Anthropology Senior Capstone Guidelines
What is a senior capstone and why is it important?
The Anthropology senior capstone is a two-semester research and writing project completed at the end of the your course of study under the guidance and mentorship of CSUCI faculty members. Involving active learning and the integration of materials within the major, the project centers on a topic chosen by you in consultation with Anthropology faculty members. It is an opportunity to engage with an issue of anthropological concern to produce a body of work that is reflective of core concepts and principles you have learned in classes as applied to an area that interests you. It represents the culmination of your undergraduate studies, the application of your knowledge to a specific anthropological topic, and the opportunity to gain firsthand experience as a practicing anthropologist.
A successful capstone project should demonstrate the following:
- Engaging in independent and original research
- Application of anthropological theory to frame research questions
- Application of quantitative and/or qualitative methods
- Critical thinking and reading
- Writing and presenting scholarship
- Ethical conduct and professionalism
Additional benefits of the capstone include authoring a paper that may be submitted to graduate schools or potential employers as a substantive sample of your writing; developing a manuscript for publication; or as a springboard for future research projects.
Who do I work with?
Effective fall 2015, you are required to enroll in two capstone-related courses: Professionalism in Anthropology (ANTH 489) in the fall semester and Capstone Project (ANTH 499) in spring semester of your senior year. You will work with the instructor(s) of those courses. In addition, you are encouraged to consult with other faculty members in Anthropology and other programs when relevant. You should plan on working with at least two faculty members, as your capstone will benefit from their different perspectives and experiences.
How do I choose a topic?
Many students choose to draw on interests, experiences, and/or research they have conducted during previous coursework (e.g. UNIV 498) or internships (e.g. ANTH 492), while studying abroad (e.g. UNIV 392), or as part of independent studies (e.g. ANTH 494). Examples of capstone projects include ethnographies, museum exhibits, films, archaeological reports, or a developed body of materials that can be used in elementary or secondary schools. It is important that you select a research project that is:
- Well-defined in its scope, being neither too general nor too specific
- Feasible with respect to time and resources
- Significant, having relevance and merit to others
Resources that can help you choose a topic include: reviewing academic journals to identify trends in research and scholarship; talking to former students and reading their capstone papers; and consulting with Anthropology faculty members.
What do I need to produce and what is the timeline?
Regardless of your particular interests, you are encouraged to conduct original research and use that as the basis of your capstone. In addition, whether a film, museum exhibit, or otherwise, each project needs an accompanying written paper that discusses how the project was researched and carried out and discusses the importance of the project in terms of anthropological theory.
By the end of the fall semester you are required to complete the following:
- Research design, which should include a discussion of your research question, working hypothesis and expectations, methods and theory, and significance.
- Paper outline, which should detail the major points of each chapter of your final paper.
- Literature review, which should include a summary of relevant academic sources of information relating to the particular topic, theoretical framework, and methods. The literature review is one chapter of your final paper.
- If you are conducting research involving human subjects (which will be the case for most sociocultural projects) and plan to use the data collected after CSUCI for other projects, you are legally required to obtain approval for your research from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at CSUCI. You must complete and submit an IRB application form. To do so, consult the information on the IRB webpage. You are also encouraged to read previously approved applications for Anthropology capstones.
By the end of the spring semester you are required to:
- Complete all data collection and analysis.
- Write a 40 to 60-page thesis (the length of the paper varies depending on the topic, but the absolute minimum is 40 pages). It is required that you submit the final paper in two formats: a) a bound hard copy and b) as a PDF file.
- Present the results in the form of a poster or oral presentation. In particular, you are required to present your work at the CI Student Research Conference held in May. You may also be encouraged to present at other professional conferences; in the past this has included the annual meetings of the Society for California Archaeology and the Society for American Archaeology.
