BS and BSIS Programs

WashU CAPS Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees, created for the needs of modern learners, offer innovative and flexible concentrations designed around each learner's prior experiences and specific career goals. The Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BS) prepares students to move on to advanced study and/or careers in the pharmaceutical field. The Bachelor of Science in Integrated Studies (BSIS) aligns with professional and educational needs, pairing an in-depth, interdisciplinary field of study with a certificate that helps learners to upskill or reskill for future employment. Based on the demands of the regional workforce, CAPS bachelor's degree programs ensure graduates are well-prepared for today's job market in a variety of fields.   

For a list of degrees, more specific information about degree requirements and policies, and specific requirements for each program of study, refer to the "List of Degrees and Degree Requirements" tab of this page. 

Contact Info

Phone:	314-935-6700
Website:	http://caps.wustl.edu

Applicants to the BSIS degree program must have at least 45 credits of transferrable coursework (these credits can include credits previously completed through CAPS) and a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher on a 4.0 scale. These credits may include courses already completed toward an associate's degree. Applicants who do not meet the GPA requirement but who have significant professional experience and a thoughtful plan for career change or advancement may be offered contingent admission to a bachelor's degree program.

The following Bachelor of Science degree is offered:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences

The following Bachelor of Science in Integrated Studies degrees are offered:

• Clinical Research Management
• Data Analytics and Applications
• Foundations of Counseling Psychology and Behavioral Health
• Health Care Management
• Health Sciences
• Humanities
• Leadership and Management
• Social Sciences
• Strategic Communications

Bachelor of Science Degrees

General Education Requirements: 45 units total**

General Requirements

• CAPS-ECOMP 1110 Analytical Writing (3 units)*
• CAPS-ECOMP 2020 Critical and Researched Writing (3 units)*
• One additional 3-unit advanced writing course with a minimum grade of C, which may be chosen from a 3000-level writing (CAPS-ECOMP) course or a 3000-level writing-intensive course in another subject as designated by CAPS. Ideally, students would enroll in this course no later than their fourth term.  
• One 3-unit course in numerical applications with a minimum grade of C–. The following courses fulfill the numerical applications requirement:
  • Any course from CAPS's Math department (CAPS-MATH), including statistics, and programming courses in CAPS's Data Studies department (CAPS-DATASTUDIES)
  • CAPS-GS 1170 Quantitative Reasoning 
  • CAPS-PSYCH 3000 Introductory Psychological Statistics
• One 3-unit course bearing the tag "Moral Reasoning"
• One 3-unit course bearing the tag "Cultural Diversity." Courses that satisfy this requirement explore issues of global human diversity and the interactions among cultures.

Distribution Requirements

Learners must complete 27 units, with 9 units being completed in each area noted below. Each distribution area must include coursework from at least two disciplines. A course that fulfills field of study requirements, basic requirements, and/or a distribution requirement can count in every area it fulfills. For example, CAPS-HIST 3307 Facing East: An Indigenous View of Early North America can be used to fulfill 1) a field of study requirement in the BSIS Humanities degree; 2) the cultural diversity requirement; and 3) a Humanities distribution course requirement. Overlap limitations between a BSIS degree and a certificate must be maintained.

• Humanities: (9 units) Courses from Art History; Classics; History; Literature; Philosophy; Religious Studies; Creative Writing; Film Studies; Foreign Languages; Music; and Speech
• Social Sciences: (9 units) Courses from Anthropology; Economics; Political Science; Psychology; Sociology; and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
• Natural Sciences & Mathematics: (9 units) Courses from Biology; Chemistry; Earth, Environmental, & Planetary Sciences; Physics; General Science; and Mathematics & Statistics

*

Students who receive a grade lower than a C in CAPS-ECOMP 1110 Analytical Writing taken at CAPS must repeat the course. Students who receive a grade lower than a C in CAPS-ECOMP 2020 Critical and Researched Writing taken at CAPS must, in consultation with the Director of Integrated Studies and members of English Composition faculty, choose between two options to satisfy the requirement: 1) repeat the course; or 2) complete a 3-unit composition tutorial with a grade of C or higher. Students who have completed English composition courses at other colleges or universities should be well-prepared for the required writing courses at CAPS. Transfer credit will be granted for this coursework according to our standard transfer credit policies. All students will be assessed for writing proficiency. Students who are new to CAPS must begin with CAPS-ECOMP 1110 Analytical Writing. Those who demonstrate strong writing skills in the assessment may enroll in CAPS-ECOMP 2020 Critical and Researched Writing instead. All students must complete CAPS-ECOMP 2020 Critical and Researched Writing and at least one 3000- or 4000-level writing-intensive or 3000-/4000-level writing course at CAPS. All writing-intensive courses must receive designation and approval from CAPS. CAPS-ECOMP 1110 Analytical Writing and CAPS-ECOMP 2020 Critical and Researched Writing must be completed within the first three semesters of a student's enrollment in a degree-seeking program (AA or BSIS) and must be taken in consecutive semesters at CAPS. If these course requirements are not satisfied within three semesters, the student will not be permitted to register for other courses until the ECOMP course requirements are satisfied. Students who fail an ECOMP course at the time of their third-semester registration will not be able to continue their course flow until they pass the ECOMP course. 

**

These requirements are effective as of fall 2026. Students admitted to CAPS programs prior to fall 2026 are expected to fulfill the requirements in place at the time of their admission.

Certificate Requirement

Learners in BSIS programs must complete a certificate, tailoring their degree to their educational and professional goals. Individuals planning to enroll in a BSIS degree program may request that the required certificate be waived if they can demonstrate substantial prior academic work or equivalent learning outcomes in the certificate's area of study. Waivers are intended to prevent duplication of learning while maintaining the academic integrity and learning objectives of the program.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a waiver, a learner must do the following:

1. Be formally admitted to the degree program or have completed all of the requirements for formal admission to a degree program that includes the certificate requirement.
2. Provide at least two pieces of official documentation (e.g., transcripts, syllabi, course descriptions, evidence of professional experience) showing the completion of extensive coursework or proficiency in the relevant field (e.g., certificates, badges, other credentials).
3. Demonstrate that prior coursework, learning outcomes, and/or professional experience are substantially equivalent to the content and competencies covered in the certificate program.
4. Have earned grades of B (3.0) or higher in the relevant coursework or demonstrate equivalent mastery through professional experience or credentialing (if applicable).

Certificate waivers do not reduce the total number of credit units required for a degree, and no academic credit is awarded for waived certificate requirements. Learners must still complete substitute coursework or electives as determined by their Student Success Navigator.

1. Those seeking a waiver must submit a Certificate Requirement Waiver Request Form along with supporting documentation, to CAPS. (Email CAPS for a link to the form.)
2. CAPS will review the request to determine whether the prior coursework and/or professional experience meets or exceeds the certificate's learning outcomes.
3. The Vice Dean or designated CAPS authority will make a decision and communicate it in writing to the student within 30 days of submission.
4. Approved waivers will be documented in the student's academic record.

Note:

• Certificate waivers will not be granted for capstone, practicum, or residency coursework unless explicitly approved by the Vice Dean.
• Students must still meet all institutional and program completion requirements.

Certificate Overlap Policy

If a student is pursuing a bachelor's degree and a certificate, overlap is allowed between the field of study and the certificate. If the certificate consists of 15 units or fewer, there should be at least 6 units unique to the certificate. For certificates of 16 units or more, there should be at least 9 units unique to the certificate. (An exception to the restriction applies to sequential programs of the same name, such as Clinical Research Management, in which case all certificate courses may apply to the next-level program.)