GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES
No-cost online courses for bachelor's students
Save time and money with access to no-cost general education and elective courses from our affiliate, Sophia Learning. Sophia courses may be applied to eligible Capella bachelor’s degree programs and leveraged for eligibility requirements in the Sophia Admissions Pathway.
Sophia Admissions Pathway
Individuals who don’t meet the eligibility requirements for admission into select Capella bachelor’s programs can complete qualifying courses with the Sophia Admissions Pathway before starting their degree program at Capella. Applicant may also complete credits with other institutions.
No-cost gen eds
Bachelor’s applicants have access to select general education and elective courses at no additional cost with Capella’s affiliate Sophia Learning. Once you complete these self-paced courses, you may apply them toward a Capella program to potentially reduce the time and cost of your degree.
FAQ of Sophia's no-cost online courses
Sophia can help prepare you for your bachelor’s program in either the FlexPath or GuidedPath learning format* by allowing you to complete no-cost courses before enrolling in your program.
*Excludes the RN-to-BSN program.
FlexPath
Individuals who don’t meet the 45 transfer credits with the 2.8 GPA requirement for admission into bachelor’s degree programs in the FlexPath learning format can become eligible by successfully completing qualifying courses with Sophia. Applicants who score 80% or better may qualify for admission to Capella.
GuidedPath
Individuals who need additional credits for admission into Capella bachelor’s programs may become eligible to apply with a single Sophia course. Applicants who score 70% or better may qualify for admission to Capella.
As a Capella student, you can choose from more than 70 general education or elective courses offered through Sophia and take up to two courses at a time. However, there’s a limit to the number of courses you can apply to your Capella program. Your academic coach can provide guidance and answer questions about choosing courses.
Eligible students can apply Sophia courses toward fulfilling their Capella general education requirements. However, there’s no associated grade, and Sophia courses don’t factor into a student’s grade point average at Capella. All Sophia courses are graded on a Pass/Fail basis.
Yes, you can take Sophia courses alongside your Capella courses in the GuidedPath learning format,* but Sophia courses won’t count toward your financial aid eligibility or your Capella GPA. Sophia courses are self-paced and can be started at any time. Once completed successfully, Sophia courses automatically apply toward your Capella program.
*All transfer and credit for prior learning must be completed prior to starting any program in the FlexPath format. Any professional certification or external courses taken concurrently with FlexPath enrollment cannot be recognized in the Capella degree program.
No. Your financial aid package doesn’t include Sophia courses. Contact a Capella financial aid advisor if you have any questions.
If you’re pursuing your degree in the GuidedPath learning format, you can take no-cost courses throughout your program. If you want to enroll in a Capella bachelor’s program in the FlexPath learning format, any Sophia courses you wish to apply toward your program must be completed and graded before you begin at Capella. Connect with our enrollment team for guidance.
The FlexPath learning format, available in select programs, offers flexibility – and support – to help you fit earning a degree into your busy life. Set your own deadlines. Use what you already know to progress at your own pace. And take advantage of one tuition fee every 12-week billing session to help lower costs. Books, supplies and other fees apply.
The GuidedPath learning format, available in all programs, offers structured learning with the flexibility of 24/7 access to the courseroom. Set deadlines help you stay focused and motivated. You’ll engage with peers for weekly discussion posts, and instructors provide regular check-ins and feedback on assessments. Tuition is billed on a pay-per-credit model for 10-week courses – plan out your degree to fit your schedule and budget.
Yes, taking general education and elective courses can be a great way to explore education while still making progress toward completing a degree program. Individual courses can also provide insight into your future fit with courses you can apply toward a Capella undergraduate degree while you learn.
Eligibility requirements for no-cost courses
- You must apply and have a Capella University username and password to access Sophia courses.
- GuidedPath: You must be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in the GuidedPath learning format.
- FlexPath: Students who will begin a program in the FlexPath learning format must complete any Sophia courses or other transfer work prior to starting their first Capella course. Talk to your enrollment specialist to learn more.*
- No-cost general education courses through Sophia only apply to bachelor’s degree programs. Sophia does not offer courses at the graduate level.
