Structure and Effectiveness of a Capstone Course

1. STRUCTURE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF A CAPSTONE COURSE Donald McLeod, Carl Olson and Edward Bradley Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071 (307) 766-3116 dmcleod@uwyo.edu

2. Undergraduate writing lacks incentives/professional immediacy. Consider the single topic class-wide term paper, the out of department essay or the group project all to be completed in 1-2 months… Students are frustrated with their work; Instructors spend time on hastily written and incoherent papers.

3. A capstone project consists of…. Students selecting an issue and developing a solution. Their topic will be relevant to the work anticipated in a prospective career. Students utilize concepts obtained from their major courses. Paper is a tangible outcome of the student’s undergraduate training.

4. Capstone project courses can achieve many of the following: Writing that requires the student to draw on the curriculum and learned skills of the major; Major-specific writing that provides a transition into one's profession; AND Development of professional communication skills, where project analysis is documented and defended.

5. THIS IS A MAJOR-SPECIFIC PROJECT/RESEARCH CLASS THAT EMPHASIZES: Identifying an agricultural economic issue; Identifying questions to be addressed by economic analysis; Summarizing means of economic evaluation/analysis; Discussing problem solution/position; and Indicating strengths and weaknesses of outcomes.

6. Topics Who… a ranch a farm a household a community an industry

7. Topics (cont.) What… livestock/crop production agricultural or consumer demand market analysis product marketing international trade policy analysis legal issues/regulation resource management

8. Topics (cont.) How the topic lends itself to economic analysis… Revenues….Costs ….Risks Budgeting Benefit Cost Analysis Risk Analysis Business Plan Policy Analysis

9. Each student is expected to perform the following: 1st Semester Resume Identify a project topic Project proposal Paper outline Bibliography

10. Student assignments (cont.) 2nd Semester Method of analysis & results summary Review (complete) paper Final (revised) paper Executive summary Abstract Oral (in-class) presentation

11. Efficient Use of Student and Instructor Time, Students Two semesters for step-wise development of paper. 1st develop familiarity with topic by reading, discussion, assembling of materials, and organization. Meet with instructor monthly 2nd emphasize analysis, interpretation, and communication: both written and spoken. Meet with instructor upon receiving graded assignment Student as an increasingly informed writer through research process

12. Efficient Use of Student and Instructor Time Student (cont.), Instructor: Instructor Recommendations For A Successful Student Project: Visit with faculty Make use of reference librarians Make use of class handouts View examples of completed assignments. Keep file of project materials. Do not re-invent the wheel, rely on references Write often Read aloud to edit

13. Efficient Use of Student and Instructor Time (cont.), Instructor: Require Intro/Background/Methods/Results/Conclusions mode of organization; Summarize evaluation w/ key (‘thou must’) items; Use one page edit as writing example approach; and Encourage student visits Use iterative evaluation: Suggestions addressed in subsequent assignments. Most recently graded assignment handed in with current one.

14. CAPSTONE PROJECTS 1995-2003 “Retained Ownership of Calves in South East Wyoming” “Seed Alfalfa As An Alternative Crop” “The Future of Japan-U.S. Beef Trade” “Feasibility of Buying Land and Livestock on Borrowed Capital” “The Potential Economic Advantages of Galloway Cattle For The Northern Rocky Mountain Region” “Effects of NAFTA on Wyoming Livestock” “Economic Viability of Converting a Dryland Farm to Organic Crop Production” “The Economic Advantages of a Marketing Cooperative For Livestock Producers” “Management Practices and the Economic Effects of Leafy Spurge on the Northern Great Plains” “Economic Evaluation of Alternative Irrigation Systems in Albany County Wyoming”

15. CAPSTONE PROJECTS 1995-2003 (cont.) “Developing a Marketing Plan for a Bovine Reproductive Center” “Advantages and Disadvantages of a Ranch Recreation Operation in Wyoming” “Relation of Low Cholesterol Red Meat vs. Lowering the Health Dollar” “Economic Benefits of Intercropping Corn With Annual Medic on Irrigated Farms in Wyoming” “Policy for the Empowerment of the Women of Mozambique” “A Business Plan For Double Quarter Circle Horses”  “The Economic Impact Holly Sugar Company Has on the Economy of Goshen County Wyoming” “Selling the Farm: Agriculture and Urbanization in Weld County, Colorado” “Analyzing the Risk in Marketing Winter Wheat In the Cash, Futures, and Options Markets” “Benefits of Confined Animal Feeding Operations in Platte County”