PPA 520 - Capstone Experience in Public Administration and Public Policy

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The capstone experience provides each student with the opportunity to work in an organization (i.e., governmental, community, advocacy, nonprofit) whose work focuses on policy or services in the area of the student’s interest. During the final spring semester, students engage in the capstone course by working with a client agency on a specific project that, upon completion, improves policy or the implementation of policy and the overall service delivery to those being served. Guided by a faculty instructor, students develop three learning objectives for this class, design a project plan, and deliver the final project in the format requested by the project agency. This engaged learning experience gives students the opportunity to use the combined knowledge and skills of the MPP curriculum and specific research/analysis/evaluation skills learned in the research methods courses. It offers students an engaged-learning experience in the field and an opportunity to find viable and sustainable solutions in the areas of policy or administration. Students present their final capstone projects to the client agency and, when feasible, to fellow students, faculty, or interested community partners and constituents.