As an Elon College Fellow, you will join a community with a longstanding tradition of excellence in the arts and sciences. The program begins with an introduction to the primary academic areas in the arts and sciences. You will explore the nature and processes of the disciplines – what it means to think like a historian or conduct research as an organic chemist. Learn more about the Elon College Fellows on the program website.

During the four-year program, you can expect to:

  • Take a team-taught seminar with embedded travel to Washington, D.C. This will deepen your understanding of the power of the liberal arts and sciences disciplines and their intersections while preparing you to make choices that impact your personal and professional journeys.
  • Enjoy a two-year mentorship with a professor in your chosen major as you design, complete and present a research project in your academic discipline.
  • Choose to live in the Elon College Fellows Living Learning Community located in the Academic Village, in the heart of campus.
  • Get to know other Fellows through shared excursions and will enjoy close relationships with faculty.

Arts and Humanities Fellows are dedicated to the disciplines of Art, Art History, Arts Administration, Dance Performance and Choreography, English, World Languages and Culture, Music, Music Education, Music Production and Recording Arts, Music Theatre, Philosophy, Religious Studies or Theatre Arts.

Social Sciences Fellows immerse themselves in Anthropology, History, Human Service Studies, International Studies, Policy Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Public Health Studies or Sociology.

Mathematical and Natural Sciences Fellows demonstrate an excellent aptitude for Applied Mathematics, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Computing Sciences, Environmental and Ecological Science, Environmental Studies, Exercise Science, Mathematics, Statistics or Physics.

Who should apply?

Students who plan to major in the arts and sciences and have a GPA of 3.8 or higher should apply. Sixty academically talented students pursuing majors in the arts and sciences are selected based on their high school academic performance, essay and a faculty interview. The application deadline is January 15.

Program Benefits

Scholarships

All 60 Elon College Fellows receive scholarships valued at $7,500 annually, which are renewable annually as long as the student remains a Fellow in good standing. This is in addition to any Presidential Scholarship awarded.

Elon College Fellows planning to attend medical school may also apply for the Baird Pre-med scholarships of $4,000. These scholarships are also renewable annually, provided students meet the criteria for the scholarship. A special essay is required for consideration for the Baird Scholarships.

Global Study Grant

All Elon College Fellows receive a one-time $1,000 grant for a university-approved study abroad or Study USA experience.

Project Support

All Elon College Fellows may apply for grants to support their research experience. Budget approval by the program director is required prior to beginning the project.

Special Housing Opportunities

Elon College Fellows are eligible for special on-campus housing in a living-learning community just for Elon College Fellows.

Program Requirements

First Year

First-year Elon College Fellows are in a common advising seminar (Elon 1010) and also take the required academic freshman seminar together (COR 1100: The Global Experience). Students also attend three evening colloquia in the fall of the first year that introduce Fellows to the arts and sciences. A required 4 credit Winter Term class titled Paths of Inquiry in the Arts and Sciences continues the introduction to the liberal arts as by examining different academic approaches to discovery.  Fellows learn to ask good questions and begin to understand how different disciplines work independently and collaboratively in addressing complex questions and problems. Part of this course is a five-day trip to Washington, D.C., to observe the arts and sciences in action

Second Year

Sophomore Fellows serve as student mentors for first-year Fellows and continue to take courses in general studies and in the intended major. In the fall, sophomore Fellows enroll in a 1 credit seminar in either the Arts and Humanities, the Mathematical and Natural Sciences or the Social Sciences depending upon the student’s intended academic major. These branch specific seminars consider connections among related disciplines and help second year Fellows to confirm the academic major and to identify a potential faculty mentor with whom to work on a two year research project.  Second year Fellows join Third year Fellows in an end of fall event and dinner at which Junior Fellows present their research proposals.

Third Year

Junior Fellows enroll in a two-credit fall seminar that prepares them for their research project. By the end of the fall seminar, Junior Fellows, working with their faculty mentors, will develop a formalized research proposal. Junior Fellows present their proposals at a poster session event attended by second year Fellows and their faculty mentors. Completion of the Fellows research project requires enrollment in a minimum of 4 credit hours of department research over the course of the junior and senior years.

Fourth Year

Senior Fellows continue and complete their research projects. Expected outcomes of  Elon College Fellows research is a high quality product appropriate to the discipline and a professional presentation of the research and its outcomes to an appropriate audience. The year ends with a Senior Celebration for Fellows and their Mentors and participation in the Leaders of the 21st Century event the evening prior to commencement.