Business:
For a business degree, a common capstone project would be developing a full business plan. This would require research into a business idea, developing financial projections, creating a marketing strategy, defining operating procedures, outlining legal considerations, and more. A student may create a plan to open their own small business after graduation. They would address all aspects of starting and running the business to demonstrate their knowledge in areas like accounting, management, marketing, and operations.

Engineering:
In engineering fields, a capstone project usually involves designing and building a working prototype. For example, mechanical engineering students may design and construct a mechanical device or machine to address a real-world problem. They would need to research the issue, conceptualize solutions, develop technical drawings and specifications, fabricate components using tools and machines, assemble the prototype, test that it functions properly, and report on the outcome. The goal is to apply their technical engineering knowledge to a hands-on project from conception to completion.

Nursing:
For nursing students, a capstone project often involves developing an educational program or training for patients, caregivers, or medical professionals. Their project may focus on creating informational pamphlets, videos, or digital resources to teach people how to properly manage a medical condition or provide better home care. Research is conducted to identify an educational need within a healthcare setting. The materials developed need to be evidence-based, targeted to the appropriate learning levels, and demonstrate effective communication of relevant medical information. Assessment tools would also be created to evaluate the success of the educational program.

Computer Science:
In computer science fields, a common capstone involves developing a working software application or program to address a real problem. Students may identify a need on their university campus and develop an app to streamline processes, make information more accessible, or enhance the student experience. The project requires researching how technology could address the issue, designing user experiences and interfaces, writing code, troubleshooting and debugging, testing functionality, and documenting technical system details. Presenting a fully operational software product shows mastery of programming languages and application development skills.

Criminal Justice:
For criminal justice majors, a capstone project could entail conducting original research on a relevant issue impacting the field. A student my analyze crime data trends, interview law enforcement professionals, survey incarcerated individuals, or shadow in court proceedings to identify an area ripe for further study. They would then author an extensive research paper summarizing findings, outlining evidence-based solutions, and discussing policy implications. Presenting published research at a professional conference allows sharing insights with practitioners working to advance the criminal justice system.

Communications:
Communications students often complete capstone projects with a multimedia component. A project may involve developing a marketing campaign through written, oral, visual, and digital deliverables for a non-profit organization. Activities could include conducting stakeholder research, crafting brand messaging, producing promotional videos and graphics, launching social media strategies, and reporting on engagement analytics. Effectively communicating across different channels through creative and professional deliverables demonstrates multi-media communication aptitude.

Psychology:
For psychology majors, a capstone may involve leading an original research study. A student would design an empirical experiment, administer surveys, conduct interviews, collect and analyze quantitative data, then write a full research paper and presentation summarizing the methods, findings, implications, and areas for future work. Completing an independent project from start to finish improves research design, data analysis, and communication skills applicable to professional research positions or graduate study in psychology.

These are just a few examples of how capstone projects can provide practical, real-world applications of knowledge across different academic fields of study. Requiring a substantial final project that synthesizes various course concepts allows students to demonstrate mastery of their discipline while also developing problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication abilities highly valued by employers.