Capital Scholars Honors Program

Contact Information

Website: www.uis.edu/caphonors/
Email: capitalscholars@uis.edu
Office Phone: (217) 206-7246
Office Location: LRH 101

A Unique UIS Baccalaureate Experience

The Capital Scholars Honors Program (CSHP) is a four-year baccalaureate experience open to a small number of highly qualified college students. The CSHP curriculum includes an integrated core of honors-level lower- and upper-division courses, UIS general education requirements, and any of the undergraduate majors offered by UIS. Academically well-prepared and motivated students in the program have a unique opportunity to develop creative thinking, problem-solving, global awareness, and leadership skills through a high-quality educational experience grounded in the liberal arts. Focusing on the student’s total growth in the personal, academic, social, and civic arenas, the CSHP features interdisciplinary and collaborative learning and is designed to develop student talents through small classes that encourage lively exchange between students and professors. Students learn actively, applying their skills to real community concerns. Critical-thinking and research skills are emphasized throughout the program.

At the heart of the Capital Scholars Honors Program is an understanding that the problems facing today’s world are complex, and often cannot be adequately understood or resolved from narrow disciplinary perspectives. Instead, a broad perspective and the application and integration of knowledge from multiple disciplines are needed. For that reason, the program focuses on teaching and learning of interdisciplinary research and writing strategies. Development of leadership skills, collaborative learning, global awareness, and cultural competency are also major emphases in the CSHP. Skills learned in UIS Honors courses can be applied via numerous internship opportunities in community agencies and organizations.

Lincoln Residence Hall is the focal point for a living-learning community during the first year, where students, faculty, and community members come together for enrichment activities. Founders Residence Hall contains the Honors living-learning community during the second year and continues with the student developmental process. Students have opportunities for travel to cultural and educational events in St. Louis and throughout central Illinois. A wide range of campus social events and entertainment enliven the hours students spend away from their studies.

Admission

Admission is selective, but open to students who demonstrate high academic achievement and a potential for creativity and leadership. Students admitted to the Capital Scholars Honors Program are expected to have English proficiency, excellent written and oral communication skills, and a desire for a challenging intellectual experience in their college education. To be considered for admission as a Capital Scholars Honors student, applicants must meet the minimum academic course work requirements for general admission. Additional course work is recommended in the following areas:

Mathematics (four years recommended, preferably up to calculus)
Laboratory science (four years recommended with chemistry, biology, and physics included)
Foreign language (two years recommended, but other fine arts can be substituted)

Generally speaking, students should have a strong college preparatory curriculum which may include Honors, Advanced Placement (AP), and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) course work.

Students with these qualifications are selected based on an overall evaluation of the following: unweighted grade point average, class selection, class rank, essay, involvement, creative/leadership potential, and any letter(s) of recommendation. ACT and/or SAT scores may be submitted but there is no penalty for non-submission and are waived for international students who meet other specific criteria related to language proficiency. Applicants wishing to express an interest in the Capital Scholars Honors Program must check the appropriate box on the student’s admission application (the Common App or the UIS Institutional Application for Admission). This will facilitate a review by the Capital Scholars Honors Program. Once the student is admitted to UIS, consideration can begin. A personal telephone or e-mail outreach by a Capital Scholars Honors Program staff member may also be a component of the overall selection process.

Requirements

To graduate from the Capital Scholars Honors Program at UIS, students must complete 120 hours of course work, which includes the CSHP Integrated Core curriculum; Honors Global Awareness requirement; UIS ECCE and general education requirements; a major; and electives or a minor.

The student's final, overall, UIS cumulative GPA at the time of graduation must be a minimum of 3.0 to be eligible to graduate with the Capital Scholars Honors designation.

