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Capital Scholars Honors Curriculum

Humanities/Social Sciences Sequence -- We have a set of four interdisciplinary courses (called question courses) that you will take each semester over your first two years; each of these courses count as humanities and social science credit.

  • CAP 122: Who am I? (team taught by 4 or 5 professors from the humanities and social science disciplines)
  • CAP 123: How do you Know? (team taught by 4 or 5 professors from the humanities and social science disciplines)
  • CAP 225: What is Good? (team taught by 4 or 5 professors from the humanities and social science disciplines)
  • CAP 226: What is Power? (team taught by 4 or 5 professors from the humanities and social science disciplines)

Science Sequence -- Our non-science majors take our CAP Honors Science courses (Science majors take the entry level Biology and Chemistry courses).   These courses cover two semesters and are team taught by both Biology and Chemistry faculty.  They are:

  • CAP 141:  Biology and Chemistry of the Environment I (BioChem I)
  • CAP 142:  Biology and Chemistry of the Environment II (BioChem II)

Composition Sequence -- We also have two semesters of English Composition.  These courses focus on interdisciplinary writing and are taken your first two semesters.  They are:

  • CAP 111: Honors Composition
  • CAP 115: Interdisciplinary Writing – This writing course is “linked” with CAP 123 (see above).  This means that the writing assignments are the same for both courses.

Global Issues – This course is a theme based course and the themes and instructors will vary each semester.  This course can be taken any time after the first semester.  This course is a CAP requirement but also meets the university requirement for global awareness (see table below). 

  • CAP 250: Global Issues

Modern Language (or Sign Language) -- In order to graduate from the honors program you must complete two years of a foreign language at UIS. If you are proficient in a language by reading, writing, and speaking a language then you may be able to proficiency out of taking language at UIS.  You may also take Sign Language (through the Teacher Education Program) to meet this requirement.

Other General Education Coursework --The courses that have "CAP" in front of the course number are only offered to our honors students.   All other courses you will take will be general education courses and open to students from across campus.  They are:

  • Visual/Creative/Performing Arts
  • Two Math Courses (this will depend on you major)
  • Oral Communications
  • Social Science Course (depending on your major)

Major Prerequisites -Your major may also have prerequisites that you must complete before your junior year (these will be designated on the advising guide for your major).

Engaged Citizenship and Common Experience  (ECCE) -- Also in order to graduate from the university you must complete 13 hours of Engaged Citizenship and Common Experience, commonly called ECCE.  As you can see from the table below, a number of the ECCE requirements are met through CAP coursework.

ECCE

(Engaged Citizenship

Common Experience)

13 Hours

Required CAP Courses That

Count Towards ECCE

  • U.S. Communities (3 hrs)

  • Global Awareness (3 hrs)

 CAP 250: Global Issues
  • Engagement Experience (3 hrs)

 CAP 370: Peer Mentoring
  • ECCE Elective (3 hrs)

 3rd Semester of Foreign Language
  • Speakers Series (1 hr)