Overview
Capstone is the culmination of students’ learning experience at the Information School. Master of Science in Information Management (MSIM), Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) and undergraduate Informatics students work independently or with sponsors to identify real-world information problems. Then, they develop the approaches and methods needed to address these problems, conduct the research and project, and present their findings in both oral and written formats.
Benefits to Sponsors
Discover new ideas | Talent pipeline |
| Explore ideas you haven’t had bandwidth to pursue and receive a package of documented results. | Work closely with emerging professionals and identify candidates for internships or full‑time roles. |
Brand visibility | Professional growth |
| Increase awareness of your organization among students and the Information School community through Capstone events and stories. | Grow technical mentors within your company through a structured opportunity to practice leadership, feedback, and project management. |
Timeline
Representative of typical two-quarter process:
| Autumn: Project proposals submitted and reviewed. |
| Late October: In-person event for local sponsors to meet students. |
| November to early January: Students and sponsors match up; exact details vary by program. |
| January to June: Projects in process. Regular check-in meetings and project status reviews with students and sponsors. |
Creating a strong project proposal
- Project goals and outcomes: What are the goals and desired outcomes of your project? What are the challenges you and your organization are looking to tackle?
- Deliverables: What are the deliverables you need from your project (e.g., user research reports, written recommendations, system development, application development, or a data visualization)?
- Special considerations: Are there any conditions or restrictions that may be applicable, such as team size, restrictions on public display of company or project information, work authorization restrictions, or intellectual property?
Prefer to talk first? Email us and we’ll help you scope a great project.
Sponsor a Project
Project ideas are accepted year-round. Once we review your idea, we will be in touch to discuss next steps.
Past Highlights & Sponsors
- Capstone highlights: View stories about some of our best collaborations.
- Capstone archives: View past projects with sponsor information and view detailed abstracts (2025 Informatics projects only).
- Past sponsors: Learn about organizations that have partnered with the Information School on Capstone projects.
Program Information
- Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS)
- Master of Science in Information Management (MSIM)
- Bachelor of Science in Informatics
Contact
Email: iCapstone@uw.edu