Steven Rocker presents his research at the U.S. Foreign Policy Capstone Research Conference.

The overall purpose of a master's thesis or Substantial Research Paper (SRP) is for Master of Arts students to satisfactorily complete serious and sustained research and writing, based on analysis of both secondary and primary source material, that is, existing literature and the collection of data. The SRP or thesis involves the student working closely with a faculty member who provides supervision for the project.

Additionally, US Foreign Policy students must complete a Capstone in order to obtain their degree.  One option for completing the Capstone requirement is participation in the U.S. Foreign Policy Capstone Research Conference, held in the Spring semester.  At the Conference, students present either a Policy Memo addressing a policy issue raised in their SRP or an Executive Summary presenting the results of their SRP research.  The Capstone Research Conference allows students to practice professional writing and presentation skills prior to graduation.

The best Capstone presenter or presenters receive the Duncan L. Clarke Award.  The 2011 Award recipients were Matt Irvine, who presented on "Insurgent Systems: Systems Behavior Insurgent Networks in Afghanistan and Pakistan," and Leah Smith, who presented on "Addressing Concerns about Nuclear Material Security in Pakistan."

Matt Irvine's Executive Summary and Leah Smith's Policy Memo are available on the right menu as examples of exemplary graduate research.  Additionally, several past examples of superb Executive Summaries, Policy Memos and SRPs are provided.

Students who are unable or choose not to participate in the Capstone Research Conference may complete a Capstone Research Paper.  Further information on both the Capstone Research Conference and Capstone Research Paper are located on the right menu.

Other Recent SRP/Capstone Titles

• Defining Democracy: the Failure of US Post-Conflict Operations
• The United States, Mexico, and the Merida Initiative: Shortcomings and the Way Forward
• U.S. Policy toward Ethnic Conflict in the Republic of Georgia
• Fighting for Export: The F-22 Raptor, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and Post-Cold War Export Control Decisions
• Innovation in the U.S. Military: The Case of Deception in World War II
• New Norms and Sub-State Actors: An Analysis of the Critical Obstacles in Applying International Law to Cyberspace
  
• Adapting U.S.Policy towards a Liberalizing Saudi Arabia
• Female Terrorism and Challenges to U.S.Foreign Policy
• Supporting Freedom, Protecting Interests, or Both? An Analysis of U.S. Foreign Aid and Political Freedom in Recipient States
• U.S. Foreign Policy towards Eastern Europe
• Decision-making and the Iraq War: A Perfect Storm Hypothesis
• The Shanghai Cooperation Organization: Implications for U.S. Foreign Policy
• America's Defining Moment: Adapting U.S. Power to the Rise of China and India