'Capstones' Build Academic Skills but Are No Cure-All, Study Finds

By Dan Berrett

Capstones, the cumulative, large-scale projects that two-thirds of students seeking bachelor's degrees complete, can carry some heavy expectations.

They are seen by many faculty members and administrators as a way to demonstrate the academic rigor of higher education. Such projects require a lot of time and effort, often lasting for more than a semester, and demand substantial intellectual work.

Capstones are also thought to fulfill loftier goals, like offering a cumulative