List of Anthropology Senior Capstones
CSUCI Anthropology Capstone Papers (In reverse chronological order)
2023
Cecilia Alonso
Against All Odds: The Exploration of Foster Youth’s Trajectories After Emancipation
Faith Alviso
Generational Outlook on Mental Health in Relation to Preventing Re-emerging Infectious Diseases
Kayla Doornbos
When we Die: An Observation on the Human Relationship with Death
Marilyn Elizabeth Nicole Estrada
Business Affecting Mental Health and Mental Health Affecting Business: Solutions to Both
Lauren Schneider
Murder and Unkindness: Evolution of the Depiction and Perception of the Raven
Daniela Valenzuela
Cultural Significance at CSU Channel Islands
2022
Alva Bailey
Masculinity, Media, and the Middle Ages: Chivalry and Bushido in Popular Culture
Amy Bernhardt
Cultural Expectation on Caregiving of Aging Parents
Rosa Carmona Vera
Human Sacrifice: Rituals, Prosperity, and Social Cooperation
Amanda Corpeno
Living With Death: Understanding Death through Cross-Cultural Perspectives
Alyssa Lexis Emanuele
The Need for Medical Personnel at Research Stations and During Remote Field Work
Evelyn Michelle Garcia
Forensic and Anthropological Methods on Identification of Victims of Serial Killers
Matthew Jones
Exploration of the Concept of the Library
Adam Wilson King
Filemon Joseph Meza
Tattoos: A Trend in Time
Kathleen Preston
Hashtag Stewardship: Identifying and Enhancing Cultural Resource Awareness Knowledge at CSU Channel Islands
Daniel Rasnow
The Dark Arts of Horticulture: An Ethnographic Catalog of Plants in Popular Culture
Yaneth Renteria
Mountain Biking: Communitas in Mountain Biking Culture
Alyssa Smith
Daylight Savings: Outdated or Right on Time?
William D. Tolle
What Genes do We have in Common with and have We Gained through Interbreeding with Neanderthals that have Helped Us Adapt over Time?
Ruby Catalina Triguero
Surfing Around the Globe: Analyzing the Effects of Surf Tourism
Cadeya Wright
An Analysis on the Role of Ancient Egyptian Religion, Dynasties, and Mummification in Egypt
2021
Gage Albertson
The Impact of Modernization on Health and Diet within Thailand
Nitza Arámbula
The Last Racebender: Experiences of BIPOC in Fandom
Marnol Arevalos
Fieldworkers and Fieldwork in Ventura County, CA: Effects of Immigration Policy and Climate Change
Yesenia Bautista
Marriage in India: A look into the unequal treatment of women
Josh DesLaurier
Minds in Materials: Revealing cognition through the archeological analysis of Acheulean Handaxes
Marcelino Gonzalez
Wildfires: Incorporating Traditional Fire Knowledge and Methods into the Fire Management Paradigm
Jonathan Housh
Denizens of Normal: A literary review of perspectives on Midwestern farming culture
Corrina Nichole Jacobitz
The Couch Researcher and the Power of Being Self-Informed
Aria James
Sacrifice in Sports: The Ancient Maya Ballgame
Chloe McCullen
A View into The Vampire Community: Sanguinarians, Spirituality and Psychic Vampirism
Lydia Rios
A Look Beyond the Coffee Cup: The culture of Latin American coffee farmers in the era of climate change
Antonio Sepulveda
The Boxing Culture in Oxnard California and Why Fighters Fight at All
James P. Tobin
Campus Fever: Managing School and Fear of COVID-19
2020
Aren Antounian
Understanding the Economical and Nutritional Effects of Southern California Marine Protected Areas on Recreational Fishers of Ventura County
Summer Baldwin
K-pop: A Social Media Marketing Machine
Ricky Brockamp
Cultural Motivators and the Benefits of Attending Music Festivals
Spencer Christensen
“E-Waste: Developing Disposal Pathways & Examining the Human Factor”
Laura Ashley Coe
Traditional and Western Medicine: An Analysis of Two Practices Becoming One
Jon Fant
Joystick Generation: An Ethnographic Study of Video Game Culture
Ilis Geronimo-Anctil
Landscaping with Natives: Benefits for Homeowners and the Environment
Cristal Gonzalez
How Identity Influences Political Affiliations in the United States
Samantha Gonzalez
What Makes Disneyland the “Happiest Place on Earth”
Madison Harden
Puerto Rico and the United States: How One Culture Perceives Another
Paul Lerma
Exploration of Chumash Phenomenology: How the Land, Plants and Animals Teach Humans How to Live in Harmony Within the Ecosystem and to Communicate Knowledge Through Place Naming with a Focus on Ethnobotany
Diane Letulier
Alcoholics Anonymous Does it Work: Why all the Culture Controversy?
