FAQs

The Union College Scholars Program is a rigorous academic program offered to a select group of outstanding incoming students. The Program also offers a range of social and intellectual activities and events throughout the year.

Union Scholars enroll in a special First Year Inquiry Seminar and a Scholars Research Seminar during their first year on campus. During sophomore year, they complete a one- or two-term independent study with a professor of their choice.

Students who complete the program successfully will receive a “Union Scholar” designation on their transcripts.

More details can be found on the Scholars Program Requirements page.

Union College offers an honors program for students already enrolled at the college. The Seward Interdisciplinary Fellows program lets students develop their own program of study exploring connections among disciplines.

Students apply for the program during fall of their sophomore year. They may be from any discipline, but must have demonstrated excellence in their first year at Union College. Current Union Scholars may apply as well. Seward Fellows build an interdisciplinary “Seward Organizing Theme” minor that includes a faculty-supervised independent project. The program includes the privilege of taking extra courses.

More details can be found on the Seward Fellows Program page.

Incoming Union Students are invited to join the Scholars Program upon admission to the institution. All other students will have the opportunity to apply for the Seward Fellows Program.

Information regarding the program requirements is summarized under Scholars Program Requirements.

Scholars need 38 course credits to graduate (rather than the 36 courses that most majors at Union require) and use their additional courses to create an enriched program that meets their specific needs and interests. Most Scholars take extra courses in their first and sophomore years. Fall term first-year students may not take an extra course. In addition, Union Scholars have the privilege of taking one extra course each term at no extra cost, as long as they are in good standing as a Scholar and are meeting or exceeding the minimum Scholars GPA. Scholars may not hold over the free fourth course to another term.

Scholars are allowed to graduate up to 3 terms early if they meet all the requirements for the Scholars program as well as the regular graduation requirements. Scholars interested in pursuing this option must get permission from the Dean of Studies at least one year in advance.

Students are invited into the Scholars Program upon admission into Union College. However, outstanding students already at Union who would like some of the same privileges as the Scholars Program should consider applying for the Seward Fellows Program in their sophomore year.

All Union Scholars are expected to complete a one- or two-term, one-course-credit Sophomore Project during their second year. This project may be on the topic of your choice, either related to your future major or something completely different. Early spring term you should begin the process of choosing a topic and supervisor. If you have an idea about what you want to do, try contacting the Union professor you feel would best supervise your project. If you have no idea, you may talk with your advisor, with the Scholars Program Director, or with other Scholars. The aim is to come up with a project you really want to do. There will also be a meeting held spring term that will give first-year students a chance to become better acquainted with their Sophomore Project options. The work load expected from a sophomore project is roughly equivalent to that of one course. The project does not have to end in a written paper; it may involve a performance, film, presentation, or other product(s), provided you have chosen an appropriate supervisor who supports the project. The Sophomore Project is usually carried as an extra course over two terms, either fall-winter or winter-spring (or even fall-spring if need be). All sophomore Scholars are strongly encouraged to present their projects at a Steinmetz symposium either sophomore or junior years. The Steinmetz symposium is an annual event at Union every spring where students formally present their projects and theses to their peers. For more go to the Sophomore Project FAQ.

Students doing Sophomore Projects register for classes numbered either 295H and 296H (for two-term projects) or 297H (for one-term projects) in the department of the professor with whom they are working. For instance, a Scholar working with a History professor should sign up for HST-295H one term and HST-296H the next. 295H is a zero-credit, pass/fail course. 296H is a one-credit, graded course. Or, this Scholar could sign up for HST-297H to complete the project in one term.

To register for the Scholars Project, students will need to submit this form to the registrar. Please select Scholars Honors Project on the form.

As with all Union College students, the Union Scholars are encouraged to take a term abroad. Many times this is most conveniently done during the junior year. All students must go through the same application process. However, many Union Scholars would be ideal students for a range of term abroad programs, so they are encouraged to apply to the terms abroad programs of greatest interest to them. Union Scholars have to follow the policies of the International Programs Office. They may not take courses pass/fail, and they may not take an extra course on their term abroad unless it is explicitly stated they may as a part of that term abroad’s guidelines. Union Scholars also have to abide by the general college policy that students who have already gone on a term abroad are given lowest priority when applying for a second term abroad. This policy is in place to ensure that as many students as possible are able to take a term abroad.

As with other Union students, Union Scholars may take courses over the summer, and they have to pay for these on a per-course basis. Summer courses may not be used as fourth course.

Your first stop if you have any questions, concerns, or problems related to the Scholars Program should be with the program director. You may reach the director at scholarsdirector@union.edu. You may also find that your assigned advisor can help. Your department advisor would likely be the most helpful with questions related to your major.