The Public Service Capstone (PA 509) is the culminating experience for all students in the Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master of Nonprofit Leadership (MNL), and Master of Public Administration: Health Administration (MPA: HA) programs.
During The Public Service Capstone, you will work on an administrative or management issue confronting a public, nonprofit, or healthcare organization. It is an opportunity for you to relate your academic experience in the master's program to practice. You will conduct work that builds upon your professional experience as well as integrate and apply your academic preparation. Application and integration of course content to practice are the core elements of The Public Service Capstone.
Projects can be completed at any level of an organization. Previous students have worked with agency directors as well as frontline staff to complete a variety of projects to benefit both the organization and advance their own professional development. Each project is unique unto itself.
The capstone project should take place as close to the end of your program of study for it to be truly integrative. This requirement helps to ensure that you have sufficient academic experience to use your capstone experience as an integrative and reflective activity.