The MPP capstone is a one-semester class that culminates in a final paper and oral presentation. Students begin the semester with a topic in mind and hit the ground running, building their project over a 13-week period that mirrors the timing of preparing a real world policy brief. Students work with the capstone professor to ensure that their topics are focused.
Generally students choose a topic that is relevant to their concentration, which helps them bring background knowledge to the policy area and any relevant literature. After selecting a topic, students conduct significant research and literature reviews to diagnose the policy problem and weigh the pros and cons of several potential policy solutions.
Capstone is designed to highlight the policy analysis skills students will have gained during their first 3 semesters of MPP coursework. The final result is a 25-30 page policy brief and an oral presentation. The capstone has a strong focus on concise, cogent writing and verbal communication.
Mary Brolin, scientist at the Institute for Behavioral Health and lecturer in the MPP program, where she teaches the capstone course, says, “One of the things that amazes me is that the topics the students present on for capstone are the same things I hear on NPR every day when I ride in. Often I’ll hear stories on the radio about topics that students wrote their capstones on two or three years ago, which tells me our students are doing cutting edge, relevant work that is in the news and continues to be in the news.”
Some recent capstone topics have included:
- “The Impact of Automated Management on Job Quality in the U.S.: Policy Approaches to Protect Workers,” by Paulina Campos, MPP'25
- “Limited English Proficiency: Impact on the Haitian Community's Economic Mobility,” by Ela Petit-Frere, MPP'25
- “Creating Universal Access to High-Quality Preschool in Massachusetts,” by Jordyn Green, MPP'25
- “Education for All: Ensuring Special Education and Accountability in Private and Charter Schools,” by Adam Martin, MPP'25
- “The Benefits and Challenges of Community Hub Schools in Boston, Massachusetts,” by Jia “Maggie” Shealy, MPP'25
- “Child Care Policy and Implementation Challenges for Single Working Parents in Massachusetts,” by Lal Kumar, MPP'25
- “Alleviating the Harms of Solitary Confinement: Incremental Policy Solutions for Massachusetts Prisons,” by Afnan Nehela, MPP'25
- “Disabled Lives Matter: an Exploration of Ableism in Policing,” by Jeremy Evans, MPP'25
- “U.S. Policy Reforms Addressing Embedded Bias in In-Home Care Access for Disabled Immigrants,” by Sam Larue, MPP'25
- “Down-to-Earth Heating and Cooling: Expanding Geothermal Systems in Greater Boston,” by Patrick Collins, MPP'25
- “Scaling up Thermal Networks to Replace Natural Gas in Massachusetts,” by Jenna Flanagan, MPP'25
- “Green Justice in the City: Policy Strategies for Equitable Urban Growth in Boston,” by Paige Hemingson, MPP'25
- “Provisions Against Plastic Prevalence: Policy Solutions to Resolve the U.S. Plastic Waste Crisis,” by Josh Newhall, MPP'25