[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.
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
View [CAPS] courses in the WSU catalog.
| Course Prefix | Course Number | Course Title | Credits | College | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFS | 401 | Advanced Systems Analysis and Design in Agriculture and Food Systems | 3 | CAHNRS | Renewed S23 |
| AG_ED | 407 | Student Teaching in Agricultural Education | 3 | CAHNRS | Approved F18 |
| AMDT | 413 | Global Sourcing | 3 | VCEA | Renewed 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 |
| ART | 408 | Art History Thesis | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal S23 |
| ART | 498 | Contemporary Issues Seminar | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal F23 |
| ASTRONOM | 450 | Life in the Universe | 3 | CAS | Renewed S22 |
| BIO_ENG | 411 | Bioengineering Capstone Project II | 3 | VCEA | Submitted for renewal F22 |
| BIOLOGY | 401 | Plants and People | 3 | CAS | Submitted for renewal S23 |
| BIOLOGY | 402 | Beneficial Microbes in Nature and Society | 3 | CAS | Approved F22 |
| BIOLOGY | 408 | Contemporary Genetics | 3 | CAS | Renewed S23 |
| BIOLOGY / ANTH | 473 | Evolution and Society | 3 | CAS | Submit for renewal F23 |
| BIOLOGY | 483 | Organisms and Global Change | 3 | CAS | Renewed S23 |
| 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 | Submitted for renewal S23 |
| CES | 489 | Everyday Struggles for Justice and Equality | 3 | CAS | Submitted for renewal S23 |
| CHE | 451 | Chemical Process Analysis and Design II | 3 | VCEA | Submitted 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 | Submitted 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 | Renewed S23 |
| ENGR | 431 | Interdisciplinary Design II | 3 | VCEA | Submit for renewal S23 |
| ENTRP | 492 | Small Business Strategy and Planning | 3 | Carson | Renewed S23 |
| 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 | Renewed S23 |
| 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 | Submitted 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 | 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 | Renewed S23 |
| MECH (Vancouver) | 417 | Mechanical Systems Design II | 3 | VCEA | Renewed S23 |
| MGMT | 491 | Business Strategy and Policy | 3 | Business | Renewed S23 |
| 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 | Submitted 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 | Submitted 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 | 451 | Seminar in Spanish Studies - Authors | 3 | CAS | Approved S23 |
| 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 |