Public Service Leadership Capstone Project Proposal
** available as of 06/15/2026
** available as of 06/15/2026
Prerequisites: Last semester of the program and program director approval. Corequisites: Summer 8wk session: elective course completed.
The Public Service Leadership Capstone Project is an opportunity for students to integrate and synthesize the knowledge, values and skills developed in the program as they prepare for a career in public service leadership. The Capstone Project will showcase the student's skill as a leader in a chosen area of professional interest. From the perspective of a leadership role, students will design a public service project that is applicable to a real-world setting or population. Students' specific interests, backgrounds, previous coursework, and personal and professional goals will contribute to their further exploration of leadership. Selection and investigation of an area of interest will allow students to focus and deepen their understanding of the role(s) of leadership in that specific context. These may include such areas as social services, public administration, emergency management, healthcare, education. Projects may include case studies, program evaluations, policy analysis studies, organizational analyses, strategic plans.
Outcomes: Apply knowledge gained throughout the MPS to a relevant public management, nonprofit management, or policy problem; Identify and define a topic /research question for the capstone project focusing on leadership roles; Practice leadership in planning a project in a chosen area of focus; Design a project that applies concepts and theories learned in the program.
The Public Service Leadership Capstone Project is an opportunity for students to integrate and synthesize the knowledge, values and skills developed in the program as they prepare for a career in public service leadership. The Capstone Project will showcase the student's skill as a leader in a chosen area of professional interest. From the perspective of a leadership role, students will design a public service project that is applicable to a real-world setting or population. Students' specific interests, backgrounds, previous coursework, and personal and professional goals will contribute to their further exploration of leadership. Selection and investigation of an area of interest will allow students to focus and deepen their understanding of the role(s) of leadership in that specific context. These may include such areas as social services, public administration, emergency management, healthcare, education. Projects may include case studies, program evaluations, policy analysis studies, organizational analyses, strategic plans.
Outcomes: Apply knowledge gained throughout the MPS to a relevant public management, nonprofit management, or policy problem; Identify and define a topic /research question for the capstone project focusing on leadership roles; Practice leadership in planning a project in a chosen area of focus; Design a project that applies concepts and theories learned in the program.