Practical undergraduate engineering education in information systems and operations management: the Capstone experience at the University of Virginia

We discuss the practical, professional education in information systems and operations management available to undergraduate systems engineers at the University of Virginia through participation in relevant Capstone projects in this paper. Thus, its perspective is more experiential than theoretical. The structure and administration of the Department of Systems and Information Engineering's award-winning Capstone programme, a unique model at the time of its inception, are presented as an overall introduction to the programme. The model's robustness is demonstrated both in its longevity and adoption by other institutions. Case studies of Capstone projects conducted during academic year 2002–2003 provide examples of the types of educational experiences students can elect to receive in information systems and operations management. We end with reflections on the lessons learned through participation in our Department's Capstone. Throughout, the goal is to provide sufficient information to allow those interested to adopt similar practices.