Omar Lopez
Understanding Housing Options Through Homelessness in Los Angeles
Sara Maldonado
The Nutritional Power of Traditional Native Californian Diet and How it Changed
Marin S. Matsune
As Seen on Tv? An Analysis of Fictional Dramatized Media Productions And Their Implications Regarding Forensic Knowledge And Its Application In Real Life Court Cases.
Alexis Oteri
Grief: How do we Cope with Death?
Jake Anthony Pacheco
Truth Behind the Infamous Cannabis
Shandee Rae
California’s Wine Industry: Consumer Culture and the Regional Viticulture
Blayke Reynoso
Harm reduction Strategies to Reduce the Risks of Opioid Use at CSU Channel Islands and in Ventura County?
Riley Richman
A Sociocultural Study of CSUCI Student Leaders
Amber Dawn Thomas
The Colors of Archaeology: What Paint can Tell us about the Archaeological Site WSMOP-3 at California State University Channel Islands
Jade Willard
Looking through the Glass: Using Glass Containers to Date a 20th century building at CSU Channel Islands
Emilio Zuniga
Perceptions of Unintended Ethnocentrism within a Health System
2019
Oscar Arellano
The Academic Experience of Mexican Indigenous Youth in Ventura County
Imelda Barron
An Examination of Cognitive Liberty Rights: The Controversy of Psychoactive Drugs for Medical and Recreational Use in Western Society
Matthew Bozone
Recurring Themes in Oceanic Creation Mythology
Lauren Calas
Female Workplace Clothing: A Comparison of Victorian Era and Today
Danielle Frattali
A Study of the Opinions Surrounding the Death Industry in the Ventura County
Richard Guerre
The Significance of Limestone-Based Architectural Adhesives in Mesoamerica
Steven Hernandez
Minimalism and Social Media: A Content Analysis of a Microblogging Community
Taylor Katsumata
Cultural Identity and Expression: Perceptions of Body Modification within the Workforce
Jennifer Kause
Who Owns What? An Analysis of Repatriation Claims of Indigenous Artifacts in a Museum Setting
Daniel Klein
Voices from the Grave: Death, Burial, and Grave Markers in Three World Religions
Chloe L’Ecuyer
Women in Technology: An Anthropological Study of the Gender Gap
Tommee McMakin
Balancing Visibility, Education, and Protection: Creating Cultural Resource Educational Tools for the Santa Rosa Island Research Station
Janelle Pedrozo
Genocide disguised by the state and the narratives in between: A cross-cultural comparison between the United States and Rwanda
Cameron Pena
Nationalism: The Unofficial Rule of Soccer
Brianna Rotella
Applied Ethnobotany: Creating an Education Platform for Community Engagement
Danielle Seckler
Shantay You Stay: The Perceptions of Drag Queen Culture in American Society
Justine Thomas_Tomala
The Latino Education Crisis: a Study of Solutions
Alan Fantauzzo
How Do Motorcycles Create Community: An Ethnographic and Participant Observation Approach
McKenzee Frey
The Culture in Our Genes: An Examination of Chronic Diseases and Disorders through Cultural and Genetic Factors
2018
Morgan Arthur
The “Perfect Body” in the Imperfect Market: An Anthropological Study on Southern Californian’s Perspectives of the Plus-Size Clothing Market
Tyler Carpenter
More than a Myth: Cultural Associations within Greek and Roman Mythology
Montrie Carrigan
Cross-Cultural Comparisons of the Practice of Trephination in Africa, Europe, and North America
Eve Clifford
The Significance of Historical Archaeology and Cultural Resource Protection on Santa Cruz Island
Ross Cloney
