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University of Washington

Degree Project

Public Service Clinics

If a student wishes to work on one of the client-based projects identified and managed by the Evans School as part of the Public Service Clinics, he/she may enroll in either a Public Service Clinic or degree project seminar, based on the area of interest.


The Evans School degree project integrates knowledge and skills gained in the Master of Public Administration program into a capstone work. The degree project serves as an opportunity to further develop a student’s specialization, to expand networks in the community, and to create a significant sample of work. All projects include a written report; however, the length, format, and content of the projects vary tremendously depending on the type and scope of the work. Through the degree project, students demonstrate their abilities to apply the skills from their coursework to real-world problems in a fully synthesized manner.

A degree project requires that the student articulate a clear question for investigation and to select appropriate methodologies. This demonstrates the synthesis of the range of skills students gain at the Evans School across management, policy analysis, economics, quantitative methods, values, and substantive coursework.

Many degree projects focus on client-generated, real-world questions. If the student identifies such a topic from an internship or employer, it may be investigated either as an independent study or in a degree project seminar (if the topic is appropriate to the seminar's theme).

For more information, contact the Evans School Student Services office at evansdss@uw.edu or 206.543.4900.