What is Capstone Experience

Capstone experiences were originally incorporated into the curriculum to provide students with an opportunity for reviewing, consolidating, and integrating their undergraduate learning and to serve as a cap for the degree program or a bridge to future graduate and professional work. Capstone experiences are recognized as high impact educational experiences and provide a significant opportunity for promoting a positive disposition towards future scholarship and disciplinary research. This chapter traces the evolution of capstones, stresses their bridging role between undergraduate and graduate life, and suggests ways in which faculty can use them to stimulate professional development, continuing personal growth, and lifelong learning among their senior students. In particular, this chapter considers the merits of capstones from the perspectives of positive scholarship and appreciative inquiry.