The Senior Capstone is intended to be taken in a student’s final year at UNC Asheville. Students may choose between two options for the Senior Capstone course: HUM 414 “Critical Perspectives on Contemporaneity” and LA 478: “Cultivating Citizenship in a Global World.”
HUM 414 focuses on global issues and recent history, both Western and non-Western, building on information gathered and questions raised in the preceding Humanities courses. Students will develop a greater understanding of the responsibilities of and opportunities for humanity today.
LA 478 is a topical seminar course that asks students to address an issue or a group of related issues of current and future importance from an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary perspective. Students will be expected to integrate the knowledge they have acquired through their major with the wider perspectives provided in their liberal arts core courses. The issue(s) will be explored through reading, lecture, discussion, and through the presentation of a self-directed project.
Both HUM 414 and LA 478 are taught by faculty from various disciplines. Students may not receive credit for both courses.
The table below offers a brief comparison of the courses. It is intended to help students select a course that best harmonizes with their majors and their intellectual interests.
Please Note: Each section of LA 478 varies, with each instructor’s own particular focus for the course. To see the specific section description, go to the Class Schedule on the UNCA Home page, view the list of LA courses, and click on the particular section title of LA 478.001, LA 478.002, and so on. A box will open, describing that particular section.
Senior Capstone Course Comparison
Helping UNC Asheville Students Choose a Senior Capstone Course
UNC Asheville offers two options for the Senior Capstone course: HUM 414 “Critical Perspectives on Contemporaneity” and LA 478: “Cultivating Global Citizenship.” This table offers a brief comparison of the courses. It is intended to help students select a course that best harmonizes with their majors and their intellectual interests.
| HUM 414 “Critical Perspectives on Contemporaneity” | LA 478 “Cultivating Global Citizenship” | |
| Credit Hours | 4 (3+1 Recitation section)* | 4 |
| LAC Requirement | Satisfies LAC senior capstone requirement | Satisfies LAC senior capstone requirement |
| Course Format | Sections meet twice weekly with instructors AND attend Friday Common Lecture 11:00-12:15 Core syllabus Combination of lecture, class discussion, group work, major project/paper | Sections meet with instructor unless otherwise noted Common experiences vary by term Core syllabus Combination of lecture, class discussion, group work, major project/paper |
| Registration | *Students must register for BOTH section (recitation) and Common Lecture | Students register for 4-credit section only |
| Course Pre-requisites | 75 hours + HUM 124, 214, 324 | 75 hours + HUM 124, 214, 324 |
| Key Differences | Serves as a 4th Humanities course in a series including HUM 124, 214, 324 Focus on arts, culture, identity, social justice movements, future studies | Integrates earlier HUM Program curriculum with social and natural science disciplines Focus on ethics, governance, economics, environmental sustainability |
| Service Learning | Varies by instructor | Varies by instructor* (required for all HONORS students) |