Capstone Research
The senior Capstone project is intended to introduce students to the process of independent economic research and writing, culminating in the Capstone presentation before faculty and students.
The individualized research capstone began in the Department of Economics in 2002. Since that time, five students have had the opportunity to present their research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (’15 & ’17). Students have also presented their papers at the Western Economics Association and Pacific Northwest Regional Economics Conference.
Two students have won Fulbright awards and one has won 1st prize in the Gus Mattersdorff Best Undergraduate Student paper award at the Pacific Northwest Regional Economics Conference.
In addition, many students have used their capstone research to enhance their job prospects with their high quality sole-authored writing samples, statistical analysis, and/or presentation experiences.
Recent Capstone Topics Include:
- The Impacts of Tradable Carbon Credits on Washington State Forestry Practices by Foster Robertson
- Relationship Between Opioid Prescriptions and Opioid Overdoses: Insight from California Counties by Joel Earlywine
- Federal Student Loan Debt and the Individual’s Propensity to Default by Sara Christensen
- The Effect of Health Status on Economic Growth Desiree Domini
- Effect of Skills on Golfers’ Rank: An IN-depth Look at the PGA Tour by Desirae Haselwood
- Transit Subsidies and their Effect on Ridership and Optimal Transit Supply by Anna Jessen
- A Labor Analysis of 18th Century Fontecchio Households by Matt Macfarlane