What is a Capstone Project?

Students working with farmer in a green house.

The Capstone Project is a required collaborative project completed in partnership with a public, private, or non-profit organization. Each capstone team is made up of 3-4 MENV students. ÌýThe Capstone process takes students through the Capstone Innovation Lab course sequence and 300 hours of applied work during the Summer Session between the first and second year of the program. Capstone Projects provide MENV graduate students with real-world, hands-on, application-based experiences embedded within the context of an organization's needs and capacities.Ìý

The MENV course sequence (Capstone Innovation Lab 1, 2, 3) hones students' professional skills, such as project management, community partner engagement, data analysis and visualization, collaboration, and communication, that will be essential to success in their projects as well as in their professional careers. Students also engage in relationship building to expand their professional circles and participate in the local and national ecosystem of sustainability professionals.Ìý

Capstone students are not traditional interns. Instead, they are highly motivated graduate student-consultants equipped with prior professional experience and knowledge in sustainability. The students provide innovative solutions and valuable deliverables to Capstone Partner organizations.Ìý

Student ExpectationsÌýÌý

The MENV Graduate Program fosters future leaders and innovators. Student teams drive the scoping, planning, and execution of their projects. They also provide professional communication materials including a poster, symposium presentation, and a project brief. MENV students are advised by MENV Faculty Advisors throughout their work. Faculty and partner input is critical to their success.ÌýÌý

MENV Capstone Teams:Ìý

  • Work closely with teammates, Capstone Partners, and Capstone Advisors to set clear project goals and benchmarksÌý
  • Drive the progress of the project with solution-oriented approachesÌý
  • Demonstrate professionalism in all interactions with partner organizations and other community partnersÌý
  • Communicate regularly and professionally with the Capstone Partner and submit materials for feedbackÌý
  • Produce high-quality, sophisticated, professional products and servicesÌý
  • Present the project professionally at a Poster Session, Symposium, online through a Project Brief and social media, and at other venues in collaboration with Partner OrganizationÌý

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For more information, view the 2025 Capstone Student Quick Facts.Ìý

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Capstone PartnersÌý

Capstone partners span a broad spectrum of local, regional, and national organizations involved in sustainability and environment. ̽»¨ÊÓƵ's MENV Graduate Program partners with organizations from the non-profit community and the private sector, as well as local, state, and federal governments. Current partners include City of Erie, Third Derivative (RMI), Colorado State Forest Service, Riverside Natural Foods, Protect Our Winters, Boulder Watershed Collective, and more.Ìý

A Capstone Partner is an organization that collaborates with the University of Colorado Masters of the Environment program through a Capstone Project with students.ÌýÌý

Capstone Partner ExpectationsÌý

As we continue to build our network of community connections from the public, private, and non-profit sectors, we look forward to welcoming new and returning partners. Successful partners must:ÌýÌý

  • Stay fully engaged and committed to working with a student team for the duration of their 12-month projectÌý
  • Mentor and advise graduate studentsÌý
  • Support the educational goals of the project and the MENV program, including offering students professional development opportunities and helping them build professional networksÌý
  • Provide a single point of contact for the team and timely responses to team membersÌý
  • Give constructive feedbackÌý
  • Provide funding for the costs of the project (often, there are none)Ìý
  • Offer a stipend (this is not required)ÌýÌý

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Partnering with ̽»¨ÊÓƵ brings several benefits to external organizations:Ìý

  • Solutions to the complex problems faced by many organizationsÌý
  • Additional capacity from MENV program's top-level graduate students guided by Capstone Faculty AdvisorsÌý
  • Opportunities to identify potential future employeesÌý
  • A relationship with ̽»¨ÊÓƵ that could result in other partnershipsÌý
  • Participation in training the next generation of sustainability professionalsÌý

Interested in working with our students?Ìý

Capstone Testimonials

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