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 (critical and creative thinking).
- Apply concepts, skills, and/or methods of inquiry within and/or across disciplines to address authentic situations (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 (information literacy).
- Communicate findings in written forms appropriate to the discipline and to 400-level course expectations (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) (non-written communication).
- Analyze the complexity of elements important to similar and diverse cultures, values, and perspectives (diversity).
- Apply quantitative principles and computational methods to address authentic situations (quantitative reasoning).
- Apply scientific methods and principles to authentic situations (scientific literacy).
Policy Requirements
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
| Course Prefix | Course Number | Course Title | Credits | College | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFS | 401 | Advanced Systems Analysis and Design in Agriculture and Food Systems | 3 | CAHNRS | Submitted for renewal F22 |
| AG_ED | 407 | Student Teaching in Agricultural Education | 3 | CAHNRS | Approved F18 |
| AMDT | 413 | Global Sourcing | 3 | VCEA | Submit for renewal S23 |
| ANIM_SCI | 464 | Companion Animal Management | 3 | CAHNRS | Renewed S23 |
| ANIM_SCI | 472 | Dairy Cattle Management | 3 | CAHNRS | Submit for renewal S24 |
| ANIM_SCI | 474 | Beef Cattle Production | 3 | CAHNRS | Renewed S23 |
| ANTH | 404 | The Self in Culture | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S23 |
| ANTH | 464 | Hormones and Human Reproduction | 3 | CAS | Approved F19 |
| ANTH | 490 | Integrative Themes in Anthropology | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S23 |
| ARCH | 403 | Comprehensive Design Studio I | 6 | VCEA | Submit for renewal F23 |
| ASTRONOM | 450 | Life in the Universe | 3 | CAS | Renewed S22 |
| BIO_ENG | 411 | Bioengineering Capstone Project II | 3 | VCEA | Submit for renewal S23 |
| BIOLOGY | 401 | Plants and People | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S23 |
| BIOLOGY | 402 | Beneficial Microbes in Nature and Society | 3 | CAS | Approved F22 |
| BIOLOGY | 408 | Contemporary Genetics | 3 | CAS | Submitted for renewal F22 |
| BIOLOGY / ANTH | 473 | Evolution and Society | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal F23 |
| BIOLOGY | 483 | Organisms and Global Change | 3 | CAS | Submitted for renewal F22 |
| BIOLOGY | 485 | Biology of the Oceans | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S24 |
| BIOLOGY | 489 | Synthesis and Communication of Independent Research | 3 | CAS | Approved F19 |
| CAS | 410 | Interdisciplinary Approaches to the University | 3 | CAS | Approved S20 |
| CE | 465 | Integrated Civil Engineering Design | 4 | VCEA | Submit for renewal S23 |
| CES / ENGLISH | 405 / 410 | Cultual Criticism and Theory | 3 | CAS | Renewed F22 |
| CES | 440 | Global Social Justice | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S23 |
| CES | 489 | Everyday Struggles for Justice and Equality | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S23 |
| CHE | 451 | Chemical Process Analysis and Design II | 3 | VCEA | Submit for renewal S23 |
| CHEM | 485 | Senior Thesis in Chemistry | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S23 |
| COM | 471 | Stereotypes in Communication | 3 | Murrow | Submit for renewal F23 |
| COMSOC | 421 | Intercultural Communication and Globalization | 3 | Murrow | Submit for renewal F23 |
| CPT_S | 423 | Software Design Project II | 3 | VCEA | Submit for renewal S23 |
| CPT_S | 432 | Cybersecurity Capstone Project | 3 | VCEA | Approved F22 |
| CRM_J / WGSS | 403 | Violence Toward Women | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S23 |
| CRM_J | 480 | Senior Capstone in Criminal Justice and Criminology | 3 | CAS | Approved F20 |
| CROP_SCI | 435 | Interdisciplinary Solutions in the Plant Sciences | 3 | CAHNRS | Submit for renewal F23 |
| CS (Vancouver) | 420 | Software Design Project I | 3 | VCEA | Submit for renewal S23 |
| CST_M | 475 | Senior Capstone | 3 | VCEA | Submit for renewal S24 |
| DATA | 424 | Data Analytics Capstone | 3 | CAS | Approved F16 |
| DTC | 497 | Senior Seminar | 3 | CAS | Approved F18 |
| E_E | 416 | Electrical Engineering Design | 3 | VCEA | Submit for renewal F23 |
| ECE | 452 | Capstone Design II | 3 | VCEA | Renewed S22 |
| ECONS | 490 | Economics Capstone | 3 | CAHNRS | Submit for renewal S23 |
| ENGLISH | 415 | Traditions of Comedy and Tragedy | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal F23 |
| ENGLISH | 446 | Form and Theory in Creative Writing: Prose and Poetry | 3 | CAS | Approved S20 |
| ENGLISH | 494 | Advanced Topics in Literature | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal F23 |
| ENGR | 421 | Multidisciplinary Engineering Design II | 3 | VCEA | Submit for renewal F22 |
| ENGR | 431 | Interdisciplinary Design II | 3 | VCEA | Submit for renewal S23 |
| ENTRP | 492 | Small Business Strategy and Planning | 3 | Carson | Submit for renewal S23 |
| FINE_ART | 408 | Art History Thesis | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S23 |
| FINE_ART | 498 | Contemporary Issues Seminar | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal F23 |
| FOR_LANG | 410 | Advanced Topics in Global Cinema | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S23 |
| FRENCH | 410 | French Film in Translation | 3 | CAS | Renewed S22 |
| FRENCH | 420 | French Culture Through Wine | 3 | CAS | Renewed S22 |
| FRENCH | 430 | Topics in French / Francophone Literature in Translation | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S23 |
| FS | 489 | Food Product Development | 3 | CAHNRS | Submit for renewal F23 |
