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.
Project Expenses
Sponsors are responsible for all project expenses. Examples include fees for online storage, processing power, and sponsor-required background checks. Expenses will only be incurred following mutual agreement among the sponsor, project team and Capstone instructor.
New Program Fee for For-Profit Sponsors
Starting fall 2026, for-profit sponsors will be charged a $12,000 USD program fee. This fee supports the resources and infrastructure behind the Capstone experience and brings us in line with comparable programs.
If you're a for-profit sponsor, we'd like to walk you through what this change means for your organization. Please contact us at iCapstone@uw.edu to set up a time to talk.
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 detailed abstracts.
- 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