The Common Academic Program (CAP) is an innovative curriculum that is the foundation of a University of Dayton education. It is a learning experience that is shared in common among all undergraduate students, regardless of their major. Some CAP requirements must be fulfilled by courses taken at UD. Some major requirements must also be fulfilled by courses taken at UD. Students should consult with their advisor regarding applicability of transfer credit to fulfill CAP and major program requirements. 

Common Academic Program (CAP) 1
First-Year Humanities Commons 2		6 cr. hrs.
HUM 101	Chaminade Seminar: Reading and Responding to the Signs of the Times
HUM 102	Marie Thérèse Seminar: Human Dignity and the Common Good
Second-Year Rhetoric and Writing		3 cr. hrs.
Arts		3 cr. hrs.
Mathematics		3 cr. hrs.
Natural Science 3		4 cr. hrs.
Oral Communication		3 cr. hrs.
Social Science		3 cr. hrs.
Advanced Study		9 cr. hrs.
Historical Studies (3 cr. hrs.) 4
Philosophical Studies (3 cr. hrs.)
Religious Studies (3 cr. hrs.) 5
Crossing Boundaries		9 cr. hrs.
Faith Traditions (3 cr. hrs.)
Interdisciplinary Investigations (3 cr. hrs.) 4
Practical Ethical Action (3 cr. hrs.)
Diversity and Social Justice 5, 6		3 cr. hrs.
Major Capstone 7		0-6 cr. hrs.
Experiential Learning 8		0-3 cr. hrs.
Total Hours		0-55

¹

The credit hours listed reflect what is needed to complete each CAP component. However, they should not be viewed as a cumulative addition to a student's degree requirements because many CAP courses are designed to satisfy more than one CAP component (e.g., Crossing Boundaries and Advanced Studies) and may also satisfy requirements in the student's major.

²

May be completed with ASI 101 and ASI 102 through the Core Program. ASI 101 also fulfills CAP Arts and ASI 102 also fulfills CAP Second-Year Rhetoric and Writing.

³

Must include a lecture course and a lab.

⁴

U.S. History AP and CLEP credit will not satisfy this requirement.

⁵

Must be completed with a UD course or education abroad transfer credit; other types of transfer credit cannot be applied.

⁶

May not double count with First-Year Humanities Commons, Second-Year Rhetoric and Writing, Oral Communication, Social Science, or Natural Science CAP components, but may double count with courses taken to satisfy other CAP components and/or courses taken in the student's major. 

⁷

The course or experience is designed by faculty in each major; it may, or may not, be assigned credit hours. The Major Capstone CAP requirement must be completed with a UD course; transfer credit cannot be applied.

⁸

The course or experience will have variable credit, depending on the intensity and duration of the experience, or where it is housed in existing curricular and co-curricular spaces.

The University of Dayton's CAP Transfer Procedures are designed to support a meaningful and inclusive Common Academic Program experience that values the diverse learning paths students bring with them. From the 2022-23 through the 2024-25 academic years, a CAP Tier system was used to guide how transfer credits applied toward CAP requirements. Beginning with the 2025-26 academic year, the Tier system is no longer used due to updates to the CAP curriculum. Under the revised model, all students will complete the Advanced Religious Studies and Diversity and Social Justice CAP requirements at UD or through a university-approved study abroad program. In addition, students will complete the Major Capstone CAP requirement at UD. Students who began their studies under the Tier system will retain all previously applied credits toward CAP requirements.