| GERMAN | 420 | Socio-Cultural History of the German Language | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal F23 |
| HBM | 475 | Senior Living Management Capstone | 3 | Carson | Approved S19 |
| HBM | 493 | Food and Beverage Strategies | 3 | Carson | Submit for renewal S24 |
| HBM | 495 | Case Studies and Research | 3 | Carson | Submitted for renewal F22 |
| H_D | 403 | Families in Poverty | 3 | CAHNRS | Renewed S23 |
| H_D | 415 | Peak Experiences in Leadership | 3 | CAHNRS | Submit for renewal F23 |
| H_D | 418 | Early Experiences and Lifespan Health | 3 | CAHNRS | Approved S21 |
| HISTORY | 409 | American Environmental History | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal F23 |
| HISTORY | 417 | Rise of Modern America | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal F23 |
| HISTORY | 420 | 3 | CAS | Approved F21 | |
| HISTORY | 435 | European Expansion Overseas, 1400-1800 | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal F23 |
| HISTORY | 436 | Imperialism in the Modern World | 3 | CAS | Renewed F22 |
| HISTORY | 444 | The Renaissance | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S23 |
| HISTORY / ASIA | 474 | Modern South Asia: Community and Conflict | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S24 |
| HISTORY / ASIA | 483 | Medicine, Science, and Technology in World History | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S24 |
| HISTORY | 492 | Cultural Appetites: Food in World History | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S23 |
| HISTORY | 495 | Space, Place, and Power in World History: Historical Geography in Global Perspective | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S23 |
| HORT | 425 | Trends in Horticulture | 3 | CAHNRS | Submit for renewal F22 |
| I_D | 426 | Interior Design Studio VII | 5 | VCEA | Submit for renewal S24 |
| KINES | 484 | Exercise Prescription and Medical Conditions | 3 | COE | Submit for renewal F23 |
| LND_ARCH | 485 | Senior Comprehensive Project | 4 | VCEA | Submit for renewal S24 |
| MATH | 432 | Mathematics for College and Secondary Teachers | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal F23 |
| MATH | 464 | Linear Optimization | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal F23 |
| MBIOS | 494 | Senior Project in Molecular Biosciences | 3 | VetMed | Submit for renewal F22 |
| ME | 416 | Mechanical Systems Design | 3 | VCEA | Submitted for renewal F22 |
| MECH (Vancouver) | 417 | Mechanical Systems Design II | 3 | VCEA | Submitted for renewal F22 |
| MGMT | 491 | Business Strategy and Policy | 3 | Business | Submitted for renewal F22 |
| MUS | 461 | The Musician in Society: Philosophies and Practices, 1850-Present | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S24 |
| NEP | 495 | Interprofessional Capstone in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology | 3 | Medicine | Submit for renewal S24 |
| NEUROSCI | 490 | Senior Project | 3 | VetMed | Submit for renewal S23 |
| NURS | 430 | Senior Practicum | 3 | Nursing | Submit for renewal F23 |
| NURS | 495 | Nursing Practice: Advanced Clinical Practicum | 3 | Nursing | Renewed F22 |
| PHARMEDS | 490 | Senior Seminar: Capstone Experience | 3 | Pharmacy | Approved S22 |
| PHIL | 413 | Science and Religion | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S24 |
| PHIL | 442 | Philosophy of Mind | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S24 |
| PHIL | 475 | Zombie Apocalypse | 3 | CAS | Approved F18 |
| POL_S | 428 | Issues in Political Psychology | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S24 |
| POL_S | 430 | The Politics of Natural Resource and Environmental Policy | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S24 |
| POL_S | 432 | Comparative Public Policy | 3 | CAS | Approved S19 |
| POL_S | 472 | European Politics | 3 | CAS | Approved S19 |
| PSYCH | 401 | Historical Development of Psychology | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S24 |
| PSYCH | 412 | Psychological Testing and Assessment | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S24 |
| SHS | 480 | Senior Seminar | 3 | Medicine | Submit for renewal S24 |
| SOC | 415 | Globalization | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S24 |
| SOC | 495 | Internship Capstone | 3 | CAS | Submitted for renewal S22 |
| SOC | 497 | Capstone Research Practicum | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S23 |
| SOE | 404 | The Ecosystem | 3 | CAS / CAHNRS | Submit for renewal F23 |
| SOE | 454 | Restoration Ecology | 3 | CAS / CAHNRS | Submit for renewal F23 |
| SOE | 471 | International Wildlife Conservation | 3 | CAS / CAHNRS | Approved S20 |
| SOE | 474 | Physics and Chemistry of the Earth | 4 | CAS / CAHNRS | Approved S20 |
| SOE | 477 | Environmental Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management | 3 | CAS / CAHNRS | Approved F19 |
| SOE | 480 | How to Build a Habitable Planet | 3 | CAS / CAHNRS | Approved S22 |
| SPANISH | 420 | Cultural Topics | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal F23 |
| SPANISH | 450 | Seminar in Spanish Studies / Themes | 3 | CAS | Approved S20 |
| SPANISH | 452 | Seminar in Spanish Studies - Genre | 3 | CAS | Approved S22 |
| SPMGT | 489 | Theory and Application in Sports Event Management | 3 | COE | Submit for renewal S24 |
| TCH_LRN | 490 | Advanced Practicum for Elementary Teachers | 3 | COE | Submit for renewal S24 |
| VIT_ENOL | 433 | Critical Thinking in Vineyard and Winery Management | 3 | CAHNRS | Submit for renewal S24 |
| WGSS | 495 | Re-Directions in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies: Theory and Practice | 3 | CAS | Approved F19 |
View CAPS courses in the WSU catalog.
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