CSHP Integrated Core Curriculum
CAP 102	Introduction to Honors	2
CAP 111	Honors Composition	3
CAP 115	Interdisciplinary Writing	3
CAP 141 & CAP 142	Biology and Chemistry of the Environment I and Biology and Chemistry of the Environment II ¹	8
The “Question” Courses (Interdisciplinary humanities and social sciences)		12
CAP 122	Who Am I? Exploring Identity and Community
CAP 123	How Do You Know? Exploring Human Knowledge
CAP 225	What Is Good? Exploring Values and Tradeoffs
CAP 226	What Is Power? Exploring Control, Cooperation, and Self-Determination
CAP 402	Senior Seminar	1
Honors Global Awareness Requirement		14-17
The Honors Global Awareness Requirement is met through various courses, such as Modern Languages, Study Abroad, and ECCE Global Awareness courses. One CAP Global issue course must be taken to meet 3-4 hours of the Honors Global Awareness Requirement. Students may take multiple CAP Global issue courses but may not repeat the same course for additional credit. Other required hours can be met through ECCE Global Awareness Courses offered by the University. Course selections should be determined in consultation with the CSHP advisor and approved by the Director. A student petition will be submitted to the Office of Records and Registration by a CSHP advisor upon requirement completion.
Examples of CAP global issues course from which students should select to fulfill at least 3 to 4 credit hours of Honors Global Awareness Requirement include the following:		3-4
CAP 253	ECCE: For Better and For Worse
CAP 257	ECCE: Arts and Identity in Pacific Island Cultures
CAP 258/HIS 378	ECCE: Christian-Muslim Encounters
CAP 352	ECCE: Colonial and Post Colonial Identity in South Asia
CAP 355	ECCE: The Pacific War: World War II in East Asia
CAP 356	ECCE: Nationalism and Identity in Vietnam
Other CSHP advisor-approved electives		11-13
General Education Requirements in CSHP Integrated Core Curriculum
Oral Communication		3
Mathematics		3-4
Social Science		3
Visual/Creative/Performing Arts		3
Total Hours		55-59

¹: CAP 141 and CAP 142 are waived for science majors who take and pass other science courses (such as BIO 141 and CHE 141).

Courses

CAP 102. Introduction to Honors. 2 Hours.

Prepares students in the Capital Scholars Honors Program at UIS for University life and Honors level interdisciplinary coursework. It is both knowledge and skill based. A grade of C or better is required for remaining in the CAP Honors Program. Course Information: Prerequisite: Admission to the Capital Scholars Honors Program. Restricted to Capital Scholars Honors students with Freshman standing. Course may not be repeated. This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of First-Year Seminar.

CAP 111. Honors Composition. 3 Hours.

In the first course of the Capital Scholars Honors First Year Writing sequence, students build critical thinking and writing skills in a workshop environment. A grade of C or better is needed to move into CAP 115. Course Information: Prerequisites: Admission to the Capital Scholars Honors Program. Restricted to Capital Scholars Honors students. This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Written Communication (IAI Code: C1900R).

CAP 115. Interdisciplinary Writing. 3 Hours.

In the second course of the First Year Writing sequence, students will explore interdisciplinarity and research techniques while producing integrative assignments. Course Information: Prerequisites: CAP 111 with a grade of C or better. Restricted to Capital Scholars Honors students. This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Written Communication (IAI Code: C1900).

CAP 122. Who Am I? Exploring Identity and Community. 3 Hours.

Explores the concept of self. Major topics include the definition of self in various times and cultures, the relation of self to others and to society, the definition and presentation of self at various stages of life, and other factors affecting understanding of self, self-development, and community. Course Information: Prerequisites: Admission to Capital Scholars Honors Program. Restricted to Capital Scholars Honors students. This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Social and Behavioral Sciences (IAI Code S9900) or the area of Comparative Societies Humanities.

CAP 123. How Do You Know? Exploring Human Knowledge. 3 Hours.

Use current issues, case studies, and direct experience to explore methods that the humanities and social sciences employ to justify claims to knowledge. Topics: the reliability of sense perception, the influences of culture on science, research methods, fallacious arguments, and poetic truth. Course Information: Prerequisites: CAP 122. This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the areas of Humanities (IAI Code H9900) or Social and Behavioral Sciences.

CAP 141. Biology and Chemistry of the Environment I. 4 Hours.

Focuses on the ways humans interact with and affect the environment. Topics include cellular structure and organization and the principal characteristics of the living and non-living components of the environment: atoms, matter, molecular structure, biomolecules, water, and energy. Includes lab. Course Information: Prerequisites: Admission to the Capital Scholars Honors Program. Restricted to Capital Scholars Honors students. This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Life or Physical Science with Lab. (IAI Code: LP900L).

CAP 142. Biology and Chemistry of the Environment II. 4 Hours.

Includes the diversity of living things, the cell cycle, the energy of living systems, ecosystems, and human transformations of the environment. Course Information: Prerequisites: CAP 141. Restricted to Capital Scholars Honors students. This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Life or Physical Science with Lab. (IAI Code: LP901L).

CAP 225. What Is Good? Exploring Values and Tradeoffs. 3 Hours.

Seeks to illuminate assumptions of "the good" by attempting to uncover those aspects of life considered to be valuable. Course content is organized around historical and cross-cultural values as they are manifested in politics, economics, culture, science, art, and spirituality. Students will be challenged to examine their own values and will be encouraged to consider ways to change dominant culture consistent with their interpretation of the quality of life. Course Information: Prerequisites: CAP 123. Restricted to Capital Scholar Honors students. This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the areas of Humanities (IAI Code H9900) or Social and Behavioral Sciences.

