Also called a capstone experience, culminating project, orsenior exhibition, among many other terms, a capstone project is a multifaceted assignment that serves as a culminating academic and intellectual experience for students, typically during their final year of high school or middle school, or at the end of an academic program or learning-pathway experience. While similar in some ways to a college thesis, capstone projects may take a wide variety of forms, but most are long-term investigative projects that culminate in a final product, presentation, or performance. For example, students may be asked to select a topic, profession, or social problem that interests them, conduct research on the subject, maintain a portfolio of findings or results, create a final product demonstrating their learning acquisition or conclusions (a paper, short film, or multimedia presentation, for example), and give an oral presentation on the project to a panel of teachers, experts, and community members who collectively evaluate its quality.
Capstone projects are generally designed to encourage students to think critically, solve challenging problems, and develop skills such as oral communication, public speaking, research skills, media literacy, teamwork, planning, self-sufficiency, or goal setting—i.e., skills that will help prepare them for college, modern careers, and adult life. In most cases, the projects are also interdisciplinary, in the sense that they require students to apply skills or investigate issues across many different subject areas or domains of knowledge. Capstone projects also tend to encourage students to connect their projects to community issues or problems, and to integrate outside-of-school learning experiences, including activities such as interviews, scientific observations, or internships.
While capstone projects can take a wide variety of forms from school to school, a few examples will help to illustrate both the concept and the general educational intentions:
- Writing, directing, and filming a public-service announcement that will be aired on public-access television
- Designing and building a product, computer program, app, or robot to address a specific need, such as assisting the disabled
- Interning at a nonprofit organization or a legislator’s office to learn more about strategies and policies intended to address social problems, such as poverty, hunger, or homelessness
- Conducting a scientific study over several months or a year to determine the ecological or environmental impact of changes to a local habitat
- Researching an industry or market, and creating a viable business plan for a proposed company that is then “pitched” to a panel of local business leaders
For related discussions, see authentic learning, portfolio,relevance, and 21st century skills.
Reform
As a school-reform strategy, capstone projects are often an extension of more systemic school-improvement models or certain teaching philosophies or strategies, such as 21st century skills, community-based learning, proficiency-based learning, project-based learning, or student-centered learning, to name just a few.
The following are a few representative educational goals of capstone projects:
- Increasing the academic rigor of the senior year. Historically, high school students have taken a lighter course load or left school early during their twelfth-grade year, which can contribute to learning loss or insufficient preparation for first-year college work. A more academically and intellectually challenging senior year, filled with demanding but stimulating learning experiences such as a capstone project, the reasoning goes, can reduce senior-year learning loss, keep students in school longer (or otherwise engaged in learning), and increase preparation for college and work.
- Increasing student motivation and engagement. The creative nature of capstone projects, which are typically self-selected by students and based on personal interests, can strengthen student motivation to learn, particularly during a time (twelfth grade) when academic motivation and engagement tend to wane.
- Increasing educational and career aspirations. By involving students in long-term projects that intersect with personal interests and professional aspirations, capstone projects can help students with future planning, goal setting, postsecondary decisions, and career exploration—particularly for those students who may be unfocused, uncertain, or indecisive about their post-graduation plans and aspirations.
- Improving student confidence and self-perceptions. Capstone projects typically require students to take on new responsibilities, be more self-directed, set goals, and follow through on commitments. Completing such projects can boost self-esteem, build confidence, and teach students about the value of accomplishment. Students may also become role models for younger students, which can cultivate leadership abilities and have positive cultural effects within a school.
- Demonstrating learning and proficiency. As one of many educational strategies broadly known as demonstrations of learning, capstone projects can be used to determine student proficiency (in the acquisition of knowledge and skills) or readiness (for college and work) by requiring them to demonstrate what they have learned over the course of their project
In recent years, the capstone-project concept has also entered the domain of state policy. In Rhode Island, for example, the state’s high school graduation requirements stipulate that seniors must complete two out of three assessment options, one of which can be a capstone project. Several other states require students to complete some form of senior project, while in other states such projects may be optional, and students who complete a capstone project may receive special honors or diploma recognition.
Debate
Most criticism of or debate about capstone projects is not focused on the strategy itself, or its intrinsic or potential educational value, but rather on the quality of its execution—i.e., capstone projectstend to be criticized when they are poorly designed or reflect low academic standards, or when students are allowed to complete relatively superficial projects of low educational value. In addition, if teachers and students consider capstone projectsto be a formality, lower-quality products typically result. And if the projects reflect consistently low standards, quality, and educational value year after year, educators, students, parents, and community members may come to view capstone projectsas a waste of time or resources.
FAQs
A Capstone Project is a multifaceted body of work that serves as a culminating academic and intellectual experience for students.
Is it possible to fail capstone project? ›
Yes, you can fail a capstone course. However, failing a capstone course at some universities could disqualify you from graduating from that particular major or program. Other schools could require you to revise your capstone project until it's approved or you receive a passing grade.
Does your capstone project matter? ›
Why Capstone Projects Matter. Capstone projects provide students with the opportunity to experience real-world issues in their chosen field and demonstrate workforce readiness. A college graduate can share their capstone with potential employers to demonstrate their knowledge and abilities.
