of the above questions, begin right away to establish connections with your teachers. To develop the best possible mentoring relationship for your capstone experience, share with your professors your interests in the LGBT Certificate and possible ideas for your capstone.

Past Sample Capstone Projects

List of Past Projects

Possible Capstone Experiences (not a comprehensive list)

Research paper on an LGBTQ topic of interest:

  • LGBTQ Identity Development
  • Affects of Homophobia on College Students
  • Needs Assessments

Internship Opportunities

Queering Arizona Fundraising

Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce

Phoenix Pride

OUTdoors! Camp

Author & Empowerment Coach Courtney Long

Research Assistant Opportunities

Doctoral Dissertation Examining Gay Families and Discrimination
Josh Kellison, a fourth-year doctoral student in clinical psychology, is conducting a mixed-method dissertation study that is examining the way lesbian and gay (LG) parents cope with antigay discrimination where both they and their child are present, the way they educate their children about the act of discrimination, and a family needs assessment that will try to distill the needs that LG parents may seek from a parenting intervention. The long-term goal is to use this information to either develop or adapt an existing parenting intervention. This study seeks LGBT certificate students who may either want to do a capstone with or work as a research assistant. Lastly, this study is mixed-methods so students would be conducting face-to-face in-depth interviews and would gain training in how to do these very important skills that can help in the future for clinically based graduate work. Contact Josh at jkellison@asu.edu or (480) 965-5425.

Other Capstone Projects

  • Theater Piece
  • Artwork
  • Photography
  • Music
  • Slam Poetry
  • Film

Information to Include in Capstone Proposal

Name of Student
ASU ID
Name of Faculty Supervisor
Academic Department of Faculty Supervisor

Type of Project: Internship/Community Service Project/Research Apprenticeship

Working Title of Project

Description of Project (50 words)

Desired Outcomes of Project (25 words)

Semester or session capstone will be completed

Note: Capstone must be submitted and approved prior to the first day of classes of the session the capstone is being completed.

QAZ Fundraising Opportunity

Declare the Certificate

Students who wish to officially declare the LGBT Certificate on their ASU transcripts must meet with an academic advisor to complete the “Request to Add an Undergraduate Certificate” form. This completed form will be sent to the ASU Registrar/Graduation Office to have the certificate officially added to the students’ Degree Audit (DARS).

Students will then be able to runs a DARS progress report from MyASU to monitor their progress in completion of the LGBT Certificate requirements.

To schedule an appointment to declare the LGBT Certificate, please call (480) 965-4464 and state that you are interested in the LGBT Certificate.

Submit Courses for Review

Students may submit a request for courses to be included in the LGBT Certificate, which are not already included on the approved list of courses on the LGBT Certificate checksheet. Please follow the steps identified below:

ASU Courses

  1. Obtain the official course description from the ASU Catalog.
  2. Obtain the course syllabus.
  3. Submit these documents to an LGBT Certificate advisor.
  4. The advisor will submit these documents to the faculty committee which will make a final decision on the acceptability of the course meeting an LGBT Certificate course requirement.
  5. Once approved, the advisor will make appropriate changes in DARS so that the approved course shows up in the LGBT Certificate DARS audit.

Non-ASU Courses

  1. Obtain the official course description from the appropriate institution catalog.
  2. Obtain the course syllabus.
  3. Obtain an unofficial copy of your previous institution transcripts indicating the successful completion (grade of “C” or better) for this course. If ASU already has these transcripts, the student may run a current DARS report indicating the course being accepted to ASU.
  4. Submit these documents to an LGBT Certificate advisor.
  5. The advisor will submit these documents to the faculty committee which will make a final decision on the acceptability of the course meeting an LGBT Certificate course requirement.
  6. Once approved, the advisor will make appropriate changes in DARS so that the approved course shows up in the LGBT Certificate DARS audit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the LGBT Certificate?

The LGBT Certificate Program is an interdisciplinary certificate (similar to a minor) that examines the experiences, history, culture and contemporary issues related to LGBTQ communities.

What are the certificate requirements?

