College Scholar Program

The College Scholar Program is meant to serve students whose interests and talents would benefit from a little more academic freedom than other students have, who demonstrate exceptional promise, and who show the maturity to plan and carry out, with the help of their advisor, a well-designed individualized program of study. Some College Scholars pursue diverse courses in a variety of disciplines that relate to a core research interest; others pursue great depth within a single discipline on a particular aspect of the field.

College Scholars must complete 120 credits of course work (100 in the college), 34 courses, the College’s First-Year Writing Seminar requirement, the university’s physical education requirement, and, unless they receive permission from the program to accelerate, eight full terms of undergraduate study: they are not required to fulfill the other usual college requirements for the degree. All College Scholars must complete a year-long senior honors thesis or a semester-long senior project.

Applications to the College Scholar Program are due early in the first semester of the sophomore year. Application materials and deadlines are available on the program’s website.