Do capstone projects count as experience? ›
A Capstone Project Enhances Your Resume
A capstone programme can help you gain practical work experience to add to your resume. This can be a great way to show off your skills, learn new ones, and get some experience working in a team environment.
What is the main goal of capstone project? ›
The capstone project is designed to consolidate final-year students' learning with valuable hands-on experience to help develop them into well-prepared and well-rounded graduates.
Is a capstone project like a thesis? ›
A capstone project attempts to address an issue in the field by applying existing knowledge toward a real-life problem (often in the form of fieldwork). A thesis seeks to create new knowledge through student research, trying to prove or argue a hypothesis, rather than just investigate a topic.
How many people fail capstone? ›
Fail rate: 87.03%.
What is a passing grade for capstone? ›
To pass the Capstone Exam course and earn a certificate, you need to achieve a total score of at least 50%.
Do colleges look at capstone projects? ›
Still, if you take Capstone, aspects of the program—especially the long research paper—will likely look desirable to most colleges. The independent research AP Capstone requires could be the topic of a college essay or at least something substantial to talk about in an interview.
How hard is a capstone project? ›
“Capstones are too easy.”
Rather, they are rigorous, well-rounded academic undertakings. Capstones require research, community input, analysis, experimentation, public speaking and a formal presentation. Many educators compare the project to a National Science Fair presentation—or better yet, a Master's dissertation.
How Long Does a Capstone Project Usually Take to Complete? This will vary from program to program and can be as few as 10 weeks to as many as two semesters depending on the requirements of the program. It is most common for graduate programs to require a capstone project course that lasts for one semester.
Is a Masters capstone hard? ›
The Capstone Project
This project can be challenging and rewarding since it may require extensive knowledge of the specific field of study. Moreover, it's a key component in preparing students by helping students learn professional skills and gain hands-on experience.
Can I put my capstone on my resume? ›
A capstone, thesis or senior project can be included if your major had one. ←WORK EXPERIENCE: Use action verbs to describe your experience.
How many hours is a capstone? ›
HOW MANY HOURS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE? The Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) requires the length of the doctoral capstone experience to be a minimum of 14 weeks (560 hours).
Does everyone do a capstone project? ›
No, not all colleges require capstone research projects. Additionally, some schools and programs may only make them mandatory in certain instances, such as specific degree levels or majors. Generally, a thesis or similar research experience is more common for graduate degrees than undergraduate degrees.
What makes a good capstone project? ›
The best Capstone proposals are important but not urgent; achievable within the academic time frame and with the resources available; provide a clear definition of the problem or issue to be addressed; have a realistic scope; and specify tangible deliverables for the Capstone team to provide.
How long is a master's capstone paper? ›
A capstone paper may be 25 pages, where a thesis could be 100 or more, and is a more demanding research paper. If an undergraduate student chooses to further their education and enter into a doctoral program, the capstone project could be an invaluable tool in preparing for a thesis.
What are the 4 capstone project elements? ›
Capstone Resources
- Parts of a Scientific & Scholarly Paper.
- Title.
- Abstract.
- Introduction.
- Methods.
- Results.
- Discussion.
A capstone project is mainly a two-semester project that is conducted in the final year of graduation, where students are supposed to independently or collectively research their topic of interest and participate in debates on relevant topics to gain deep knowledge in the subject.
What is the difference between a project and a capstone project? ›
A capstone course has expectations similar to a project. The difference is that the scope of the project is defined so that the results can be achieved within a semester. Also, students work with the instructor of the course (or another faculty member, if required) rather than a faculty committee.
Ironically, a capstone is often longer than a dissertation because it typically includes two parts: the program you've designed and implemented to address the needed change (this might be a 4-week professional development program for faculty, for example) and the final report, which includes an overview of your project ...
How long is the average capstone paper? ›
In most cases, the capstone project will be an interdisciplinary study of approximately 25-35 pages in length that demonstrates graduate level research and writing skills.
Is capstone project graded? ›
Capstone Project grading
Other Capstone Projects are automatically graded or graded by experts. In some Specializations, you will be evaluated only on your final project submission. In other Specializations, you will get separate grades for each section of the project.
Is a capstone graded? ›
As a graduation requirement, Capstones require A-F letter grades. Capstones will be graded by the faculty member overseeing the Capstone.
Is D considered failing? ›
A letter grade of a D is technically considered passing because it not a failure. A D is any percentage between 60-69%, whereas a failure occurs below 60%. Even though a D is a passing grade, it's barely passing. As such, it is not looked at favorably.
How many questions are on the Capstone assessment? ›
What will the Capstone Experience Exam look like? Your Capstone Experience Exam will be composed of 125 multiple-choice questions, 100 of which are scored and 25 of which are not scored, that ask you to apply the knowledge you have gained in your designation courses.
Can you graduate with an F in college? ›
If you get an F, you still have to pay for the class without receiving any credit toward your degree. What's more, failed classes don't count toward graduation requirements either. In some majors, even a passing grade like a D might not meet those requirements.
