A research project is one of the most popular types of capstone projects. For a research project, the student will identify a topic within their major field of study to research in depth. They will come up with a research question and hypothesis to guide the project. Then they will conduct an extensive literature review to understand what existing research and scholarship says about their topic. Based on gaps they identify in the existing research, students will design their own research study to contribute new knowledge. This often involves collecting and analyzing qualitative or quantitative data. Students then report their findings in a lengthy paper presenting the research process, results, conclusions, and implications of the study.
Some examples of research capstone topics could include:
Exploring factors that influence consumer purchasing decisions in the smartphone industry. The student would design and conduct a survey or interviews to understand consumer behaviors.
Examining the mental health impacts of meditation based on a review of clinical studies and experiments. The student may recruit participants and gather data to analyze.
Investigating teaching methods for English language learners and comparing student outcomes between different instructional approaches in a classroom study.
Another common capstone is an applied project where students tackle a real-world problem or design a product. This allows them to apply knowledge and skills gained throughout their program. For an applied project, students first identify and define the problem or need. They conduct background research and develop a proposal or plan to address it. Then they implement their proposed solution or prototype. Outcomes are measured and refinements are suggested. Students document the full process and present the results.
Some examples of applied project capstone topics include:
Developing a new app prototype to help small businesses with inventory management and testing it with local companies.
Creating educational materials and delivering workshops or training on a health issue for a nonprofit organization.
Designing websites or marketing campaigns for local political candidates or organizations.
Case studies are another type of capstone where students thoroughly analyze a real situation or organization. This demonstrates their ability to think critically and propose evidence-based solutions. For a case study capstone, students study an in-depth case, often provided by their program, analyzing all relevant factors. They identify key issues, perform research as needed, and evaluate alternative courses of action. Students then recommend solutions and discuss how their recommendations could be implemented and impact the situation.
Some examples of case study capstone topics include:
Analyzing management and cultural issues leading to high employee turnover at a local company and recommending changes.
Examining ethics violations at a financial institution and how to strengthen compliance moving forward.
Assessing responses to a humanitarian crisis and evaluating response efforts of different organizations.
Literature reviews are also sometimes used as capstones, particularly in humanities fields. For a literature review capstone, the student comprehensively surveys scholarly research and commentary on their chosen topic. They summarize, compare and synthesize various perspectives and evidence presented. The goal is demonstrating mastery of a topic and identifying areas needing more inquiry. Students then propose directions for future research.
Some examples of literature review capstone topics include:
Tracing themes of post-colonialism in contemporary African literature.
Comparing feminist philosophies across different historical periods.
Analyzing portrayals of disability in American films from the 1920s to today.
In addition to research, applied, case study and literature review capstones, some programs also allow for creative projects as capstones. These demonstrate technical or artistic proficiency instead of research abilities. Creative capstones often involve developing a substantial work of art, media production, performance or design. Students document their creative process and reflect on their learning.
Some examples of creative capstone projects include:
Directing and staging a full-length play or musical production.
Developing an exhibition of original artwork with an accompanying essay.
Filming and editing a short documentary film on a social issue.
Composing an album of original music works.
Designing a virtual or augmented reality experience.
While capstone project formats vary between academic programs and institutions, the most common types seen are research projects, applied projects, case studies, literature reviews, and creative works. All are designed to serve as a culminating demonstration of senior students’ command of their field of study before graduating. The projects require independent planning and execution while displaying research, analytical, problem-solving and communication skills.