Capstone Project Ideas & Scope Guidelines

Project Ideas & Scope Guidelines

Your goal is to build something you can finish, explain, and be proud of. You are not graded on how big your project is — you are graded on planning, progress, problem-solving, and reflection.

MVP sentence starter:
If I ran out of time, the bare minimum version of my project would be…

✅ What Makes a Good Capstone Project?

A good project can be built in small steps. It has a clear starting point and a clear “minimum version” that works.

  • Can be built incrementally (working early, improving over time)
  • Has a clear MVP (minimum viable product)
  • Has core features vs stretch features
  • Allows scope changes without breaking the whole plan
Required: MVP
Your MVP must run, accept input, and produce output. You must be able to describe it in one sentence.
  • “A quiz that asks 5 questions and shows a score.”
  • “A clicker that increases a number when clicked.”
  • “A game where the player can move and lose.”

📌 How Scope Affects Grading

Project size does not automatically earn a higher grade. A large project with poor execution will not outscore a small project done well.

  • Planning and clarity
  • Consistent progress
  • Problem-solving and persistence
  • Ability to explain what you did
Scope changes are allowed.
If your project becomes too large or too stressful, you may reduce scope with instructor approval. Reducing scope is a professional decision — not a failure.

Tip: If you’re unsure about scope, pick Small, define a strong MVP, and add stretch features later.