AN EMPLOYER’S GUIDE TO
Hosting Capstone Projects for Master of Criminal Justice and Master of Public Administration Students
ABOUT CAPSTONE PROJECTS A capstone project is a client-based research and consulting project that allows master’s-level students to put into practice the competencies gained throughout their education at the CU Denver School of Public Affairs. Past projects have included program and procedure evaluations, community or organizational needs assessments, performance measurement, strategic plan development, stakeholder surveys, best practices research, employee retention studies and many more. Over a period of three to four months of working with a client, students help to define the issue and its context, gain client input on priorities and available data, conduct independent research, complete a final written project that includes findings and recommendations, and present their work to a committee of faculty members and the client. No payment or fee is required for organizations to request a capstone student, and organizations and students are matched by mutual agreement. Capstone projects typically run from August to December or January to May of each year, with a small number of students available for February to July projects. Students typically select their capstone project in the previous semester.
ABOUT OUR STUDENTS Students at the School of Public Affairs come from an array of experiences and perspectives, ranging from those just beginning a public service or criminal justice career to those with extensive experience seeking career change or advancement. Students in the Master of Public Administration program will have taken coursework in organizational behavior and leadership, the public policy process, research methods and evidence-based decision-making. Students in the Master of Criminal Justice program will have taken coursework in criminal justice institutions, crime theory and law, and research methods and statistics.
MASTER’S STUDENTS AREAS OF FOCUS INCLUDE: • Crime Analysis • Disasters, Hazards & Emergency Management • Emergency Management & Homeland Security • Environmental Policy, Management & Law • Local Government • Nonprofit Organizations • Gender-Based Violence
Daniel Caballero (MCJ ‘19)
Spring 2019 Outstanding Master of Criminal Justice Student capstone client :
Denver County Court Probation “Working on my capstone allowed me to get a hands-on approach toward data collection and analysis. It was a culmination of everything I have learned in the Master of Criminal Justice program, requiring me to utilize my research, networking and organizational skills to demonstrate my growth as a young professional.”
For assistance with posting a capstone project or finding a capstone student, please contact Joan Fishburn at spa.jobs@ucdenver.edu.
Christina McClelland (MPA ‘19)
Spring 2019 Outstanding Master of Public Administration Student capstone client :
Bonfils-Stanton Foundation “Researching a topic deeply and then designing a project and methodology for a real-life client organization was a challenging and rewarding process. I gained so much by putting experiences from my coursework into practice, with guidance from my committee. Conducting and completing the project not only increased my ability to think critically about research, but sparked a new interest in further exploring research opportunities within the public sector field.”
Alternatively, you can submit your request for a student to complete a capstone project for your organization by visiting publicaffairs.ucdenver.edu/capstone-host.
As the top-ranked public affairs school in Colorado and among the best in the nation, the University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs is creating the next generation of visionary leaders in the government and nonprofit sectors. Let our students put their skills to work for you by hosting a capstone project. U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT 2020 BEST GRADUATE SCHOOLS RANKINGS
#25
BEST Public Affairs Programs
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT 2019 BEST GRADUATE SCHOOLS RANKINGS
#19
BEST Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs
PAST CAPSTONE HOSTS • City of Lakewood • Colorado Department of Public Safety • Colorado Department of the Treasury
• Denver Regional Council of Governments • Frederick-Firestone Fire Protection District • Mental Health Colorado
• Colorado Nonprofit Association
• The Nature Conservancy
• Colorado State Patrol
• The Third Mile Group
• Denver County Probation Department
• U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Explosives
• Denver Police Department
• Ute Water Conservancy District
University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs 1380 Lawrence Street, Suite 500 Denver, CO 80204