The Capstone Project at JMBIS
In order to receive the Master of Arts Degree you will need to submit a two-thousand word Capstone Project Proposal. For the Master of Arts Degree, you will only need to prepare and submit the proposal. If you will be pursuing the Master of Divinity degree, you will then need to actually complete and submit the completed Capstone Project.
What Is a Capstone Project?
A capstone project is a final independent project undertaken in a program of study designed to assess the skills, knowledge, and expertise acquired by the student.
As the name suggests, it is the capstone or crowning achievement of academic life.
It is designed to assess knowledge and skills gained during the course of your studies and demonstrates how they can be used in a practical way.
Your Capstone project will be a product, tool, or service that people can use which is helpful in their walk and calling with God. The onlinebibleinstitute.org website is an example of a completed capstone project. Other ideas might be a website or blog for Bible reading, or Study, a robust Facebook group involved in a ministry activity of some sort, an APP, a course curriculum complete with videos and instructional material, etc.
No matter what kind of project you choose to undertake, the result is the same. You get to showcase your understanding of the coursework material learned in a way that provides a helpful tool in the Kingdom of God.
Types of Capstone Projects
For the JMBIS Capstone Project you will developing the concept of a product, tool, or service.
The project will normally take at least six months and will have different parts to it, depending on the type of project chosen.
It will also require a presentation where the student will explain and describe the project to their coach at JMBIS.
The write up for a project consists of several parts. However, even before starting the write-up, you need to do a few things:
- Come up with an idea for your project. What will be your premise?
- Find sources for the project and review them beforehand to ensure that they will be of help to you.
- Come up with a step-by-step methodology for your project.
Using this information, you will then write a capstone project proposal for your project. It informs your coach exactly what you intend to present so that they can approve or reject it.
The Capstone Project Proposal
Every capstone project begins with a project proposal. A capstone project proposal is a two-thousand word document that outlines what your capstone project is about and the steps you intend to follow while doing it. It is more or less your blueprint for the entire project.
The purpose of a capstone project proposal is to help your JMBIS coach understand what your project is about.
The proposal is also a big help to you as a student. Before you commit a lot of time and resources to the project, it forces you to take a look ahead at where you’re going, what you want to achieve, and the investment you will need to put in to do that.
Qualities of a Good Capstone Project Proposal
1. Length
The length of your capstone project proposal should be 2000 words.
Anything longer is discouraged unless your instructor says otherwise. Thus, refine it until it is concise, clear, and direct.
2. Structured
The information flow should be clear and logical. It should be a document that a person can scan through in minutes and get what you’re talking about.
Thus, present it in an easy to understand manner.
3. Straightforward
The person reviewing your proposal wants answers to questions such as:
What is your project about? How will you do it? What resources will you need, and how will you get them? Who will be involved?
Provide these answers simply and directly in your proposal and you stand a much better chance of impressing them. The content of the proposal should all aim toward this one goal.
4. Compelling
The language you use should be convincing. Be confident about what you want to do, be enthusiastic, and share your enthusiasm.
Prove why you think the project will work and how relevant it is in your field.
5. Detailed
Even though the proposal is only 2000 words, it should include as much detail as is needed to support your points.
The Final Write-up has the Following Parts
Title
This will be the same title you will use in the capstone project write-up, so take your time to craft a brief, direct, all-inclusive title for the proposal.
One way to come up with a good title is to write down the research problem as a question then craft your title in response to that question.
You should also try to make the title as intriguing as possible to get your readers interested in what you have to say.
Abstract
In 150-200 words, describe what the project is about. Give the rationale for the project, i.e, why you think it is important and should be carried out.
Description
Describe the product, tool or service you will develop, and the rationale behind it.
Describe what format your deliverable will be, e.g. a video, website, new curriculum, etc.
Methodology/Project Design
Describe your methodology, analysis, and expected findings.
Think of the rationale as to the social implications of the project you are about to undertake.
How will it help the organization you work for or society at large? Describe the original contributions your project will have to the target group.
Explain how you intend to do what you want to do. Start with the method of inquiry which can include textual research, scientific experimentation, statistical data collection, qualitative study, or any other method.
Timeline
Detail the steps of your project and state when you expect to do what. This can usually be given in the form of a table with specific dates.
Also, state when you will be meeting with your coach and giving progress updates.
Description of the Final Product
Describe what the final product will be, how you expect it to look like, and how it will work. How will it help/affect the target group? How will you evaluate its efficacy and success?
The capstone project isn’t meant to be a mere outline. Make it captivating by highlighting its real-world relevance and how it will benefit the target group.
Say something about your motivation for choosing to carry out that particular project. Include some information about your background experience and why it qualifies you to carry it out. That way, your audience can connect with you and the project on a deeper level.
