The Capstone
The Capstone is an opportunity for graduate students to undertake independent research on a policy problem of their choosing.
Students receive tailored support from a faculty supervisor as well as from their peers in formulating and carrying out their research and analysis and throughout the writing process.
Our students’ Capstone research is available through the SFU Library system. View: to access the complete list of Capstones, go to ‘Filter by Collection’ in the right-side menu and select ‘Public Policy.’
Capstone Awards
Each year, the School of Public Policy recognizes individuals who have demonstrated remarkable achievements and advancements during their graduate studies. Below are the recipients of the 2024 Capstone Awards.
Canadia Association of Programs in Public Administration (CAPPA) Award
The CAPPA award is given for the outstanding capstone of a graduating student. The awardee is the School's nominee for the National Student Thought Leadership Award competition at the annual national Infection Prevention and Control Canada (IPAC) Conference.
Sharon Sa: Adapting to the Smoke: Policymaker Responses to Wildfire-Induced Air Pollution in Metro Vancouver
Supervisor: William Scott
Master of Public Policy Award
The Master of Public Policy Award recognizes a capstone that exemplifies outstanding public policy research in all respects and application of what has been taught in the program including: problem definition, analytical framework, analysis, specification of policy alternatives and analysis of those alternatives.
Timothé Matte-Bergeron: Granting rights to rivers in Canada? Lessons from New Zealand and Australia
Supervisor: William Scott
Ethical Significance Award
The Ethical Significance award is given when a capstone touches on social, economic, or political injustices in any policy sphere and exemplifies outstanding analysis.
Rebecca Harrington: Breadwinner babies: Policy options for protecting child influencers in Canada
Supervisor: Yushu Zhu
Doug McArthur Capstone Award
This award honours a graduating Masters of Public Policy student from SFU in recognition of the completion of an outstanding capstone. The capstone has the potential to have a lasting impact and influence public policy decisions and actions. It demonstrates skilled and innovative approaches that fully incorporate societal objectives, and it's methods help to reconcile the interplay of complex, often competing objectives when developing alternatives and solutions to a significant and challenging policy problem.
Oliver Sowa: Transferring Administrative Control of On-Reserve Housing from the Federal Government to a First Nations Authority: An Assessment of Opportunities and Challenges in BC
Supervisor: Nancy Olewiler