The Computer Science Capstone Experience: A Transition from Student to Employee

Applicable work experience is a primary factory in a student’s ability to obtain the best possible job upon graduation. Some students achieve this by summer internships or part-time employment during the school year.... [ view full abstract ]

Applicable work experience is a primary factory in a student’s ability to obtain the best possible job upon graduation. Some students achieve this by summer internships or part-time employment during the school year. Unfortunately, many students are unable or unwillingly to take advantage of these opportunities.

Requiring graduating seniors to perform an internal internship, organized and managed by the Computer Science faculty, ensures all students will be able to include confirmed, pertinent work experience as part of their resume. This internal internship, called the Capstone, provides practical experience with real-world projects from various corporate, government, and ministry clients. This workshop will provide the rationale for the Computer Science Capstone Experience, as well as outlining a specific methodology for creating and conducting the sequence of courses that compose this internal internship.