Month-by-Month Timeline
Part 14 - the Month-by-Month Timeline Checklist for a one-semester capstone. Tick items as you complete them.
Month-by-Month Timeline
What this section is
A pacing guide for a one-semester (about 4-5 month) capstone. Adjust weeks if your institution runs on a different calendar.
Gantt-style overview
Tick-by-week checklist
| Week | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Team + adviser + client + pitch |
| 2 | First interview; title formula; SDLC chosen |
| 3 | IPO drawn; scope + limitation; significance |
| 4 | Background + objectives; Chapter I draft to adviser |
| 5 | Architectural diagram + ERD + DFD; hardware/software specs |
| 6 | Acceptance survey drafted + piloted (5 respondents) |
| 7 | Literature themes outlined; related systems table |
| 8 | Chapters II + III drafts to adviser |
| 9 | Sprint 1 done (core module + unit tests) |
| 10 | Sprint 2 done (next module + integration tests) |
| 11 | Sprint 3 done; acceptance survey administered |
| 12 | Sprint 4 (refinement); bug fixes |
| 13 | Chapter IV drafted; survey tabulated + weighted means computed |
| 14 | Chapter V drafted; APA 7 references compiled |
| 15 | Abstract + front matter + appendices; grammarian review |
| 16 | Plagiarism + AI check certificates; final formatting; submission |
| 17-18 | Defense + revisions; coordinator + dean signatures; bind |
Mentor's tip
Build a 20 percent buffer. If something will slip, it will be Sprint 3 (the distinctive feature) or the grammarian review week.
Panel defense checklist
- [ ] Each weekly item ticked or noted as deferred with a reason.
- [ ] Adviser meetings logged (Appendix B).
- [ ] No 'we will do it next week' for more than two weeks in a row.
Mentor’s tip: A real schedule with weekly ticks. Build a 20 percent buffer; Sprint 3 and grammarian week always slip. Log adviser meetings as you go - the minutes go in Appendix B.
Discussion
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