Culminating Experience Project Defense

CE Project Defense is the final course in the culminating experience sequence. In this course, students continue working closely with their faculty advisor to finalize and complete their culminating experience.

Beginning in the first week and continuing throughout the semester and program completion, students receive individualized feedback, guidance, and support from their advisors, as well as from external mentors when appropriate, as they finalize their projects and prepare for public presentation and defense. Advisors support students in completing all remaining milestones, preparing for graduation, and transitioning to professional practice.

During the Summer semester, students continue to meet regularly as a cohort in group class sessions. These meetings support final project refinement and preparation for the culminating experience defense.

Throughout the semester, students will prepare their defense materials and presentations, finalize their project, reflective paper, and required deliverables, which are submitted according to Graduate Studies Committee guidelines. 

The course includes an initial dress rehearsal of the culminating experience defense, followed by a formal final defense presented before a panel of faculty, external panelists, and a guest panelist invited by each student for their individual defense.