Three Sample Timelines For MS Capstone Projects

Some of these schedules stretch over two semesters; most do not allow the necessary two weeks for drafts to be read. They are good examples but may not be 100% appropriate for your particular project.

Example #1

Date Item Notes Done
August 9, 2006 Begin Lit Review X
August 16, 2006 Begin Survey Instrument Draft X
August 23, 2006 RQ or Hypothesis Draft X
September 4, 2006 Literature Overview due 2-3 pages X
September 5, 2006 RQ or Hypothesis Draft Complete X
September 5, 2006 Revise Literature Overview X
September 11, 2006 Literature Review Complete
September 12, 2006 RQ or Hypothesis Final
September 12, 2006 Start Intro & Lit Review X
September 18, 2006 Survey Instrument Complete (English)
September 21, 2006 Survey Backtranslation and Brislin Validation
September 26, 2006 Deploy Survey Pilot
September 26, 2006 Begin Methodology Section X
September 27, 2006 Revise Survey Instrument
September 29, 2006 Survey Redesign Complete
October 1, 2006 Deploy Survey May deploy earlier if minimal revisions needed.
October 7, 2006 Complete Methodology Section
October 8, 2006 Surveys Returned to Li-Min
October 15, 2006 Enter Survey Responses
October 15, 2006 Begin Data Analysis
October 31, 2006 Data Analysis Complete
November 1, 2006 Draft Findings Section Begins in parallel with data analysis
November 7, 2006 Draft Discussion Section
November 16, 2006 Draft Applications Section
November 22, 2006 Final Draft to Dr. Murphy
November 26, 2006 Revisions
November 29, 2006 Final Draft to Committee
December 6, 2006 Defense
December 7, 2003 Begin Final Revisions
December 13, 2006 Final Paper Due
December 20, 2006 Break Open La Veuve Clicquot!

Example #2

TASK DUE DATE COMPLETED?
Draft of intro, lit review, methods November 13 X
Interview with Tom G. December 2 X
Tom G. interview transcript written December 5 X
Revised Draft of Literature Review December 23
Revised Draft of Methods January 5
Revised Draft of Introduction January 12
Draft of Findings (RQs and Data) January 26
Draft of Discussion/Data Analysis February 9
Revised Draft of Findings (RQs and Data) February 16
Revised Draft of Discussion/Data Analysis February 23
Sources written March 2
Appendices gathered March 2
Hand in Final to Dr. Pompper March 6
Give paper to Committee (2 weeks prior) March 6
Meet with Committee March 20 approx

Example #3

Timeline

Submit weekly progress reports:

  • September 8, 15, 22, 29
  • October 6, 13, 20, 27
  • November 3, 10, 17, 24
  • December 1, 8

Complete literature review, research and interviews: September 2 – Oct. 22

Draft and finalize interview questionnaire: September 8 – 15

Write first draft: October 23 – November 9

Submit first draft: November 10

Submit second draft: December 1

Submit and present final work: Week of December 15