curriculum

lower division: foundational work

The first two years of the College Scholars Program experience are grounded in foundational work that supports students’ transition to university thinking, engagement in critical dialogue, exposure to ideological breadth, development of core skills, and exploration of intellectual topics that help them confirm their choice of an academic major. Throughout their first year, College Scholars are introduced to core program elements and expectations through mentor group discussions and activities. They also complete (in winter or spring quarter) a requisite one-quarter Collegium seminar (HC50) during which they establish the e-Portfolio they will use to chronicle their undergraduate careers.

First-year students also participate in a General Education Cluster. These yearlong, collaboratively taught, interdisciplinary, award-winning courses focus on topics of timely importance such as “the global environment,” “evolution of the cosmos and life,”  “the history of modern thought,” “work, labor, and social justice,” “frontiers of human aging,” “interracial dynamics in America,” “biotechnology and society,” and “food as a lens for environment and sustainability.” Cluster participation enables students to learn from, as well as network with, faculty who are pioneers in their approaches to learning and research. Each Cluster is comprised of roughly 200 freshmen, four faculty, and five graduate students along with a librarian, a writing specialist, and residential life support. Upon completing their Cluster, students have fulfilled 18 units toward their degrees, satisfied four General Education requirements, earned Writing II credit, and acquired critical skills in research, writing, and information literacy.

upper division: integrative/application work

Students’ transition to upper division Honors coursework and programmatic engagements will be supported by participation in leadership development activities. Additional Honors community involvement coupled with academic coursework, experiential learning engagements, team building activities, study abroad options, and other enrichment opportunities help prepare students for completing their culminating (capstone) projects in an area of their choosing.

requirements

College Scholars Program requirements are designed such that they can be readily integrated within a student’s individualized academic plan. Beyond fulfilling first-year program requirements: (a) a General Education Cluster course of their choosing, (b) the Collegium (HC50) portfolio creation course, and (c) twice quarterly mentor group meetings facilitated by Honors team members, over the course of their undergraduate careers, College Scholars are expected to complete the following additional requirements:

With appropriate planning, students pursuing any major in the College of Letters and Science can complete the program within four years and earn the “College Honors” distinction on their transcript and diploma.

Meeting regularly with an Honors academic counselor—required of first-year students and strongly encouraged thereafter—increases dramatically the ease with which students are able to configure personalized academic plans that enable them to excel, both within the program and beyond, as they complete their degree requirements and prepare for life after college.

Each summer, students’ records are reviewed holistically to determine their eligibility to continue in the program.