[CAPS] Courses

[CAPS] courses provide a culminating student experience by asking students to integrate their learning to address authentic situations. Students apply skills, concepts, and methods of inquiry developed throughout their general education experience and/or experience in the major to develop a substantial, culminating research, applied, or creative project, and to initiate investigations and explorations of open-ended issues and problems. CAPS courses feature at least one substantial deliverable for evaluation and assessment (including but not limited to a presentation, research paper, creative artifact, multi-modal design product, team project, practicum experience). Given their position as the culminating experience within the UCORE curriculum, CAPS courses carry a strong responsibility to provide evidence of student achievement of WSU learning goals.

Required CAPS Student Learning Outcomes

Students, regardless of major, who successfully complete a [CAPS] course, including completion of a culminating project, should be able to:

  • Conceptualize a substantial, culminating project that requires the application of key concepts, methods, and skills to address authentic situations. (WSU Learning Goal: Critical and Creative Thinking).
  • Apply concepts, skills, and/or methods of inquiry within and/or across disciplines to address authentic situations. (WSU Learning Goals: Integrative Learning)
  • Identify and synthesize multiple relevant bodies of knowledge and sources of information to support findings or results within the context of an authentic situation. (WSU Learning Goal: Information Literacy)
  • Communicate findings in written forms appropriate to the discipline and to 400-level course expectations. (WSU Learning Goal: Written Communication)

Optional CAPS Student Learning Outcomes

As appropriate to the course context, students who successfully complete a [CAPS] course, including completion of a culminating project, should be able to:

  • Communicate effectively as relevant to the mode of non-written communication (e.g., public speaking; musical expression; interpersonal, intercultural, or visual communication; multi-media authoring; conversational foreign language). (WSU Learning Goal: Non-written Communication)
  • Analyze the complexity of elements important to similar and diverse cultures, values, and perspectives. (WSU Learning Goal: Diversity)
  • Apply quantitative principles and computational methods to address authentic situations. (WSU Learning Goal: Quantitative Reasoning)
  • Apply scientific methods and principles to authentic situations. (WSU Learning Goal: Scientific literacy)

Revised outcomes approved Spring 2022.

The following policies are required of CAPS courses:

  • Must be offered at the 400 (senior) course level.
  • Students must have at least junior standing as a general prerequisite. Senior standing strongly preferred.
  • Effective Fall 2019, students must take CAPS courses in residence. “In residence” means a course either taught on a WSU campus or taught by WSU faculty, wherever the course may be located. Education abroad courses (unless taught by WSU faculty), and transfer courses are not suitable for fulfilling the capstone requirement

Also see departmental CAPS policies as outlined in the Policy section.

Available [CAPS] Courses

View [CAPS] courses in the WSU catalog.

