Capstone Academic Research Project

One important and distinctive component of the Alliance programs in China is the Capstone Academic Research Project, in which students delve into a particular area of interest over the course of the semester as part of their academic work. These projects challenge students to engage with Chinese people from various walks of life and deepen their understanding of an aspect of Chinese society, culture, business practices, or current policy.

The Capstone Project is intended as a research project that makes use of more than academic readings and secondary source materials (such as published research data and other findings). While these are potentially very important components of any research project and should be part of the project, the Capstone is more importantly intended to be a one in which students take advantage of being in China. The work will not only be more interesting but students will learn a great deal by using the resources that they would not have access to at their home universities. Students incorporate interviews, participant observation, and other methods to develop a final paper and presentation. Many students develop this project as part of a senior thesis or broader research project in the future.

The Capstone Project is a graded component of the required course taught in English -- Issues in Contemporary Society and Culture. The Capstone Research Project comprises 40% of the grade for this course. Graded project work includes a project abstract with a problem statement and research methodology outline, Powerpoint presentation during the last two weeks of class, and a final paper of 3,000 words.

Examples of Alliance Students' Capstone Projects at BLCU

• Attitudes Toward Gay and Lesbian Life in China
• Martial Arts in China 
• China's Olympic-Related Environmental Issues 
• Birth Control Policy and Women's Social Status in China 
• Chinese Contemporary Arts - 798 Art District 
• Heath Care in Contemporary China 
• The Education of Migrant Workers' Children in Urban Areas 
• Intellectual Property Rights and Entrepreneurs in China 
• A Crisis of Ethnic Confusion: Identity and Self-worth of China’s Modern Minorities 
• Street Vendors: Another Side of Chinese Culture 
• Chinese Stereotypes of Americans 
• China's Coal Power Industry: The Advent of Carbon Emission Reduction Technologies 
• Rising Nation, Falling Hearts: Heart Disease in China 
• The Popularity of Wuxia films among Chinese Youth 
• How American Media Affect Intercultural Communication in China
• The Increase of Cosmetic Surgery in China

For more Capstone project ideas from Alliance students in all our China programs, click here.