Capstone Courses and Projects as a High-Impact Practice

The following provides information to help faculty and administrators assess and implement capstone courses and projects as a high-impact practice at Kennesaw State University. You can also download a two-page and full-length document for your reference or to print.

Definition of Capstone Courses and Projects

Learning experiences—typically, but not always, completed in the final year of study—in which students integrate, apply, and showcase the knowledge and skills gained throughout their academic program. Capstone courses and projects are culminating learning experiences in which students integrate, apply, and demonstrate the knowledge and skills gained throughout their academic program, typically in their final year. These projects involve research, creative work, internships, community-engaged projects, portfolios, or presentations that demonstrate mastery in the discipline. A course or project that is ‘capstone’ in name alone, rather than engaging students in high-quality, deeply engaging work, will have limited or no impact.

Characteristics and Documented Impact

  1. Performance expectations set at appropriately high levels
    • students engage in rigorous, integrative projects that showcase their mastery of knowledge and skills developed throughout the program.
  2. Significant Investment of time and effort over an extended period
    • Projects unfold over a semester or year, requiring sustained engagement.
  3. Interactions with faculty and peers about substantive matters
    • Frequent and consistent mentoring, feedback, collaboration, and presentations.
  4. Experiences with diversity
    • Projects involve diverse populations, perspectives, or real-world contexts.
  5. Frequent, timely, and constructive feedback
    • Milestones and drafts yield ongoing feedback from faculty, peers, and sometimes external partners.
  6. Periodic, structured opportunities to reflect and integrate learning
    • Students integrate program learning and reflect on growth, challenges, and readiness for future work.
  7. Opportunities to discover relevance of learning through real-world applications
    • Projects often mimic or directly engage professional practice, research, or community issues.
  8. Public demonstration of competence
    • Final presentations, showcases, portfolios, or defenses (multiple formats) delivered to an audience of peers, faculty, industry professionals, or supervisor, etc
  • Increased integrative and critical thinking skills
  • Improved writing, research, and communication abilities
  • Experience with discipline-specific tasks and better understanding of disciplinary knowledge
  • Enhanced teamwork, project management, and problem-solving, potentially in real-world contexts
  • Creation of strong portfolios and work samples for careers or graduate school
  • Greater ability to articulate skills and career goals
  • Increased potential for graduate school applications and employability due to demonstrable experience 

Checklist to Capstone Courses and Projects HIP

  • Provide a clear purpose aligned with program learning outcomes
  • Clearly define and provide timeline for scaffolded assignments leading to final deliverable (e.g., research paper, creative project, ...), including a required public presentation or defense
  • Ensure transparent grading criteria and rubrics
  • Create a system for consistent mentorship/feedback from peers, faculty, and partners
  • Connect course or project with real-world relevance
  • Include tasks requiring integration and application of prior learning
  • Include opportunities to connect academic learning to professional goals
  • Require structured reflection (writing, journals, or presentations) and documentation of skill development

Resources