Students apply skills to a real-world public policy or management issue through a policy engagement (capstone) project. Students engage an outside client to define and complete a professional project under the supervision of School faculty. The project utilizes skills and knowledge gained through SPP coursework, expands students' integrative capacity, and serves as a bridge to professional opportunities. In this first half of a two-semester course sequence, students identify a client and problem, scope and define the problem, and draw up a plan of work. They perform background research on the problem, the context and relevant substantive domains. They also develop the research methodology for their project, which could include qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, or other approaches. Projects vary in substantive focus and may encompass policy analysis, program evaluation, management or organizational studies, or comprehensive literature reviews.