UIS Capital Scholars Honors Program

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.