Course PrefixCourse NumberCourse TitleCreditsCollegeStatus
AFS401Advanced Systems Analysis and Design in Agriculture and Food Systems3CAHNRSRenewed S23
AG_ED407Student Teaching in Agricultural Education3CAHNRSApproved F18
AMDT413Global Sourcing3VCEARenewed S23
ANIM_SCI464Companion Animal Management3CAHNRSRenewed S23
ANIM_SCI472Dairy Cattle Management3CAHNRSSubmit for renewal S24
ANIM_SCI474Beef Cattle Production3CAHNRSRenewed S23
ANTH404The Self in Culture3CASRenewed S24
ANTH464Hormones and Human Reproduction3CASApproved F19
ANTH490Integrative Themes in Anthropology3CASRenewed F23
ARCH403Comprehensive Design Studio I6VCEASubmit for renewal F23
ART408Art History Thesis3CASSubmit for renewal S23
ART498Contemporary Issues Seminar3CASSubmitted for renewal F23
ASTRONOM450Life in the Universe3CASRenewed S22
BIO_ENG411Bioengineering Capstone Project II3VCEARenewed F23
BIOLOGY401Plants and People3CASSubmitted for renewal S23
BIOLOGY402Beneficial Microbes in Nature and Society3CASApproved F22
BIOLOGY408Contemporary Genetics3CASRenewed S23
BIOLOGY / ANTH473Evolution and Society3CASSubmit for renewal F23
BIOLOGY483Organisms and Global Change3CASRenewed S23
BIOLOGY485Biology of the Oceans3CASSubmit for renewal S24
BIOLOGY489Synthesis and Communication of Independent Research3CASApproved F19
CAS410Interdisciplinary Approaches to the University3CASApproved S20
CE465Integrated Civil Engineering Design4VCEASubmit for renewal S23
CES / ENGLISH405 / 410Cultual Criticism and Theory3CASRenewed F22
CES440Global Social Justice3CASSubmitted for renewal S23
CES489Everyday Struggles for Justice and Equality3CASSubmitted for renewal S23
CHE451Chemical Process Analysis and Design II3VCEASubmitted for renewal S23
CHEM485Senior Thesis in Chemistry3CASSubmit for renewal S23
COM471Stereotypes in Communication3MurrowSubmitted for renewal F23
COMSOC421Intercultural Communication and Globalization3MurrowSubmit for renewal F23
CPT_S423Software Design Project II3VCEASubmitted for renewal S23
CPT_S432Cybersecurity Capstone Project3VCEAApproved F22
CRM_J / WGSS403Violence Toward Women3CASSubmitted for renewal F23
CRM_J480Senior Capstone in Criminal Justice and Criminology3CASApproved F20
CROP_SCI435Interdisciplinary Solutions in the Plant Sciences3CAHNRSSubmit for renewal F23
CS (Vancouver)420Software Design Project I3VCEASubmit for renewal S23
CST_M475Senior Capstone3VCEASubmit for renewal S24
DATA424Data Analytics Capstone3CASApproved F16
DTC497Senior Seminar3CASApproved F18
E_E416Electrical Engineering Design3VCEASubmitted for renewal F23
ECE452Capstone Design II3VCEARenewed S22
ECONS490Economics Capstone3CAHNRSRenewed F23
ENGLISH415Traditions of Comedy and Tragedy3CASSubmit for renewal F23
ENGLISH446Form and Theory in Creative Writing: Prose and Poetry3CASApproved S20
ENGLISH494Advanced Topics in Literature3CASSubmit for renewal F23
ENGR421Multidisciplinary Engineering Design II3VCEARenewed S23
ENGR431Interdisciplinary Design II3VCEASubmit for renewal S23
ENTRP492Small Business Strategy and Planning3CarsonRenewed S23
FOR_LANG410Advanced Topics in Global Cinema3CASSubmit for renewal S23
FRENCH410French Film in Translation3CASRenewed S22
FRENCH420French Culture Through Wine3CASRenewed S22
FRENCH430Topics in French / Francophone Literature in Translation3CASSubmitted for renewal F23
FS489Food Product Development3CAHNRSSubmit for renewal F23
GERMAN420Socio-Cultural History of the German Language3CASSubmitted for renewal F23
HBM475Senior Living Management Capstone3CarsonApproved S19
HBM493Food and Beverage Strategies3CarsonSubmit for renewal S24
HBM495Case Studies and Research3CarsonRenewed S23
H_D403Families in Poverty3CAHNRSRenewed S23
H_D415Peak Experiences in Leadership3CAHNRSSubmit for renewal F23
H_D418Early Experiences and Lifespan Health3CAHNRSApproved S21
HISTORY409American Environmental History3CASSubmit for renewal F23
HISTORY417Rise of Modern America3CASSubmit for renewal F23
HISTORY420American History, 1980-Present3CASApproved F21
HISTORY435European Expansion Overseas, 1400-18003CASSubmit for renewal F23
HISTORY436Imperialism in the Modern World3CASRenewed F22
HISTORY444The Renaissance3CASRenewed F23
HISTORY / ASIA474Modern South Asia: Community and Conflict3CASSubmit for renewal S24
HISTORY / ASIA483Medicine, Science, and Technology in World History3CASSubmit for renewal S24
HISTORY495Space, Place, and Power in World History: Historical Geography in Global Perspective3CASRenewed F23
HORT425Trends in Horticulture3CAHNRSSubmit for renewal F22
I_D426Interior Design Studio VII5VCEASubmit for renewal S24
KINES484Exercise Prescription and Medical Conditions3COESubmit for renewal F23
LND_ARCH485Senior Comprehensive Project4VCEASubmit for renewal S24
MATH432Mathematics for College and Secondary Teachers3CASSubmit for renewal F23
MATH464Linear Optimization3CASSubmit for renewal F23
MBIOS494Senior Project in Molecular Biosciences3VetMedSubmit for renewal F22
ME416Mechanical Systems Design3VCEARenewed S23
MECH (Vancouver)417Mechanical Systems Design II3VCEARenewed S23
MGMT491Business Strategy and Policy3BusinessRenewed S23
MUS461The Musician in Society: Philosophies and Practices, 1850-Present3CASSubmit for renewal S24
NEP495Interprofessional Capstone in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology3MedicineSubmit for renewal S24
NEUROSCI490Senior Project3VetMedSubmitted for renewal S23
NURS430Senior Practicum3NursingSubmit for renewal F23
NURS495Nursing Practice: Advanced Clinical Practicum3NursingRenewed F22
PHARMEDS490Senior Seminar: Capstone Experience3PharmacyApproved S22
PHIL413Science and Religion3CASSubmit for renewal S24
PHIL442Philosophy of Mind3CASSubmit for renewal S24
PHIL475Zombie Apocalypse3CASApproved F18
POL_S428Issues in Political Psychology3CASSubmit for renewal S24
POL_S430The Politics of Natural Resource and Environmental Policy3CASSubmit for renewal S24
POL_S432Comparative Public Policy3CASApproved S19
POL_S472European Politics3CASApproved S19
PSYCH401Historical Development of Psychology 3CASSubmit for renewal S24
PSYCH412Psychological Testing and Assessment3CASSubmit for renewal S24
SHS480Senior Seminar3MedicineSubmit for renewal S24
SOC415Globalization3CASSubmit for renewal S24
SOC495Internship Capstone3CASRenewed F23
SOC497Capstone Research Practicum3CASSubmitted for renewal S23
SOE404The Ecosystem3CAS / CAHNRSSubmit for renewal F23
SOE454Restoration Ecology3CAS / CAHNRSSubmit for renewal F23
SOE471International Wildlife Conservation3CAS / CAHNRSApproved S20
SOE474Physics and Chemistry of the Earth4CAS / CAHNRSApproved S20
SOE477Environmental Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management3CAS / CAHNRSApproved F19
SOE480How to Build a Habitable Planet3CAS / CAHNRSApproved S22
SPANISH420Cultural Topics3CASSubmit for renewal F23
SPANISH450Seminar in Spanish Studies / Themes3CASApproved S20
SPANISH451Seminar in Spanish Studies - Authors3CASApproved S23
SPANISH452Seminar in Spanish Studies - Genre3CASApproved S22
SPMGT489Theory and Application in Sports Event Management3COESubmit for renewal S24
TCH_LRN490Advanced Practicum for Elementary Teachers3COESubmit for renewal S24
VIT_ENOL433Critical Thinking in Vineyard and Winery Management3CAHNRSSubmit for renewal S24
WGSS495Re-Directions in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies: Theory and Practice3CASApproved F19