The MSA project is a four year requirement for all students culminating in a capstone presentation prior to graduation. The MSA project is aimed at fostering self-directed, life-long learning.

Student Benchmarks

Phase I	Meet with an Associate Director Create an e-portfolio Explore potential projects and mentors
Phase II	Meet with your Associate Director Select a Mentor MSA Plan Form must be reviewed Scholarly proposal must be reviewed Continue e-portfolio
Phase III	Meet with Mentor between third and fifth clerkship
Phase IV	Submit first draft by November to Associate Director Deliver capstone presentation in March

Learning Objectives

• Demonstrate progress through the Phases and display independence and collaboration
• Demonstrate ability to formulate a specific problem statement, question, hypothesis or aim
• Demonstrate ability to work effectively with a mentor
• Demonstrate ability to critically review and analyze the literature on an important scholarly topic
• Demonstrate ability to prepare a scholarly project with appropriate methods and plan to complete the project
• Demonstrate ability to log progress in an e-portfolio
• Demonstrate ability to synthesize and present results of a scholarly project

Thematic Areas

Assessment
Grading will be pass/fail- assessed at the end of each phase based on benchmarks. The Phase 4 grade will be determined by the Director, Mentor, Associate Director, and a team of faculty and students.

Assessment Components

• Selection of an appropriate problem statement/ question/ hypothesis/ aim
• Selection of an appropriate methodology to answer problem statement/ question/ hypothesis/ aim
• Background literature search
• Application of an appropriate methodology
• Clarity of poster
• Clarity of presentation

Final Product (3 parts)
Paper summary - 10-25 pages depending on thematic area or a paper published in a peer reviewed journal.

Poster - For most projects, the poster will summarize the paper. For projects on the Arts the poster will include a brief description on the project dates and location of presentation.

Presentation - For most projects, the presentation is of the poster, including a brief project summary and Q & A. For projects on the Arts, the presentation will be an exhibit or performance with a summary and Q & A.