This seminar is linked to a proposed capstone project, thesis, or examination that the student wishes to produce this academic year. The objectives of the independent study are: 

• To provide the student with a structured, guided means of exploring the general literature on the intended topic of the research, with the aim of a deepening his or her knowledge of the subject matter and refining the research inquiry; 

• To support the student in new or continued research related to the subject of their capstone or thesis

• To enable the student to write or produce the capstone project which is evaluated and graded by the CIS advisers, or in the case of students continuing on to CIS 496, to begin producing drafts of portions of the Honors Thesis which is evaluated and graded by the CIS advisers.