# Capstone course > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Capstone_course > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Capstone_course.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capstone_course > Source revision: 1283458624 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Culminating collegiate/university educational program}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}} A '''capstone course''', also known as a '''synthesis and capstone project''', '''senior synthesis''', among other terms, is a project that serves as the culminating and usually integrative [praxis](/source/Praxis_(process)) experience of an educational program mostly found in American-style [pedagogy](/source/pedagogy). Although somewhat different from an industry-oriented capstone project, [case study](/source/case_study), [case method](/source/case_method), or praxis commonly used in American-style [higher education](/source/higher_education); in the [Commonwealth of Nations](/source/Commonwealth_of_Nations), [Bologna Process](/source/Bologna_Process), and in other parts of the world influenced by their education systems, a senior thesis ([thesis](/source/thesis)) usually takes its place as a culmination of an educational program but is much more [theoretical](/source/Theory) and academia-oriented rather than the [praxis](/source/Praxis_(process)) and industry-oriented synthesis and capstone project.{{cite book |author1=Marcus Ford |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lRc3f2gjCJYC&pg=PA44 |title=Beyond the Modern University: Toward a Constructive Postmodern University |author2=Marcus Peter Ford |publisher=IAP |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-59311-405-3 |page=44}} == Nature and structure == A capstone course is usually designed as a hands-on project, an extended essay, a [research paper](/source/Academic_paper), or another form of applied work. This work is often submitted as a requirement for a degree or professional qualification and is typically written in a [professional writing](/source/professional_writing) format rather than the more traditional [academic writing](/source/academic_writing) style. The goal is to present findings from the perspective of a professional in the field, rather than that of a student or academic researcher.{{Cite web |title=Capstone projects as opportunities for real-life applications |url=https://www.washington.edu/trends/capstone-projects-as-opportunities-for-real-life-applications/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=University of Washington |language=en}} Capstone courses are often multidisciplinary in nature and may involve teamwork, independent research, or collaboration with industry partners. They are commonly found in undergraduate bachelor's degree programs but are also prevalent in master’s degree curricula and some professional training programs. The course structure may vary by institution and discipline, but the essential purpose remains the same: to synthesize and apply learning from the entire educational program.[https://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/careers-advice-articles/what-capstone-project-why-it-important "What is a capstone project? And why is it important?"]. ''[https://essayservice.com/ Top Universities]''. March 20, 2025. [https://archive.today/20250321113757/https://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/careers-advice-articles/what-capstone-project-why-it-important Archived] from the original on March 21, 2025. Retrieved March 21, 2025. == Capstone awards and recognition == Some universities and colleges award a Capstone Award{{cite web | title=General Studies | website=Capstone Awards | url=https://www.bu.edu/cgs/news/collegian-archives/collegian-winter-2017/capstone-awards/ | access-date=December 24, 2021}}{{cite web | title=Capstone Award Winners | website=[University of Washington](/source/University_of_Washington). Information School | url=https://ischool.uw.edu/capstone/projects/awards | access-date=December 24, 2021}} or Capstone Prize{{cite web | title=Capstone Project Best Design Prize | website=[University of Technology Sydney](/source/University_of_Technology_Sydney) | url=https://www.uts.edu.au/scholarship/capstone-project-best-design-prize | access-date=December 24, 2021}} based on merit in the capstone course. == Etymology and historical development == The term derives from the final decorative [coping](/source/Coping_(architecture)) or "cap-stone" used to complete a building or monument. In higher education, the term has been in common use in the United States since the mid-twentieth century, although there is evidence that it was in use as early as the late 1800s.{{cite book|author1=Hauhart, R. |author2=Grahe, J. |date=2015|title=Designing and teaching undergraduate capstone courses|location= San-Francisco|publisher= Jossey-Bass}} It has gradually been gaining currency in other countries, particularly where attention has focused on student outcomes and employability in undergraduate studies.{{Cite web|title=Capstone Project Definition: What is Capstone|url=https://capstonewriting.com/blog/what-is-capstone-project-definition/|url-status=live|website=CapstoneWriting.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205183139/https://capstonewriting.com/blog/what-is-capstone-project-definition/ |archive-date=December 5, 2020 }} National grant projects in Australia{{cite web|website=businesscapstones.edu|url=http://businesscapstones.edu.au/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109155709/http://businesscapstones.edu.au/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 9, 2016|title=Business Capstones|location=Australia}}{{cite book|url=http://eprints.qut.edu.au/64249/ |title=Curriculum renewal in legal education: Capstone experiences in law|year=2013 |location=Australia|isbn=9781921916670 |last1=Kift |first1=Professor Sally }}{{cite web |title=Capstones across disciplines and the capstone network |url=http://www.capstonecurriculum.com.au/ |website=Capstone Curriculum}} and the U.K. have further raised the profile of the capstone experience.{{cite web |title=Rethinking final-year projects and dissertations: Creative honours and capstone projects |url=https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/project/rethinking-final-year-projects-and-dissertations-creative-honours-and-capstone-projects |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250321112628/https://web.archive.org/web/20170113163805/https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/project/rethinking-final-year-projects-and-dissertations-creative-honours-and-capstone-projects |archive-date=March 21, 2025 |website=heacademy.ac.uk |location=U.K.}} ==See also== *[Major (academic)](/source/Major_(academic)) *[Seminar](/source/Seminar) *[Thesis](/source/Thesis) ==References== {{reflist}} Category:Educational programs {{edu-stub}} --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Capstone course](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capstone_course) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capstone_course?action=history)). 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