- Sophia offers more than 70 general education courses, and you can take up to two courses at a time. However, there is a limit to the amount of courses you can apply.
- Students can transfer up to 135 credits in select Capella bachelor’s degree programs. If you have reached your transfer credit limit, you will not be eligible to apply Sophia courses to your program.
- Sophia courses are eligible to be used in your program if they are equivalent to the Capella courses in your degree program or fulfill elective courses, and they are not identical to any courses you’ve already taken or transferred. If you are questioning whether a course will transfer or apply toward your program, speak with a coach before enrolling.
- Credits will be awarded toward your degree upon successful completion of the Sophia course. Courses are graded on a Pass/Fail basis (a passing score is 70% or better).
*All transfer and credit for prior learning must be completed prior to starting any program in the FlexPath learning format. Any professional certification or external courses taken concurrently with FlexPath enrollment cannot be recognized in the Capella degree program.
You could save $8,000 on select Capella bachelor’s degrees in the GuidedPath learning format by completing no-cost gen ed courses through our affiliate, Sophia Learning. *
*Savings assumes 5 courses completed at our affiliate, Sophia, and applied to an eligible Capella bachelor’s degree in GuidedPath at a rate of 4.5 lower division credits per course. Terms and additional conditions apply. Connect with us for details.
Benefits of Sophia courses
See what students and alumni say about Sophia Learning
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Courses that move you forward
Your enrollment specialist or academic coach can help identify which Sophia courses are applicable toward fulfilling your general education requirements. Eligible courses are automatically applied toward select Capella bachelor’s degree programs.
Explore some Sophia courses along with the Capella course equivalents below. Additional courses are available upon enrolling in an eligible bachelor’s program with Capella, contact us for details.
- Business courses
- More gen ed and elective courses
SOPHIA LEARNING COURSE NAME |
SOPHIA LEARNING COURSE DESCRIPTION |
CAPELLA EQUIVALENT |
Introduction to Business |
Sophia’s Introduction to Business course helps you understand the fundamentals of business. In this course, you will examine the environment of business, the art and science of marketing, what successful management of human resources looks like and the basics of business finance and business investment. You will also learn how these concepts apply to companies of all sizes whether big, small or even entrepreneurial. |
BUS1500 Business Elective 4.5 credits |
Project Management |
Sophia’s Project Management course takes you through the life cycle of managing a project, from designing the scope to completing the project and celebrating your success. Along the way, you will gain applied experience with project planning as well as managing project resources and risks. |
PM1000 Project Management Principles 4.5 credits |
Financial Accounting |
Sophia’s Financial Accounting course helps you master the fundamental principles and procedures of the modern practice of accounting. You will gain practical experience in bookkeeping and preparing financial reports within the context of operating a sole proprietorship. |
BUS2061 Accounting Fundamentals 4.5 credits |
Principles of Finance |
Sophia’s Principles of Finance course is designed to introduce students to the fundamental principles of finance. Specifically, you will learn about the operating environment of the firm, financial statements and financial ratios. You will also learn about the time value of money, the characteristics of market instruments, the process of capital budgeting and elements of working capital management. |
BUS2062 Finance Fundamentals 4.5 credits |
Managerial Accounting |
Sophia’s Managerial Accounting course is designed as an advanced companion to Sophia’s Financial Accounting course. Together these courses provide a thorough introduction to the two core tracks of business accounting practice. Managerial Accounting also functions as a standalone course by providing a targeted review of relevant financial accounting concepts. |
BUS1500 Business Elective 4.5 credits |
SOPHIA LEARNING COURSE NAME |
SOPHIA LEARNING COURSE DESCRIPTION |
CAPELLA EQUIVALENT |
Introduction to Chemistry |
Sophia’s Introduction to Chemistry course covers the basic principles of general chemistry for students not majoring in a STEM discipline. In this course, you will learn to describe chemical principles and apply them to your daily life. You’ll also learn to relate the macroscopic world (the world you see around you) to the microscopic world where chemistry takes place. Finally, you will explore different branches of chemistry and their applications, including atmospheric chemistry, biochemistry, environmental chemistry and organic chemistry. |
