Students completing their bachelor’s degree from Cleary University are required to complete a Professional Project. This degree capstone event is a Directed Study and represents a research based written paper of a business related problem involving an in‐depth analysis or evaluation. The Professional Project is expected to incorporate competencies in research, finance, and other business skills learned from the student’s academic program at Cleary University. The Professional Project must demonstrate an exceptional level of scholarship. The Professional Project can be a personally rewarding part of the student’s experience at Cleary University. This project is a student’s opportunity to apply the concepts he or she has learned to a living project of their choice. Students will construct its direction with the guidance of the faculty mentor. This is a collaborative venture and an opportunity for individualized learning that goes beyond any classroom experience. Students identify a topic for the Professional Project. However, the final approval for the topic selection comes from the Faculty Mentor. The Faculty Mentor is assigned following registration and remains working with the student through the completion of the final project sequence course. The Professional Project, in most cases, will be a written paper of a 50 to 70 pages of text, double‐spaced, and demonstrating both theory and application following the APA format style. Project Topics The topics for the Professional Project will vary depending on the academic major and experiences of the student. Examples include the following:
Projects related to work: These projects will involve process improvement, problem solving related to the operations of a business, innovation, implementation or development of new products, etc.
Projects related to a business or feasibility plan: These projects include entrepreneur opportunities or new ventures for a non‐profit agency.
Projects related to community service: These projects will focus of these topics on strategic evaluation and assessment of programs or services in the non‐profit or government sectors.
Projects related to starting a new business: These projects will focus on creating a detailed business plan following the prescribed outline, which will be provided by the mentor.
Projects related to marketing a product or service: These projects will be marketing audits following a prescribed outline, which will be provided by the mentor.
Projects can also be customized to meet the specific needs of the student’s employer.
In selecting a topic, it is important to determine the depth of business competencies to be incorporated into the Professional Project.