The certificate requires 15 credit hours; a minimum of 12 must be upper-division. The two required courses include Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies and the capstone experience. The remaining nine hours are electives from an approved list, located here.

I heard the Introduction to LGBT Studies class is only offered online, is this true? When will it be available in person?

Yes, currently the Introduction to LGBT Studies (SWU 194) is an online course. Due to the popularity of SWU 194, the course will remain online so it is accessible to all ASU students at all four campuses.

I’ve already taken an Introduction to LGBT Studies course at a previous institution, do I have to take it again?

No. You can follow these simple steps to have that course count towards the LGBT Certificate:

  1. Obtain the official course description from the appropriate institution catalog.
  2. Obtain the course syllabus.
  3. Obtain an unofficial copy of your previous institution transcripts indicating the successful completion (grade of “C” or better) for this course. If ASU already has these transcripts, the student may run a current DARS report indicating the course being accepted to ASU.
  4. Submit these documents to an LGBT Certificate advisor.
  5. The advisor will submit these documents to the faculty committee which will make a final decision on the acceptability of the course meeting an LGBT Certificate course requirement.
  6. Once approved, the advisor will make appropriate changes in DARS so that the approved course shows up in the LGBT Certificate DARS audit. You may also speak with an LGBT certificate advisor to see if you qualify for taking the upper-level Lesbian and Gay Studies Course (SWU 498) in place of the Intro to LGBT Studies Course (SWU 194).

What is the Capstone Experience?

It’s a 3-credit-hour project that LGBT Certificate students engage in after completing a minimum of 9 credit hours in the certificate program. The capstone experience is supervised by a faculty advisor (that is chosen by the student). You must submit a capstone proposal to the LGBT Certificate Committee and receive notice of approval prior to beginning your capstone.

What can I do for my capstone experience?

The capstone experience should be an internship, community service project or research apprenticeship that integrates curricular activities with each student’s unique interests. The capstone experience should be based in principles of use-inspired, transformative research or creative activity that bridges the student’s curriculum with lived experiences of LGBT communities. Ideally, the capstone experience integrates theory with experience, scholarship with change and/or research with outcomes. In simple terms, this is your opportunity to pick an LGBTQ topic you’re passionate about and incorporate both the practical and theoretical aspects of it into a semester long project.

How do I go about finding a faculty advisor for my capstone experience?

Think about the professors you’ve had for previous classes or have worked with in some capacity or would like the opportunity to work with. Your faculty advisor should be someone who you respect and admire. Then ask them if they’d be interested in working with you on your LGBT Certificate Capstone Experience. Some tips to keep in mind about working with your faculty advisor:

  • Have a draft proposal of your capstone experience ready prior to asking your selected faculty to be your advisor.
  • Your faculty advisor is here to help and assist you throughout your capstone experience. Be sure to utilize their knowledge and experience. Keep them informed and updated on how your capstone is progressing throughout the semester.
  • This is your opportunity to work closely with an ASU faculty member. Hold yourself accountable for making it an experience you’ll learn and grow from while building a relationship with someone you admire.
  • Your number-one pick for a faculty advisor may not be available to assist you on your capstone. Don’t fret, there are plenty of fabulous professors to choose from. Contact lgbtqa@asu.edu if you’d like some suggestions.

Why should I be interested in the LGBT Certificate?

The LGBT Certificate offers students the opportunity to study LGBTQ issues and work closely with faculty and academic departments. It provides a unique perspective of LGBT studies, communities and theory. A student challenges themselves both in the classroom fulfilling academic credit requirements but also turning theory into practice through their capstone experience. In many fields, it’s a great addition to a resume and is a point of interest during interviews.

I’m taking (or have taken) a course that should be on the approved course list. How do I go about adding it?

  1. Obtain the official course description from the ASU Catalog (if from another institution, from their catalog).
  2. Obtain the course syllabus.
  3. Submit these documents to an LGBT Certificate advisor.
  4. The advisor will submit these documents to the faculty committee which will make a final decision on the acceptability of the course meeting an LGBT Certificate course requirement.
  5. Once approved, the advisor will make appropriate changes in DARS so that the approved course shows up in the LGBT Certificate DARS audit.