Undergraduate students in their fourth year may choose to pursue either a Capstone Project or a Research Dissertation. The key distinction between the two lies in their orientation and expected outcomes.
The Capstone Project is designed as an applied, practice-oriented pathway. Students opting for this route are expected to engage directly with an industry, organization, or institutional partner, ideally buiding upon their work during the internships in the earlier years. In consultation with the host organization, students will identify a real-world problem or challenge that is relevant to the organization’s context.They will develop and implement viable solutions as part of their Capstone Project. This process emphasizes practical problem-solving, professional engagement, and the application of disciplinary knowledge in real-world settings.
In contrast, the Research Dissertation is intended for students who wish to undertake an academically rigorous, inquiry-driven research project. This pathway focuses on the formulation of a research question, engagement with relevant theoretical frameworks, and the application of appropriate research methodologies to produce a sustained piece of scholarly work.
Together, these options provide students with the flexibility to choose between applied and research-oriented pathways, allowing them to align their final-year work with their academic interests, professional goals, and future trajectories.
