The word “capstone” originally referred to the decorative, final piece of masonry that would be affixed to the top of a new building. But in terms of schooling, what is a capstone project? Academically, “capstone” is a fitting metaphor, as a capstone project serves as a culminating, crowning illustration of your scholarly work. The capstone project synthesizes the learning you have done in various fields, demonstrates your level of expertise in your specific area of study, and often marks the end or milestone moment of a current study path. In short, it’s a big achievement! In this article, we’ve outlined a few tips for cultivating your perfect capstone thesis and have included a list of capstone project ideas to get you started.
General Capstone Writing Tips
As you select a topic for your capstone project, be sure to consider the following criteria:
Personal Interest. A capstone project is meant to be the culmination of or milestone representing your specific path of study; as such, it should be a project that actually interests you! Perhaps you’ve already been working on a passion project or long-term scholarly paper on a topic that excites you. Or maybe you’ve heard about a specific branch of inquiry within your field that you find compelling and want to explore further. Whether you’re new to a specific capstone subject or have been working on it for a while, it’s important to know that your actual interest in a subject can increase your productivity and learning.[i]
Existing Research. For any new piece of scholarship, it’s crucial to thoroughly understand and acknowledge the current knowledge and findings that exist around your thesis. As an advancing practitioner in your field of study or profession, you should already have a sense of what other scholars and experts have said about your capstone project idea, but this is a moment to fully explore: Who are the major players in this professional or scholarly conversation? What are the most important pieces of research that ground this field of study? What recent innovations have been made in this topic?
Stakes. If you’ve ever been involved in a debate or had to write a persuasive speech, you know that an important question to answer is: “So what?” Why is this capstone project idea important? What will be affected if the ideas in your capstone do or do not come to pass? What exactly is at stake here?
Examples Continued
Stakeholders. The stakeholders of a capstone are those who will be affected by the information in your project. Perhaps you’ve already engaged in community service and have seen a gap that can be filled by your particular area of expertise. Maybe you are one of the stakeholders in your research. In every capstone project, your readers should know who will be most important to your work.
Identify a gap or problem. If you’ve done your research properly, then you now know what current holes or gaps exist in your field. Make sure you frame your capstone so that your audience is aware of the work that needs to be done.
Fill the gap. This is your moment to shine! What is your specific hypothesis? What kind of research will you conduct to prove it? Specifically, how is your work contributing to this field of study? To this profession?
Feasibility and Scope. The last question you need to ask yourself is: Can I actually do this project? Do you have the time and resources to complete the work you’re proposing? Is your capstone actually doable? If you find that your project seems too big, don’t despair! Many capstone project ideas can be narrowed down for specificity and feasibility. Take a look at the example below:
Very broad:
“What are some recent developments in women’s health research?”
More specific and feasible:
“What are the most current findings on early diagnostic testing and maternal health outcomes amongst American women?”
Capstone Project Examples
Below, we’ve listed 150 capstone project examples in various fields. Think of all of these focus questions and ideas as jumping-off points. Some are very broad, while others are much more specific. Your capstone project will most likely fall under the “specific” category (see “feasibility and scope” above), but broader topics and focus questions can get you started down the path of your own particular branch of research.
Good luck!
Computer Science Capstone Project Ideas
1) In what ways does social media influence current developments in information systems and marketing?
2) What recent developments have we seen in natural language processing? What innovations do we hope to see?
3) How is cybersecurity an essential consideration in political and public policy?
4) What is the potential for virtual reality within the fields of mental healthcare and / or physical rehabilitation?
5) How can cybersecurity better function in the healthcare industry?
6) What are current and developing applications for machine learning algorithms?
7) How can we develop more secure data encryption?
8) What are the current needs for development in image processing and design?
9) How does artificial intelligence promise to elevate, innovate, revolutionize, or render obsolete various fields and / or methodologies inside and outside of computer science?
10) What current developments exist in the field of neural networks?
11) In what ways can we develop more efficient data encryption algorithms?
Examples Continued
12) What specific roles does computer science play in national defense?
13) Exploring automated testing systems.
14) In what ways have smartphone interfaces changed human behavior? Can we predict future changes?
15) What recent innovations have we seen in cloud computing and what changes can we expect to see in this field?
16) How can we improve specific algorithms that conduct market-based analysis?
17) What are the current most important ethical questions surrounding big data and information systems?
18) What are the current expectations around the development and use of cryptocurrency?
19) What specific relationships exist between national policy and internet censorship?
20) Recent innovations and gaps in _________. (Have you already done some research on a very particular topic? This is your moment to delve more deeply into a branch of computer science that specifically interests you!)
Nursing and Medical Capstone Project Ideas
21) What roles might nurses have in administering pain management and anesthesia?
22) In what ways can we address the country’s nursing shortage?
23) In what ways is the field of nursing expected to change in the near future?
24) What innovations can be made in continuing education for nurses?
