Although somewhat different from an industry-oriented capstone project, case study, case method, or praxis commonly used in American-style higher education; in the Commonwealth of Nations, Bologna Process, and in other parts of the world influenced by their education systems, a senior thesis (thesis) usually takes its place as a culmination of an educational program but is much more theoretical and academia-oriented rather than the praxis and industry-oriented synthesis and capstone project.
The term derives from the final decorative coping or "cap-stone" used to complete a building or monument.
In higher education, the term has been in common use in the United States since the mid-twentieth century, although there is evidence that it was in use as early as the late 1800s.
[5] It has gradually been gaining currency in other countries, particularly where attention has focused on student outcomes and employability in undergraduate studies.
[6] National grant projects in Australia[7][8][9] and the U.K. have further raised the profile of the capstone experience.