CAP 226. What Is Power? Exploring Control, Cooperation, and Self-Determination. 3 Hours.

Explores various contexts of power by analyzing definitions, concepts, and theories of power and identifying who has power and who lacks it. Major topics will include comparisons of power in specific periods of history, cross-cultural views of power, political economy, new social movements, and/or personal power. Course Information: Prerequisites: CAP 225. Restricted to Capital Scholars Honors students. This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the areas of Humanities or Social and Behavioral Sciences (IAI Code S9900).

CAP 253. ECCE: For Better and For Worse. 3 Hours.

Explores the gendered nature of post socialist transitions in Central Asia and East Central Europe and examines the role gender has played in shaping the reconstitution of states and social relations in Central Asia and East Central Europe since the collapse of communism in the region. Course Information: Restricted to Capital Scholars Honors students. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

CAP 257. ECCE: Arts and Identity in Pacific Island Cultures. 4 Hours.

Explores the concept of identity in Pacific/Oceania Island cultures through arts. Topics: indigenous and colonial history and relationships; traditional music, dance, visual arts, and seamanship; diversity among island cultures; contemporary Oceanic arts/artists within a global society. Course Information: Same as ART 367, MUS 367, and SOA 367. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

CAP 258. ECCE: Christian-Muslim Encounters. 4 Hours.

Seminar on the global history of Christian-Muslim relations from the seventh century through the twenty-first century. This course surveys first contacts, Christians living under Muslim rule, significant intellectual figures and their theological writings, Crusade and Jihad, recent global encounters and dialogue in the religious and public spheres. Course Information: Same as: HIS 378. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

CAP 352. ECCE: Colonial and Post Colonial Identity in South Asia. 3 Hours.

Studies the relationship of the British to the population of South Asia from the perspective of identity. Course covers the culture and civilization of South Asia; essentialist and social constructivist theories of race/nation/caste; and various strains of identity that emerged from the colonial experience. Course Information: Restricted to Capital Scholars Honors students. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

CAP 355. ECCE: The Pacific War: World War II in East Asia. 4 Hours.

This class takes as its theme the different ways in which inhabitants of countries bordering the Pacific, particularly China, Japan, Korea, and the United States, experienced World War II in different ways. It also explores how the Second World War became one of the defining elements in understanding relations between these countries today. Themes such as total war, colonialism, race, and memory will be covered. Course Information: Restricted to Capital Scholars Honors students. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness. Same as HIS 471.

CAP 356. ECCE: Nationalism and Identity in Vietnam. 3 Hours.

Prior to 1975 the area of Southeast Asia now home to Vietnam was under one rule by indigenous powers only twice and then for relatively short periods of time. The Chinese, Khmer, Cham and French have controlled portions of or the entire region for extended periods of time. This course will study the region's long history, how the Viet people took control of what is now Vietnam and what it means to be Vietnamese. Course Information: Restricted to Capital Scholars Honors students. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

CAP 361. ECCE: Peer Tutoring. 1,2 Hour.

Provides experiential learning for students receiving training in the practical and theoretical aspects of tutoring other students. Course Information: Sophomore standing in Capital Scholars Honors Program. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Engagement Experience. Restricted to Capital Scholars Honor students.

CAP 371. ECCE: Peer Mentoring. 1,2 Hour.

Provides an experiential learning environment in which students receive training in the practical and theoretical aspects of mentoring. Students develop interpersonal skills as they mentor in both group and individual settings. Course Information: Restricted to Capital Scholars Honors students. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Engagement Experience.

CAP 372. Peer Mentoring II. 0 Hours.

Provides additional training and leadership experience in the practical and theoretical aspects of mentoring for students who have successfully completed CAP 371 Peer Mentoring. Students develop leadership and interpersonal skills as they mentor in both group and individual settings. This course is for zero hours credit only. Course Information: Restricted to Capital Scholars Honors students.

CAP 402. Senior Seminar. 1 Hour.

Provides guidance in the development of interdisciplinary papers and presentations for the mandatory Senior Symposium. Minimum grade of C is required for successful completion of CAP 402 and graduation with honors. A 3.0 UIS cumulative GPA at the time of graduation is also needed for Honors designation. Course Information: Restricted to Capital Scholars Honors students with 90 or more credit hours and minimum 3.0 UIS cumulative GPA. Exceptions may be approved by the Director.

CAP 499. Tutorial. 1-4 Hours.

Intended to supplement, not supplant, regular course offerings. Students interested in a tutorial must secure the consent of the faculty member concerned before registration and submit any required documentation to him or her. Course Information: Restricted to Capital Scholars Honors students.