Do colleges care about capstone diploma? ›
The AP Capstone Diploma is increasingly recognized in admissions by higher education institutions around the world. Many colleges and universities offer credit and/or placement for a qualifying score in AP Seminar, AP Research, or both.
What are the common questions in capstone project? ›
Capstone Projects FAQ
- What is the Capstone Project/Course? ...
- What are some of the advantages for students? ...
- How big are the project teams? ...
- Where do projects come from? ...
- What background will the students bring to the Capstone Project? ...
- What is the process for getting a project submitted as a potential Capstone Project?
A capstone course is not always a paper, though a paper is often a piece of it. Art students may put on exhibitions of their work, while other students will have to pass an oral examination, defend their thesis to a group of professors, or complete a book.
1. Time: The presentation should be 5 to 7 minutes in length. 2. Multimedia: A PowerPoint or Prezi may be used to help structure the Capstone Experience Oral Presentation.
How many weeks is capstone? ›
In the Capstone course, students work 12-20 hours a week for 15 weeks.
What should students do before they start their capstone? ›
Before you start working on your project, it is essential to do your research. This will help you better understand the problem you are trying to solve and give you direction on how to solve it. Not doing your research can lead to wasted time and effort spent on something that may not even be possible to solve.
Is 3 GPA good in Masters? ›
Most colleges like to see at least a 2.5 or a 3.0 from master's program applicants. Some programs set their minimums at 3.3 or higher. The minimum GPA for a doctoral program may start at 3.3. In addition to your overall score, the classes you took might be factored in as well.
What does capstone mean in Masters program? ›
A capstone project for graduate school is a culminating project that has students apply their knowledge, skills, and training to a real-world problem. Many graduate degrees in the field of education, liberal arts, public health, and communication utilize capstone projects for a student's final work to graduate.
What is capstone 1 like? ›
Capstone 1 combines individual and team work to complete a number of assignments, which concludes in the submission of a final Board Report and an Oral Presentation to a panel of CPAs. Enabling competencies such as professionalism, ethics, team work and self-management are critical to the success of Capstone 1.
Does capstone project count as internship? ›
Internships provide students with hands-on experience in a specific field or industry, while capstone projects are a culminating experience that allows students to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have acquired throughout their degree program.
How many words is a capstone project? ›
Still, when writing your senior capstone project, it may go up to 80-100 pages, especially if you are going for a doctoral program. Speaking of college students, the maximum length that is usually accepted is 10,000 words, not counting your references.
How many chapters are in capstone? ›
At some colleges and universities, there is no difference between the words “thesis” and “Capstone Project”, but generally these are five-chapter papers that explore a new and original research topic. Nonetheless, both types of papers amount to the same writing process.
Is capstone a study? ›
The Capstone Project is a two-semester process in which students pursue independent research on a question or problem of their choice, engage with the scholarly debates in the relevant disciplines, and - with the guidance of a faculty mentor - produce a substantial paper that reflects a deep understanding of the topic.
The term derives from the final decorative coping or "cap-stone" used to complete a building or monument. In higher education, the term has been in common use in the USA since the mid-twentieth century, although there is evidence that it was in use as early as the late 1800s.
What is required in a capstone project? ›
A Capstone Project Proposal should contain the following: 1) Introduction – Explains the interest in the topic and situates the project in a scholarly and/or practical context. 2) Goals and Process – Describes the goals and purpose of the project.
What is a capstone project example? ›
Writing, directing, and filming a public-service announcement that will be aired on public-access television. Designing and building a product, computer program, app, or robot to address a specific need, such as assisting the disabled.
What should a capstone project include? ›
Components of a Capstone Project
- Abstract.
- Introduction.
- Literature Review.
- Methodology.
- Findings.
- Discussions.
A capstone paper may be 25 pages, where a thesis could be 100 or more, and is a more demanding research paper. If an undergraduate student chooses to further their education and enter into a doctoral program, the capstone project could be an invaluable tool in preparing for a thesis.
What is a capstone format? ›
Everyone's capstone paper should contain the following elements: a title page, abstract, introduction, body, conclusion, and reference list.
Is capstone project hard? ›
“Capstones are too easy.”
Rather, they are rigorous, well-rounded academic undertakings. Capstones require research, community input, analysis, experimentation, public speaking and a formal presentation. Many educators compare the project to a National Science Fair presentation—or better yet, a Master's dissertation.
Why is it called capstone project? ›
The term derives from the final decorative coping or "cap-stone" used to complete a building or monument. In higher education, the term has been in common use in the USA since the mid-twentieth century, although there is evidence that it was in use as early as the late 1800s.
What is the difference between capstone and research? ›
Research projects focus more on developing or proposing theories, whereas capstone projects focus more on achieving tangible or intangible results through research.
What are the two required components of the capstone project? ›
The Capstone Project consists of two components: (1) a written portion and (2) a presentation of the research in a public academic, professional, or creative forum.
The key factors that make the student capstone projects succeed are effective communication, strong leadership, and match-up of student strengths and team roles.
Should I put my capstone project on my resume? ›
A capstone, thesis or senior project can be included if your major had one. ←WORK EXPERIENCE: Use action verbs to describe your experience.
