Students in the Masters of Public Health (MPH) program are required to complete a Capstone project to address a public health issue through the lens of management; quality improvement; program planning, implementation or evaluation; policy; practice; or research. The capstone is undertaken near the end of the course of study and all required MPH courses should be completed prior to registering for the Capstone course (MPH 699).
The capstone project is a self-directed, independent endeavor completed with guidance from the capstone course manager, a capstone advisor (first reader), and an external partner (second reader). Group capstones may be available in special circumstances, under the direction of the capstone course manager. The level of effort and amount of time spent on the capstone is expected to approximate the level of effort of a one-semester, 3 credit course. Capstone presentation dates are available during the fall and spring semesters.
Capstone projects should ideally be designed to benefit a community partner or program, including efforts within the Muskie School’s Cutler Institute.
The Capstone project encompasses four assignments:
- Written proposal (non-graded) – The proposal must be approved by the advisor and first reader prior to the proposal presentation.
- Proposal presentation (non-graded) – Students will receive feedback from faculty and others. Visual aids are encouraged.
- Capstone (graded) – This will be a written product appropriate to the topic, created after carrying out the work of the proposal.
- Final presentation (graded) – Students will present the project and its findings to faculty, students, and other interested parties. The presentation will include a discussion with the audience. Visual aids are encouraged.
Completed capstones from former students are available through Digital Commons.