Pandemic Flu Planning Support for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

In this chapter the authors discuss a project that was originally designed as an experimental alternative to the traditional senior thesis requirement for their honor students. By way of background, Bentley College is a large, independent business school with relatively high rankings at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. About 90 percent of the students major in one of the business disciplines, but all students also pursue an ambitious and well-rounded curriculum in arts and sciences intended to prepare them for leadership positions in society. When the authors instituted a collegewide honors program in 1999, they included a traditional one-semester academic thesis requirement. Over time, student and faculty feedback suggested that for many students, the traditional disciplinary thesis did not serve as the best vehicle for a senior capstone experience. The authors would like such a capstone experience to tie together many of the diverse academic disciplines they have been studying and to help the students develop a sense of independence and empowerment as they move into the world of practicing professionals. [authors]