The MIS Capstone: Development on an Integrating Group Applied Project Course.

This paper discusses the development of a MIS (Management Information Systems) capstone course in an adult graduate information technology program at Johns Hopkins University (Maryland). Rather than focusing on a technology topic, the course provides an environment that allows students to apply the information and skills that they have obtained in the program. Teams of students work with an organization and deal with actual IS (Information Systems) issues in a real world environment. Students start with a discussion of issues with their corporate sponsor and develop a scope statement to define the project. They finish by producing the deliverables specified in the scope statement and submitting a detailed written report. This paper describes desired outcomes, enabling tasks and objectives, the various elements of the course, the tasks required to ensure completion, grading, time requirements, and faculty issues. Initial results indicate significant improvement in student understanding of important IS issues, evaluation of the course, and student satisfaction. Appendices include: a list of sample projects; a project suggestion form; and a student skill, data, and project preference form. (Author/MES) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** The MIS Capstone: Development on an Integrating Group Applied Project Course PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY T. Case TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)