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Electrical engineering image

The Industry Capstone Program brings together UW Tacoma SET students and companies to tackle real-world, multidisciplinary engineering problems. Sponsors bring in projects from their companies and provide support to teams of creative, talented engineering students who will design and build innovative solutions.

 

How it works

Companies Propose a project for academic review by SET faculty
Industry sponsors Commit $15,000 to cover project and program costs
Teams of 4-6 students Are matched to a project and faculty mentor
Industry sponsors Provide a technical mentor to meet with the team weekly for the duration of the project (January – June)
Student teams With the help of their technical and faculty mentors, embark on a full cycle design process, including:
  • Problem definition
  • Benchmark studies
  • Concept generation and feasibility studies
  • Engineering design analysis
  • Prototype fabrication and testing when applicable

View Capstone Participation Agreement

 

Benefits to companies

  • High-touch engagement opportunity to assess student talent and recruit for jobs
  • Build brand recognition among next-generation engineers
  • Low cost opportunity for a fresh look at a problem
  • Strengthen ties to SET
  • Professional development opportunity for technical mentor
  • Non-exclusive commercial license to any IP developed by student team or UW employee through project
  • Provide SET students valuable, career-relevant experiences by applying classroom skills to address real world problems

View Capstone Sponsor Agreement

 

Sample timeline

Date Milestone
September 1 Project proposals due
Late October Project launch
Early December Mentor/adviser orientation and team kickoff
January – June Project work, weekly team meetings with mentors
June Final capstone showcase

 

Submit a project proposal

Proposals for this academic year beginning in 2022 are due by September 20, 2022.

SUBMIT A PROPOSAL

 

What makes a good proposal?

  • Provides a small team of students with a set of design and performance criteria that requires appropriate analytical study on a topic directly relevant to engineering
  • Contains both a design and results phase, culminating in a specific project outcome
  • Reflects lower-priority real-world problems faced by your company; mission critical problems are not appropriate student capstone projects
  • Is appropriate for entry-level engineer in their first or second year on the job
  • Is primarily self-contained, but also integrates with a larger context

We strongly encourage projects that are open to all SET students, regardless of citizenship.

View past capstone projects

Contact the SET Capstone Program

 

Andrew Fry headshot

Andrew Fry

Director of Industry Partnerships and Lecturer

andfry@uw.edu

253-692-4583

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