25) In what ways can nurse practitioners and PAs function more effectively in primary care and specialty settings?
26) Going forward, what roles can nurses play in mobile health and telemedicine?
Examples Continued
27) How can clinical settings improve their mental and emotional health outreach for employees?
28) In what ways do nurses and PAs function in specific research roles (e.g. cancer research)?
29) Development of cultural sensitivity training and eliminating health equity disparities in the nursing field.
30) Recent developments in women’s health initiatives and research.
31) In what ways can communication efficacy be addressed in clinical settings?
32) What is the relationship between medical care and specific public policies?
33) Nursing, management, and leadership roles.
34) In what ways can technology improve nursing and healthcare initiatives?
35) Recent innovations and gaps in _________. (Have you already done some research on a very particular topic? This is your moment to delve more deeply into a branch of medicine or scientific inquiry that specifically interests you!)
Humanities and Arts Capstone Project Ideas
36) How does art function in the political and public spheres?
37) What specific developments have we seen in the field of graphic design in the past decade?
38) Analyzing the relationships between marketing, commercial viability and contemporary literature.
39) In what ways do the humanities function in ecocriticism and the Anthropocene?
40) Social media and communication.
41) What are some recent examples of the relationship between popular culture and political propaganda?
42) Current distinctions between pop culture, avant-garde, and highbrow literature and art.
43) What is the role of philosophy in current public debate?
44) In what ways do / have the humanities function(ed) within and / or outside of the public sphere?
45) What is the role of the digital humanities in ancient / early modern / modern history?
Examples Continued
46) What recent developments have we seen in the fields of women’s and gender studies?
47) How has a globalized media culture impacted our views on cultural exchange / postcolonialism / hegemonic power structures?
48) In what ways have sustainability initiatives become an essential part of art, theatre, fashion, film, and literary production?
49) Race, class, gender and / or sexuality, and recent developments in the construction of personal identity.
50) How does appropriation function in the realm of cultural production?
51) What is the current role of cinema in public and political culture?
52) Creativity and new genres in the wake of social media, artificial intelligence and monoculture.
53) How can / do museums and public spaces function as sites of cultural production?
54) In what ways has artificial intelligence begun to shape the arts and humanities?
55) Recent innovations and gaps in ____________. (Have you already done some research on a particular topic? This is your moment to delve more deeply into a branch of humanities research that specifically interests you!)
Engineering Capstone Project Ideas
56) What is the role of engineering in specific manufacturing practices?
57) In what ways are environmental and sustainable efforts transforming various industries (transportation, manufacturing, public use, energy, etc.)?
58) How does artificial intelligence promise to function in various engineering fields?
59) What are the functions of drones in supply chains?
60) How does engineering specifically function in the production and management of public health (water purification and distribution, waste management, etc.)?
61) What recent innovations have we seen in the fields of engineering and defense?
62) Assessing the feasibility of solar power, wind power, etc.
Examples Continued
63) In what ways can engineering facilitate specific infrastructure innovations in public spaces?
64) What does the privatization of the aerospace industry demonstrate about the relationship between public and commercial scientific research?
65) In what ways does current engineering promise to disrupt fields like the automotive, manufacturing, aerospace, etc. industries?
66) Examining various uses of 3D printing.
67) What are some recent innovations in electric, geothermal and/ or nuclear energy?
68) What is the current relationship between extraction engineering and the public sphere?
69) How does the field of robotics function in medicine and public health?
70) Recent innovations and gaps in _________. (Have you already done some research on a very particular topic? This is your moment to delve more deeply into a branch of engineering or scientific inquiry that specifically interests you!)
Education Capstone Project Ideas
71) How do charter schools currently function in the education system?
72) What current pathways exist for continuing education in the teaching field?
73) What roles does artificial intelligence play in the future of education?
74) Disciplinary practices and education for early childhood, middle school, high school, etc.
75) Addressing income and resource disparities between public school districts.
76) In what ways does gender currently function in STEM education?
77) In what ways can mental health initiatives more thoroughly benefit students, staff, and educators?
78) In what ways is parental involvement a factor in current curriculum models?
79) What are the advantages and disadvantages of various modes of virtual learning, technology in the classroom, asynchronous learning, e-learning, etc.?
Examples Continued
80) How can we address the current teacher shortage?
81) What are the current relationships between politics, public policy, school funding and curriculum development?
82) What recent innovations have we seen in outdoor learning, Montessori schooling, forest schools, eco-education, etc.?
82) How can schools facilitate better curricula and funding for special needs programs?
83) What is the current role of the arts in public education? In private education?
84) What is the relationship between public policy and homeschooling?
85) In what ways do race and class currently function in specific conversations around education?
86) What are current concerns and developments in the practices of school safety?
87) What developments are currently underway in curricula involving interdisciplinary and project-based learning?
88) What benefits and drawbacks currently exist in extracurricular programs and initiatives for students of various age groups?