NSC1500 Natural Science 4.5 credits |
Anatomy & Physiology I |
Sophia’s Anatomy and Physiology I course will give students an introduction to the human body. The course begins with topics like structural organization, anatomical terminology and mechanisms that keep our systems regulated. Students will explore the primary levels of organization: chemical, cellular and tissue. They will also investigate how body systems are uniquely designed for support, protection, movement and stability. The course concludes with an in-depth look at the nervous system, which helps to regulate and control the human body through the integration of multiple systems. |
BIO1600 Biology Requirement 4.5 credits |
Human Biology |
Sophia’s Human Biology course helps you analyze fundamental biological principles from a human perspective. Human Biology topics include the molecular and cellular basis of life, genetics, organ systems and the impact of nutrition and exercise on human health. |
BIO1000 Human Biology 4.5 credits |
Environmental Science |
Sophia’s Environmental Science course will help you develop an understanding of the scientific principles and processes that shape our environment, as well as the impact of human activities. You will apply knowledge of a wide range of environmental issues and policies in context, exploring topics such as natural resources, endangered species, pollution and climate change. |
BIO1050 Environmental Biology and Society 4.5 credits |
Conflict Resolution |
Sophia’s Conflict Resolution course helps you gain mastery of the basic concepts of conflict resolution and how to apply these concepts in real-world situations and your own lives. In this course, you will explore key theories and skills associated with conflict resolution in a variety of contexts, including organizational, intercultural, family and interpersonal. |
COM1500 Communications Elective 4.5 credits |
Introduction to Ethics |
Sophia’s Introduction to Ethics course explores philosophical approaches to understanding morality and evaluating moral actions. In this course, you will learn about a variety of normative ethical theories and apply these theories to real-world ethical issues. With an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of major approaches to ethics, you will build the critical thinking skills necessary to justify ethical positions. |
PHI2000 Ethics 4.5 credits |
Introduction to Information Technology |
Sophia’s Introduction to Information Technology course provides you with an overview of information systems including hardware and software components, networking, database management and issues related to privacy, security and ethics. You will learn how computers represent, store and process information and how businesses and organizations use technology and information systems to make decisions. |
IT1500 Technology Elective 4.5 credits |
Introduction to Nutrition |
Sophia’s Introduction to Nutrition course introduces general concepts and practical applications of nutrition. The course reflects an integration of scientific principles and how food provides important nutrients that provide substance and energy for healthy living and disease management throughout the life span. Nutrients and nutritional processes are emphasized, including functions, food sources, digestion, absorption and metabolism. Food safety, availability and nutrition information including food labels, advertising and nationally established guidelines are addressed. |
GEN1500 General Elective 4.5 credits |
Visual Communications |
Sophia’s Visual Communications course provides an introduction to basic concepts of visual design, helping you apply these concepts in context. In this pathway, you will explore visual theories of communications and key elements and principles of design, with an emphasis on color, typography and layout. In this Pathway, you will learn how to analyze a visual design and will understand the role that visual designs play in today’s society. |
COM2050 Visual Design in Communications 4.5 credits |
Microeconomics |
Sophia’s Microeconomics course is designed to help students explore and interpret the behavior of individual consumers and firms in the marketplace. Through this exploration, students will learn how to evaluate decisions, both public and private, with an eye toward production, consumption and transfer of wealth. Students will also learn how to apply conceptual principles of microeconomics in practical ways to everyday life. |
SOC1500 Social Science General 4.5 credits |
Macroeconomics |
Sophia’s Macroeconomics course helps you explore and interpret the behavior of economies and countries at both national and international levels. Through this exploration, you will learn how to evaluate decisions on monetary and fiscal policy. You will also learn how to apply conceptual principles of macroeconomics in practical ways to everyday life. |
SOC1500 Social Science General 4.5 credits |
