[Page 210]Capstone courses provide college seniors a culminating experience within their area or areas of study and often create opportunities for students to engage in critical thinking and post-college career preparation. They can be an effective tool for students to utilize an array of skills accumulated throughout their postsecondary education and to determine their post-graduation aspirations and endeavors. Capstone courses often incorporate professional development and self-reflection opportunities while connecting various aspects of students’ in- and out-of-classroom experiences to skills sought by potential employers. In this way, capstone courses serve as a bridge from college to post-graduation life and the professional workplace.

Despite a wide array of approaches and designs, these courses, as a high-impact practice, produce a variety of benefits for students who complete them. In ...