What is a Capstone Project?

MENV Capstone Partners

The Capstone Project is an impact-focused collaborative project that Masters of the Environment (MENV) students complete in partnership with an external organization to advance sustainability and climate action. Each capstone team is made up of 2–4 students, a Capstone Partner mentor, and a Capstone Faculty Advisor. The Capstone process takes students through the Capstone Innovation Lab course sequence (3 courses, 4 credit hours) and 300 hours of applied work (5 credits) during the Summer Session between the first and second year of the program. During the Capstone, MENV students practice their professional skills and develop their networks, while expanding the capacity of Capstone Partners and driving measurable impact on organizations and communities across Colorado and beyond.

The MENV course sequence (Capstone Innovation Lab 1, 2, 3) builds the skills that define the next generation of sustainability leaders, such as project management, stakeholder engagement, data analysis and visualization, critical thinking, and communication. These are not just classroom competencies, they are essential skills for both impactful Capstone projects and successful sustainability careers. Apart from developing and strengthening key skills, students also engage in relationship building to broaden their professional networks and join a national ecosystem of sustainability professionals working to drive lasting, meaningful change.

Capstone students are not traditional interns. Instead, they are highly motivated graduate-level consultants who bring prior professional experience and sustainability expertise to every project. They deliver innovative solutions and high-value outputs that directly support partner goals. Our track record speaks for itself: 100% of Capstone Partners report satisfaction with their MENV partnership and confirm that the program met their expectations. The students generate innovative solutions and inform key decisions for Capstone Partner organizations through valuable deliverables.Ìý

Capstone Partner Quick Facts

Capstone Student Quick FactsÌý

Student ExpectationsÌýÌý

The MENV Graduate Program fosters future leaders and innovators. Student teams drive the scoping, planning, and execution of their projects. They also communicate their work professionally through a Poster Session, Capstone Symposium, and a Project Brief, sharing solutions with partners, professionals, and the broader community. MENV students are advised by MENV Faculty throughout their work. Faculty and Capstone Partner input is critical to their success.Ìý

MENV Capstone Teams:Ìý
  • Work closely with teammates, Capstone Partners, and Capstone Faculty Advisors to set clear project goals and benchmarks
  • Drive the progress of the project with solution-oriented approaches
  • Demonstrate professionalism in all interactions with partner organizations and other community partners
  • Communicate regularly and professionally with the Capstone Partner and submit materials for feedback
  • Produce high-quality, sophisticated, professional products and services
  • Present the project professionally at a Poster Session, Symposium, online through a Project Brief and social media, and at other venues in collaboration with Partner Organization
Participating in Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder’s MENV Capstone program develops and strengthens the essential skills for sustainability careers:
  • Industry-recognized professional skills: 96% of partners reported students strengthened time management and self-organization, and 92% saw growth in both project management and effective communication
  • Improved research and professional engagement capabilities: 88% of partners reported development in students’ critical thinking, research, and stakeholder engagement, essential competencies for sustainability roles across every sector
  • Presentation and data skills that set graduates apart: 85% of partners noted public speaking growth, and 81% reported improved data analysis
  • Specialized technical expertise beyond the core curriculum: including GIS, financial modeling, data visualization, grant writing, technical writing, and more
  • A professional network spanning nonprofit, government, and private sectors, with connections to sustainability leaders across Colorado and beyond
  • A track record that opens doors: multiple alumni have transitioned directly into full-time roles with their Capstone Partner organizations, including positions in renewable energy development, private-sector consulting, and local and state government

ÌýFor more information, view the 2027 Capstone Student Quick Facts. You can also find our Partner Organizations and Project Briefs for past years on the right-hand side of this webpage (For example, click on 2025 Capstone Partners and then on individual logos to read through each Project Brief from that year).Ìý

Capstone Partner ExpectationsÌý

A Capstone Partner is an organization that collaborates with the University of Colorado Masters of the Environment program through an applied Capstone Project. Partners bring their most pressing sustainability challenges to our students, and in return receive graduate-level consulting services backed by MENV faculty expertise.Ìý

Capstone Partners:

Our most successful partnerships are built on genuine commitment and collaboration. We look forward to welcoming new and returning Capstone Partners into this network. Successful partners must:Ìý

  • Stay fully engaged and committed to working with a student team for the duration of their 12-month project
  • Mentor and advise graduate students
  • Support the educational goals of the project and the MENV program, including offering students professional development opportunities and helping them build professional networks
  • Provide a single point of contact for the team and timely responses to team members
  • Give constructive feedback
  • Provide funding for the costs of the project (often, there are none)
  • Offer a stipend (this is not required)Ìý
Partnering with Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder’s MENV Capstone program delivers real, measurable value to your organization:
  • Actionable solutions to the complex problems faced by many organizations: 80% of partners report that Capstone teams generated new ideas and innovations
  • Expanded organizational capacity: 73% of partners reported that student teams supported their data collection and analysis, and 38% reported increased staff capacity
  • Opportunities to identify and hire top sustainability talent: multiple MENV alumni have transitioned directly into full-time roles with their Capstone Partner organizations
  • A lasting relationship with Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder and a growing network of MENV alumni and sustainability professionals across Colorado and beyond
  • The opportunity to help develop and learn with the next generation of sustainability leaders

Interested in working with our students?Ìý

Capstone Partner and Advisor Testimonials

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Tanner Starbard, Chief Financial Officer, Mad Agriculture

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Topher Downham, Founder, Omni Accessible

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Gabrielle Fuerst, Chief Sustainability Officer, CAP Management

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Meghan McCarroll, Teaching Assistant Professor & Capstone Faculty Advisor, MENV