Opportunities

The Capstone Scholars Program is dedicated to educational enrichment, both in and out of the classroom. The Capstone Scholars Staff encourages all Scholars to Dream Big. Several opportunities are presented to encourage students to achieve their potential.

Special Courses
All Capstone Scholars are required to take a Capstone-specific section of University 101.  Some of these sections are designed for specific majors.  While University 101 is currently the only course requirement, Capstone Scholars are also encouraged to take a Capstone section of English 101 and English 102.  In the Spring semester, Scholars will also be able to enroll in University 290, a colloquium style course that will cover a broad range of topics.  More information about UNIV 290 is available here.

Housing Opportunities
Freshmen Capstone Scholars are strongly encouraged to live in either Capstone House or Columbia Hall. These residence halls are suite-style and located in the north area of campus.  While it is not a requirement to live in one of these two buildings, it is very much encouraged.  In Capstone and Columbia Hall, students are housed by major, making it easy to find study buddies.  Sophomore Scholars have the option to live in South Quad, an apartment-style residence hall, located in the south part of campus.

Capstone Conversations
Capstone Conversations are a series of discussions led by distinguished faculty and community members.  Scholars are required to attend at least four conversations as part of the University 101 requirement. Conversations cover a wide range of topics and have featured:

• Charles Bierbauer, Dean of the College of Mass Communication and Information Studies, discussing his time as a CNN Correspondent
• Patrick Hickey from the School of Nursing, sharing his experiences climbing Mt. Everest over the summer, even though he was afraid of heights
• Elwyn Gary, a World War II B-17 pilot
• Bobby Kirby, U.S. Secret Service Agent
• Professor Todd Shaw, of the Political Science Department, speaking about the South Carolina Presidential Primary and the importance of African America voters.
• Walter Liniger, a Professor from the Institute of Southern Studies, who has traveled internationally as a traveling blues artist.

Capstone Cinema
As part of the introduction to the arts requirement of University 101, Capstone Scholars are required to attend at least one Capstone Cinema. The Capstone Cinema series features a film with a discussion led by a University of South Carolina faculty member.

Study Abroad
Capstone Scholars are eligible to apply for a $2000 travel grant to help with the cost of a study abroad experience. While the grant can be applied toward any study abroad program, it is encouraged that Scholars use it for a three-credit Capstone Abroad Maymester course. Click here for more information regarding Passport Travel Grants. There will be two Capstone Abroad trips in 2009, one to Italy and one to Peru. For more information on the trip to Italy click here, or for more information on the trip to Peru click here. Each trip will be led by a Faculty member and a Staff member. For more information about the trips, call 803-777-7557.

Volunteering
The Capstone Scholars Program partners with Richland School District One to provide tutoring and mentoring services. Download a volunteer application here. Potential volunteers also need to download and fill out the DSS form here. Completed forms need to be submitted to Joy Yard in the Capstone Scholars Program office. For more information about the program or to find out how you can get involved in the program, please contact Joy Yard. Also be sure to take a look at the Richland One Volunteer Manual(.pdf).

Throughout the school year, Capstone Scholars are also encouraged to participate in University-wide Service Saturdays, as well as other volunteer activities in the Columbia community.

Study Shack
In April 2006, the Capstone Scholars Office opened the Study Shack at 11 Gibbes Court. This is a quiet place available for individual or group study. It features four separate study areas, a full kitchen, a TV with a VCR/DVD player, a balcony, and is equipped with wireless internet access. The Study Shack is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Career Center
Working with the Capstone Scholars Program, the Career Center developed a series of workshops designed specifically for Capstone Scholars.  These workshops focus on creating a four-year plan to help Scholars set and achieve their career goals.

Office of Pre-Professional Advising
Students planning a career in the medical, dental, veterinary, optometry, or law fields are encouraged to work with the Office of Pre-Professional Advising to develop a competitive application for professional school.

Fellowships and Scholar Programs
The Office of Fellowships and Scholar Programs supports students as they compete for national fellowships and scholarships. The office regularly hosts workshops on the available competitions and the application process. 

Undergraduate Research
The Office of Undergraduate Research is available to help students pursue their own research interests.  They also sponsor the Magellan Scholars Award for Undergraduate Research.  This $3000 award encourages students to develop their own research proposals and projects under the guidance of a faculty mentor.  To date twenty-one Capstone Scholars have won Magellan Awards. The Office of Undergraduate Research now offers a Mini-Grant Program as well. The Mini-Grant Program was created to provide additional resources to promote undergraduate research at USC. The $500 mini-grant funds can be used to purchase materials and supplies or to off-set travel costs required for conducting the research project. 

DISCOVER Program
The DISCOVER program is a 8-week not-for-credit seminar open to first-year students in any major. This program will help you gain some of these basic research skills and techniques (including helping you find a faculty member to work with) but you will not conduct a research project. DISCOVER meets once per week for one hour.