A Review and Comparison of Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Capstone Course Content

Abstract

A capstone course is the apex of a bachelor’s degree. It is an integrative course that embeds professional and business skills and it is based on the application of knowledge to real-world situations. Despite its importance, there is a lack of information about how construction programs organize their capstone offerings and what is included in these offerings. To this point, the present exploratory study surveys construction programs to determine basic course characteristics. To obtain this information, we reviewed 127 ASC-affiliated undergraduate programs in the United States to find that 112 programs had a capstone or capstone-related course. Most programs require only one capstone course, offered for a median of 3 credit hours. Through content analysis of course descriptions, the authors provide the main topics addressed by construction capstones. Main findings suggest oral communication and collaboration as main soft skills covered in capstones; project management, estimating, and scheduling as the top three technical content; and, simulation as the most frequent course format. Findings provide a comprehensive view of how capstones are being offered in construction undergraduate programs in the United States and can be helpful to construction programs’ instructors and administrators looking to improve their students’ capstone experiences.

The Capstone Course – A New Approach

“…For years, several construction management programs have included capstone courses in their plan of study [2]. These courses are usually offered in the last semester or semesters of instruction and focus on content integration [3]. However, it is noted that there is much variation in what is included in a capstone course [3], [4].…”

“…These courses are usually offered in the last semester or semesters of instruction and focus on content integration [3]. However, it is noted that there is much variation in what is included in a capstone course [3], [4]. Several researchers have provided examples of construction capstone courses (see [2], [4] and [5]), and though each program have their specificity, most align in their use of teamwork, project-based learning, and the focus on integration.…”