A New Song: The Socioeconomic Impacts of Digital Media on Music Culture
Lilyan Curtis
The Church of Scientology: An Anthropological Study of Cult Attractiveness and Recruitment
Nicole de la Cruz
Environmental Knowledge and Sustainable Fashion in Ventura County
James Esparza
Island Graffiti: A Historical Archaeological Study of the Inscriptions on Santa Cruz Island
Luis Espinoza
Exercise Perception: Stress Reliever or Stress Causer
Angelica Gilmore
Bilingualism in the United States
Amanda Gutierrez
Environmental Knowledge and Sustainable Fashion in Ventura County
Justin Hahn
Scuba Diving in the Channel Islands and the Importance of Diversity in Race, Gender and Socioeconomic Status
Samuel Hernandez
The Influences of Religion on Major and Course Selection at CSUCI
Daniel McGuire
Neopaganism and Politics: Origins of Ideological Thought
Colin Minekheim
American Cultural History, The National Parks, and Popular Culture
Alex Padilla
The National Park Service and the Importance of Diversity: A Case Study from the Northern Channel Islands National Park
Kirby Porter
The Sex and Culture of Papua New Guinea: intricacies surrounding HIV/AIDS epidemic in North Western Melanesia
Teresa Stevenson
I speak for this Child: CASA Volunteers and the Connections Between Language, Culture, and Access to Services for Latino Foster Youth
Kyle Terry
An Interpretive Guide to Channel Islands National Park
Jacqueline Torres
Meaning of Place: Celebrating/Connecting the Human Past to the Present
2017
Patricia Armstrong
A Cross Cultural Analysis of Mummification Methods in Egypt, Chile, and the Torres Strait
Rachael Bowman
A Historic Analysis of Artifacts Found on Santa Rosa Island
James Tanner Brewer
Historic Archaeology of the Oxnard Plains and the Unheard Voices of America’s Agricultural Landscape: An Analysis of Rural Life during the Interwar Period
Frankay Andrea Campbell
Uncovering Emerging Trends in Entertainment Through Anthropological Methods
Jarrod Daniel Chudacoff
Chumash Rock Art and Datura
Tiffany A. Darden
Scare Tactics: Do Captive Gibbons Respond Appropriately to Potentially Dangerous Stimuli?
Rachael Duncan
An Anthropological Look at Ritual Shell Use among the Ancient Maya
Daisy Gomez
Citizen’s Perception of Law Enforcement
Vikram Johnson
Community Build through Music
Frances Klingenberger
Gender Roles in the Workplace: Women’s Changing Views
Scott Lang
Alternative Education and the Benefits of Experiential Learning
Brandon Lim
A Look at Multiculturalism on Santa Cruz Island During the Historic Period
Tatiana Mijailovic
Generational Variance in Slava Practices: A Cross Generational Analysis of the Practices of the Serbian Saints’ Day Slava
Tammany Braxton Olmos
Ceramic Apprenticeship in the Technological Age: Understanding the Link between Traditional Craft Knowledge and Cultural Identity
Rachel Smithers
Hanging Coffins: Is This a Taboo? Cemetery Distributions along Trade Routes
Amanda Wurtz
Saving the World One Festival at a Time: Harnessing Individualism and Solidarity within the Electronic Dance Music/Music Arts and Festival Countercultures
2016
Molly Alderete
The Great Chin of Being: The Emergence of the Human Chin
Stephanie Bauer
Finding an Economical Way to Teach Cranial Gunshot Wound Replications: An Alternative Material for Human Bone
Jazmine Cureno
Enriching The History of Santa Rosa Island Through Graffiti
Toni D'Ambrosia
The Symbolism of Burning Man: An Examination of Pilgrimage and Religious Expression
Brittany Glass
