Formal Admission Is Required Before Beginning the Capstone
You must be formally admitted to the CMTS certificate program before submitting a capstone project proposal for ISC Director approval or beginning any capstone work — proposals submitted before formal admission will not be approved, and there is no retroactive pathway for the capstone project.
Review Eligibility & How to ApplyWhat Is the Capstone Project?
The capstone project is not a course — it is a project completed alongside your regular studies that demonstrates your ability to apply computational methods to a meaningful scientific or engineering problem. It is the culminating requirement of the CMTS certificate and is distinct from the four required courses.
The capstone involves two key oversight milestones with the ISC Director:
Topic Approval — Before You Begin
Before beginning any capstone work, you must submit a proposal identifying your intended project topic. The ISC Director will review and must approve your proposed topic before work begins. This approval confirms the project has a meaningful computational component aligned with the program's objectives. You may not begin work until written approval has been received.
If you do not yet have a clear topic in mind, you are welcome to reach out to the CMTS certificate program at cmts-certificate@tamu.edu to request a brainstorming discussion before submitting a formal proposal. You may also wish to discuss potential topics with your graduate committee. If you do not yet have a committee assembled, the ISC Director may be available join.
Completion Certification — After You Finish
Upon finishing the project, the ISC Director reviews the completed work to certify that it satisfies the program's standards for computational rigor and relevance to science or engineering, and documents that completion for the program record. Only projects meeting these standards will be certified as complete.
These are two separate steps. Receiving approval for your topic does not mean the project is complete — it means you are authorized to begin.
Approved Capstone Pathways
The capstone project requirement may be fulfilled through one of the following four pathways. In all cases, the project must have a clear and substantive computational component, and the topic must be approved by the ISC Director before work begins.
- Independent Study Within Your Home Department: Enroll in an independent study graduate course offered by your home department. The independent study project serves as your capstone.
- Independent Study Outside Your Home Department: Enroll in an independent study graduate course offered by a department outside your home department. The independent study project serves as your capstone.
- Master's Thesis or Project: Incorporate a capstone component into a master's thesis or project required by your home department's graduate program.
- Doctoral Dissertation: Incorporate a capstone component into your doctoral dissertation.
Not sure which pathway is right for you? Contact the CMTS certificate program at cmts-certificate@tamu.edu to discuss your situation before submitting a proposal.
How to Request Capstone Approval
Before submitting a capstone proposal, you must be formally admitted to the CMTS certificate program. Proposals submitted before admission will not be approved, and there is no retroactive pathway for the capstone project.
Once admitted, submit your capstone topic proposal to the CMTS certificate program at cmts-certificate@tamu.edu to initiate the approval process. Proposals are reviewed by the ISC Director. If follow-up discussion or refinement of the topic is needed, a meeting may be requested after the initial submission.
Your proposal should include the following:
Your Selected Pathway
Identify which of the four approved pathways your capstone will follow — independent study (within or outside your home department), a thesis or project component, or a dissertation component.
Project Description
Provide a 1-2 paragraph description of your proposed project, including the scientific or engineering problem you intend to address, the specific computational methods or tools you plan to apply, and the expected results of the work.
Faculty Advisor or Supervisor
Identify the faculty member who will supervise or oversee the capstone work.
Proposed Timeline
Provide an approximate timeline for completing the project relative to your degree program.
Completing the Capstone
Once your capstone topic has been approved and you have completed the work, the ISC Director will review the project to certify that it satisfies the program's standards for rigor, application of computational methods, and relevance to science or engineering, and will document its completion for the program record. Only projects that meet these standards will be certified as complete.
The written deliverable is typically in the range of 8-12 pages, though length may vary depending on the nature of the project and pathway. Upon completion, the ISC Director may also request a brief presentation or discussion of the work. Upon certification, you will receive written confirmation of your capstone completion from cmts-certificate@tamu.edu.
Apply for Your Certificate When You Finish
When the capstone is your final remaining requirement, you are in your certificate completion term. You are responsible for submitting a certificate graduation application through Howdy during that term — the certificate is not awarded automatically upon completion of your work. This step is time-sensitive. Visit the Texas A&M Registrar's certificate tracking and awarding page for full instructions and current requirements.
Questions About the Capstone Project?
For questions about capstone pathways, to initiate the proposal and approval process after admission, or to submit your completed capstone project, contact the CMTS certificate program at cmts-certificate@tamu.edu.
