The Capstone Project
Overview*
Capstone projects are intended to be culminating learning experiences for second-year masters degree students that encourage application of knowledge to real-world, client-driven projects. Capstone projects foster professional development and skill refinement. Moreover, the projects facilitate student reflection on knowledge and values acquired during the program. Student teams work collaboratively, interacting with team members and clients to develop and manage projects. Capstone course instructors and other faculty support student work by providing guidance and feedback leading toward professional quality deliverables.
Process and opportunities
Approximate Timeline
June - August - request for project proposals
September 15 (approximate) - project proposals** submitted by faculty on behalf of client organizations
(Late) September - project portfolio developed from submitted proposals
October - student selection process
(Early) November - capstone prep course kickoff and initial meetings of student teams
December - initial meetings of student teams continues
January - optional field research over break (if applicable)
March - optional field research over break
April/May - public presentation and final presentation to client
*List of capstone projects by year at bottom of page.
**Proposals based on capstone project request issued jointly by MDP program and Global Policy Area
Projects by year (this list only includes project listed in the MDP section)
2024
IREX Youth Excel. Global. Program evaluation. Positive Youth Development.
Regional Sustainable Development Partnership / Mercado Local. Southeast Minnesota. Strategic planning and developmental evaluation .
2023
International Institute for Sustainable Development. Mining program. Evaluation of contract programming focused on government leaders in sub Saharan Africa.
International Institute for Sustainable Development. Agriculture program. Evaluation of Responsible Agricultural Investment (RAI) tool in Southeast Asia
Rainforest Alliance. Honduras. Market analysis for sustainable agricultural systems.
Regenerate Africa. Uganda. Climate impacts on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
Mattie Koo. Ethiopia. Strategic planning and non-profit management
2022
IREX. Global. Program evaluation. Positive Youth Development.
International Institute for Sustainable Development. Mining program. Evaluation of programming focused on tax base shifting in mining in Latin America.
International Institute for Sustainable Development. Agriculture program. Evaluation of programming focused on Responsible Agricultural Investments in Africa.
2021
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Minnesota. Program design and development for Mille Lacs Recovery Ranch. Health. Environment. [Postponed]
Rainforest Alliance. Guatemala. Market system research development of an integrated product attribute strategy for forest products. Integrated conservation and development.
2020
Etta Projects. Bolivia/Washington. Program development. Environmental education and youth development.
Global Mamas. Ghana. Program evaluation for organizational development. Sustainable livelihoods and evaluation.
Rainforest Alliance. Guatemala. Market system research development of an integrated product attribute strategy for forest products. Integrated conservation and development.
University of Minnesota Duluth-Cultural Entrepreneurship Program, Zeitgeist Arts, LISC. Northeast Minnesota. Defining the creative economy and facilitating community change. Economic development.
2019
Etta Projects. Bolivia/Washington. Program development. Girls sexual health and reproductive rights.
Kiisi University / Eagles for Life / UMN Extension. Kenya. Market system research and feasibility analysis. Food systems.
National Trust for Nature Conservation. Nepal. Site assessment and strategic planning. Ecotourism and development.
Regional Sustainable Development Partnership / UMN Extension. Northeast Minnesota. Community consultations and case analysis. Culture, tourism and development.
World's Fair Committee. Minnesota. Situation analysis. Sustainable development goals and public health.
Human Rights First. Washington, D.C. Case analysis. Human rights.
Sawiris Foundation for Social Development. Egypt. Livelihood analysis. Social and economic development.
2018
Mossier Social Action and Innovation Center. Dominican Republic. Program development. Economic and social justice.
National Democratic Institute. Washington, DC. Peace, security and democratic resilience.
Rainforest Alliance. Guatemala. Market and program development. Ecotourism and economic development.
Stimson Center. Washington, DC. Project analysis. Hydro dams.
STIR Education. Uganda. Program evaluation. Education.
Terra Luna Collaborative. Minneapolis. Program evaluation. Community based development.
United Nations Gender Network. Global. Program analysis. Gender and the Sustainable Development Goals.
2017
Global Deaf Connection. Namibia. Program development and evaluation. Deaf education.
International Center for Policy and Conflict. Kenya. Policy analysis. Governance.
International Republican Institute.
Mosaic (now Mossier). Uganda. Program development and evaluation. Social enterprises.
One Village Partnership. Sierra Leone. Program evaluation. Community development.
Picture Impact. Western Africa. Program development. Maternal and child health. [Report Link]
Wildlife Conservation Society. Central America. Cattle ranching and tropical deforestation.
2016
American Refugee Committee. Minneapolis. Program evaluation. Refugee relief and development. [Report Link]
Global Deaf Connection. Program evaluation. Global deaf communities.
HIAS. Program Development. Refugee resettlement.
International Center for Policy and Conflict. Kenya. Policy analysis. Governance.
Rainforest Alliance. Guatemala. Conservation and development. Forest concessions.
Relief International. Washington, DC. Program design and partnership development. Humanitarian aid. [Report Link]
Sawiris Foundation. Egypt. Program analysis. Monitoring & Evaluation. [Report Link]
University of Mizoram, India. India. Value chain and market analysis. Agriculture.
USDA Foreign Agriculture Service. Washington, DC. Program evaluation. [Report Link]
2015
Isuroon. Somalia. Situation analysis. Maternal and child health.
Ateneo University. Philippines. Program evaluation. Education and youth development.
Global Deaf Connection. Tanzania. [Report Link]
University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships. Program development. Ecotourism. [Report Link; Poster Link]
2014
Amos Health and Hope. Nicaragua. Program design and evaluation. Water filtration and public health.
EcoWorks, International. Haiti. Program design and strategic development. Agriculture.
Global Citizens Network. Minnesota. Program evaluation. Volunteerism.
University of Minnesota Extension. Minnesota. Program development. International diaspora communities.
University of Minnesota One Health Partnership. East Africa. Program design. Rural advisory services.
2013
Araha. Sudan. Program research and design. Solar lamps. [Report Link]
Advocates for Human Rights. Global. Best practice analysis. Refugee welcome programs
Evangelical Church of the Republic of Niger. Niger. Environmental scan and market research. Public health.
University of Minnesota Extension. Minnesota. Program development. Internationalization of Extension curricula.
Trees that Feed Foundation. Caribbean. Strategic planning. Agriculture and public health.
USAID/HortCRSP. Global. Horticulture and gender. [Report Link]
World Savvy. Global. Program development.
2012 and prior
Araha. Global. Strategic planning. [Report Link]
Cheetah Development. Tanzania. [Report Link]
Clinton Global Initiative/Cason Family Foundation
Global Deaf Connection. Jamaica. [Report Link]
No Time for Poverty. Haiti
One Village Parters. Sierra Leone. [Report Link]
Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia. Ethiopia.