89) Recent innovations and gaps in _________. (Have you already done some research on a very particular topic? This is your moment to delve more deeply into a branch of education or curriculum planning that specifically interests you!)
Biology Capstone Project Ideas
90) What are some recent developments in the ethics of stem cell research and cloning?
91) How has public disease testing changed since the pandemic?
92) What is the role of the biologist in mining, extraction, and geoengineering?
93) What recent innovations have been made in pesticide production, distribution, and wider use?
94) How can biology serve manufacturing industries to prevent contamination and supply chain stalling?
95) How do specific ecosystems currently function in regard to climate change? What changes are predicted to these ecosystems in the next decade and why?
96) In what ways are biologists’ roles evolving in the development of biomechanical medical devices?
97) What roles do biologists play in understandings of human reproduction and DNA?
98) How are pharmaceutical and recreational drugs currently understood and classified?
99) What recent biological innovations have been made in the production of food? What developments do we foresee in this branch of biology?
100) In what ways are biological systems affected by various forms of energy extraction and consumption (electrical power, gas, wind and solar power, etc.)?
Examples Continued
101) How does A.I. promise to affect the roles of biologists in various fields?
102) What current biological threats do we face in terms of biological warfare? How are biologists crucial players in national defense?
103) Explore a relationship between the biochemical signatures of the body and mental wellness / illness.
104) In what specific ways is the organic movement both a biological consideration and a marketing strategy?
105) How do biologists play significant roles in the prevention of spreading infectious diseases?
106) What are the relationships between human population growth or decline and natural ecosystems?
107) How is marine life affected by human activity (recent understandings and developments)?
108) How do biologists function in public and political conversations around sustainability?
109) Recent innovations and gaps in _________. (Have you already done some research on a very particular topic? This is your moment to delve more deeply into a branch of biology that specifically interests you!)
Psychology Capstone Project Ideas
110) What recent developments have been made in research around specific social media platforms and mental health?
111) What roles did the pandemic play in social and mental health amongst particular age groups?
112) How are recent developments in digital communication (“ghosting,” “swiping,” “liking”) indicative of disordered psychological behaviors?
113) Considering particular contexts like time and place, explore the relationships between psychological wellness and gender.
114) Investigate stress reduction efficacy amongst particular populations.
115) What is the role of mental health awareness in policies and conversations around public health?
116) What role does psychology play in pain management?
117) In what ways are clinical psychologists and therapists uniquely poised to conduct empirical research?
118) What recent developments exist in research around various types of trauma?
119) What daily interventions need to be explored in the reduction of anxiety and sleep disorders?
120) What is the developing role of telemedicine and online mental healthcare?
Examples Continued
121) In what ways are particular prescription drugs more or less effective when paired with traditional types of psychotherapy?
122) In what ways do companies utilize psychology in marketing and branding?
123) What is the role of the child psychologist in public schools?
124) In what ways can HR departments benefit from on-staff mental health workers?
125) Explore distinctions between child psychologists and early childhood educators.
126) What interventions can be made in the realm of public policy to lessen the social stigma of mental health disorders?
127) How can psychology be used to create more efficient workplaces?
128) In what ways can new technology like apps and AI be implemented in the ongoing care of mental health patients?
129) Recent innovations and gaps in _________. (Have you already done some research on a very particular topic? This is your moment to delve more deeply into a branch of psychology that specifically interests you!)
Business and Accounting Capstone Project Ideas
130) What are the current impacts of globalization on business strategy?
131) How can organizations change communication practices?
132) What are the relationships between sales, brand perception, and social justice movements?
133) In what ways are women perceived and compensated in the finance field? How has this developed over the past decade? What developments remain to be seen?
134) What leadership training programs and strategies best serve managers?
135) Exploring sustainable business practices.
136) In what ways can company structure influence business innovation?
137) What are the current trends and best practices for inter-departmental conflict resolution within businesses?
138) Exploring effects of mergers and acquisitions for specific companies.
139) What is the specific role of HR in performance management amongst employees?
140) Recent explorations of forensic accounting in cases of embezzlement.
Examples Continued
141) Perform a case study analysis of a particular taxation policy.
142) What are some important features of the ethics of non-profit accounting?
143) In what ways can we measure international accounting standards?
144) Due to the pandemic, how have budgeting and financial planning methods evolved in recent years?
145) What specific impacts can we predict in the accounting field as a result of AI and other advancing technologies?
146) Perform an analysis of marketing strategies that utilize social media.
147) How can companies maximize consumer engagement in saturated markets?
148 Which technologies and designs are most effective in brand management and dispersion?
149) Recent innovations and gaps in _________. (Have you already done some research on a very particular topic? This is your moment to delve more deeply into a branch of business or accounting that specifically interests you!)
Capstone Project Examples – Works Cited
[i] Kahu, Ella., Karen Nelson, Catherine Picton. “Student Interest as a Key Driver of Engagement for First Year Students.” Student Success. Volume 8, Issue 2, pp. 55-66. July 2017.