Environmental Concern and Student Product Purchases
Anahis Hagopian
Factors that Influence Emergency Room Experiences Including Race and Socioeconomic Status
Austin Palmer
Applying Anthropological Methods and Values to Evangelical Missions
Sara Perkins
Kenyan Luo Identities in Material Culture
Victoria Scotti
The Historical and Environmental Value of Shipwrecks on the California Channel Islands
Emily Smith
Dichelostemma capitatum's Significance in the Chumash Diet Based on Corm Variability with Respect to Nutritional Content, Morphology, and Collection Times
Tanner Weber
Guardian of the Mainland: The History and Archaeology of Military Presence on Santa Rosa Island
Brandi Ward
Experiential Learning and Cooperative Learning in K-12 Schools: The “Crossing the Channel” Program in Ventura County
Christa Wilson-Bradford
Re-Piecing Chumash Archaeological Sites after Decades of Disturbance
2015
Rhakia Alcarez
Cultural Influences on Environmental Attitudes and National Park Visitation
Alexandra Alva-Black
Physical Activity at CSUCI
Marcela Barron
Examining Sociopolitical Boundaries and Identities using a Cross-Cultural Approach to Head Binding in the Andean Region from the Middle Horizon to the Late Intermediate Period
Stephanie Benedetti
The Cultural Identification of Women within the Subculture of Tattooing: An Anthropology Study of Tattoo Shops in Ventura County
Ashley Bullard
Paranormal Beliefs: A Study of Ghosts from an Anthropological Perspective
Catherine Coleman
Communitas and Spiritual Consciousness in the Electronic Dance Music Counterculture
Kimberly Esgate
Comparing the Mental Health and Well-Being of Atheists and Theists within the United States
Charles Fazzone
The Weight of the Land: A Pilot Study in Chumash Groundstone Bowls and Scales of Trade Analysis
Jelitsa Fonseca
Social Media’s Influence on Student Engagement in Residence Halls at CSU Channel Islands
Kevin Henry
Anthropology in the World of Urban Clothing
Lisa Kaye
Conserving Ethnobotanical Medicine and Ethnic Identity with Community Gardens in Latina/o Communities in Ventura County
Brittany Lucero
The Role of the Horse During the Ranching Era of the Channel Islands
Michael McGurk
Island Ranchers: A Historic Archaeological Examination of Identity Formation through the Importation of Goods, Interethnic Interactions, and Human Ecology on Santa Rosa Island
Michael Rapp
Tackling Activism from the Belly of the Beast: Exploring the Evolution of Activism
Daniella Riad
Relationship Between the Quality of Marriage and Religious Values among Coptic Egyptians in Los Angeles
Richard Schott
WoW, what am I thinking? A Thematic Exploration of Player Beliefs and Goals in the World of Warcraft
Brian Whalen-Crichton
Cultural Resource Management and Its Impact on the Santa Rosa Island Research Station and Channel Islands National Park
2014
Melinda Berge
Meeting State Educational Standards through Experiential Learning: Mock Archaeological Excavation at Camarillo Heights Elementary School
Rolando Garcia
Perceptions of Regional Dialects
Brittany Holmes
The Who’s Who of Campus Participation: An Anthropological Examination of Student Driven Clubs and Organizations
Emily Largey
Anthropology in the Work Place: The Corporate World of California Pizza Kitchen
Kaylin Levi
Tea and Coffee Culture in America
2013
Monica Dollison
Searching for Satwiwa: Stitching Together the Archaeology, History, and Ethnography of the Oxnard Plain
Gerardo Rodriguez
Storytelling and its Influence on Cooperative Behavior