Abstract:

Capstone courses (sometimes called keystone courses) are a common feature in undergraduate business curricula. This paper describes and draws lessons from the authors’ experience teaching statistics, information systems, and the capstone seminar involving business research methods at the University of Puerto Rico, the primary educational and research institution in the Caribbean island. This particular capstone course, a final year seminar on business research methods, focuses on the solution of a real-world managerial problem. The authors argue for changes in the teaching of introductory business statistics and in the business curricula. The proposed changes create a consistent focus on statistics and research in business programs. These changes should ensure that students come to capstone courses properly equipped, which, in turn, permits capstone courses to better prepare them for their professional life.

Keywords:

Capstone course, undergraduate business education, curriculum reform, business statistics, research methods.