At the Maseeh College, education doesn’t end in the classroom—it builds the future of Portland. The Senior Capstone is the ultimate proving ground for our undergraduates. Bridging the gap between academic theory and industry practice, this culminating program empowers students to transform four years of rigorous coursework into tangible, working solutions for our community.
The Student Experience
Working in collaborative teams of 6 to 8, students take on complex, open-ended technical challenges under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Whether they are writing code for a new app, designing sustainable infrastructure, or prototyping advanced mechanical systems, students must navigate the same risks, constraints, and uncertainties they will face as working professionals.
Through this 6-month development cycle, students go beyond just engineering and coding—they apply strategy, research, communication, and leadership skills to deliver meaningful results. By the end of the project, they graduate with proven practical skills, strong portfolios, and lasting industry connections that prepare them to step confidently into their careers.
Community Partners
We partner with a diverse array of organizations across the Portland Metro area and beyond. Becoming a Community Partner is a wonderful way to support PSU’s educational mission while directly benefiting from the solutions, prototypes, and software produced by our dedicated teams.
Who partners with Maseeh Capstone projects?
Our past and current sponsors range from local non-profits and university labs to major government agencies and tech enterprises. A few of our recent sponsors include:
- Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)
- National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL)
- Galois Inc.
- Portland Playhouse
- Oregon Law Center
- Metron
How the Program Works:
- Timeline: Projects typically begin in October, January, and April. They run for two consecutive academic quarters (approximately 6 months), culminating in a final student presentation, prototype, and delivery to the partner.
- Cost: Student time and labor are provided to community partners free of charge. Sponsors are responsible for funding any raw materials, hardware, specific software licenses, or extraordinary equipment required to build the prototype. (Note: Some departments may request a modest base support fee from for-profit companies to help maintain fabrication labs and machine shops.)
- Partner Commitment: Partners bring their ideas to the table, help students refine project requirements, and provide a dedicated contact to meet with the team periodically (typically 1–2 hours a month) for progress reviews and feedback.
Past Projects & Examples
Our students have successfully delivered hundreds of projects across various disciplines. Here are just a few examples of what our teams have created for our Community Partners:
- HearBat: A mobile application that provides auditory training for users of cochlear implants. HearBat was selected as one of 100 finalists from over 1,000 competitors in Google's Developer Student Clubs Solution Challenge.
- LaunchPilot Impairment Detection: A system designed to prevent driving under the influence by combining a cognitive performance test with eye tracking to measure a subject's impaired state.
- Galois Avalanche Beacon: Developed alongside engineers at Galois Inc., this project created an inexpensive, open-source alternative to radio frequency beacons used to rescue avalanche victims.
- Environmental Monitoring for Farmworkers: Developed for the Oregon Law Center, this low-cost wearable device monitors ambient temperature and air quality, providing farmworkers with audio-visual alerts of hazardous conditions.
- MuslimPDX - a location-based mobile solution designed to keep Portland-area Muslims connected to their local masjids
- BikePed Portal Weather Data - Integrates weather data into a nationwide data archive for non-motorized traffic
Learn More & Get Involved
Project guidelines, timelines, and proposal processes are managed at the department level.
Whether you are a student looking for your capstone requirements or a prospective Community Partner ready to get a sharp group of Maseeh seniors working on your goals, please visit the department pages below to find out more and submit a project: