I got an invitation letter, and followed the link on the homepage and registered for SCS. What do I do next?
On the SCS registration site, it asks for my "area of academic interest." What does this mean?
What's the difference between the Society of College Scholars (SCS) and the Clark Honors College (CHC)
What are "Departmental Honors" or "Honors"?
What are Practica, Internships, and Professional Distinctions?
What are the requirements for completing the SCS program?
How do I get a Scholarship or a Fellowship and what's the difference?
FAQ Answers:
I got an invitation letter, and followed the link on the homepage and registered for SCS. What do I do next?
Consider Honors Housing - sections of the residence halls reserved exclusively for honors students. Fill out the appropriate information on your housing contract or contact the Housing Office directly at (541) 346-4277. Requests for Honors Housing will only be accepted through the third week of July, so follow through now to preserve this option.
Register for classes during IntroDUCKtion in July or Week of Welcome in September. We encourage you to register as soon as you are eligible to do so. The selection of first term courses can be daunting. But here are some options to consider.
The College Scholars Program offers one-credit colloquia, courses that meet one hour per week. You’ll probably want to enroll in the colloquium section most closely related to your area of study: Humanities, Social Sciences and Natural Sciences but please do feel free to explore the other colloquia if your first choice does not work out.
We also offer two regular 4 credit Gen Ed courses each term that are reserved for Scholars and which satisfy UO's general education requirements. You must enroll in one of these courses your first term at UO, or get an exemption from the SCS Director.
You will receive information and recommendations also about
Freshmen Interest Groups (aka “FIGs”) and Freshmen
Seminars in your
UO registration material. FIG's are only offered in the Fall Term, and are open
to all students. The Scholars program offers a similar experience over the
whole year and it is not necessary for Scholar students to enroll in a FIG.
Freshmen Seminars are offered to all freshmen during their first year and are
listed at First Year
Programs.
On the SCS registration site, it asks for my "area of academic interest." What does this mean?
Your aren't committing to anything. It does make sense to start off with a Freshman Colloquia in the area that interests you most. Arts and Sciences majors are divided up as follows, and we have a seperate Colloquia in each area.
What's the difference between the Society of College Scholars (SCS) and the Clark Honors College (CHC)?
- Similarities:
- Both programs are aimed at having you graduate from UO with Honors.
- In both programs, Honors requires a senior / honors thesis, and the thesis is typically done within a department. So for example one would graduate with honors in Economics or History.
- In both programs course enrollments are limited to about 25-30 students.
- Differences: primarily in the manner in which the general education courses are offered, especially during the first year.
- The CHC has a required sequence of six courses, two per term, on World History and on World Literature. Every student must complete this sequence. Thereafter, there are additional courses in science and other fields from which the student may choose.
- The Scholars Program is more flexible in the first year.
There are twelve SCS courses from which you must choose at least two per year
(see Future
Courses).
- Courses: SCS seminars and courses are taught by regular UO faculty
with primary teaching and research responsibilities in their academic
"departments". The CHC offers a "residential" experience and relies on
faculty who teach primarily within the CHC.
- Admission
- AP courses: UO gives you credit for AP courses, according to the rules here.
- We encourage first year students who are in both programs to enroll in the SCS one credit / term Colloquium, and also to take one or two of the the Gen Ed courses sponsored by the SCS Program.
What are "Departmental Honors" or "Honors"?
Typically, students do the work necessary to achieve honors at graduation during their senior year by working on a research project with a faculty member - usually a professor whom they have taken at least one course with. Requirements vary by department, but typically result in an original research paper. Departmental Honors is a significant achievement. In addition to creating a paper or project that demonstrates your skills, Honors means that you will have a working relationship with a professor who can serve as a reference for you. Honors can be important for graduate and professional school admissions.
What are Practica, Internships, and Professional Distinctions?
In the junior year, College Scholars are encouraged to enter an internship program. The Society provides assistance in identifying what internships are available and in many cases may also provide a stipend and college credits for the experience. There are a wide variety of options: some Scholars may prefer to work in a science lab, others to undertake a field project abroad or with a business, government agency, or non-profit. We have $300 fellowships available for work with faculty, or for unpaid internships.
Professional Distinctions is a UO program aimed at students who want to complete an internship as part of their career preparation. See the links under Junior and Senior opportunities, to the left..
What are the requirements for completing the SCS program?
During their four years in the program, students must complete at least two of our Colloquia and two of the Circles courses, and four of the special SCS Gen Ed courses, one in their first term at UO. To obtain a letter of recognition from the Dean, they must also complete either Departmental Honors or the UO Professional Distinctions program.
How do I get a Scholarship or a Fellowship and what's the difference?
Scholarships are typically for entering students. We use them to convince top students to come to UO. The scholarships are typically $3000, distributed over a two year period, and come in addition to any other scholarship or financial assistance. See here for details on how to apply.
Fellowships are $300 grants to juniors who pursue unpaid internships or research practica with UO faculty. The pdf application form is here and is due by the last day of the 5th week of the quarter for which you are enrolled for internship/practica credits.
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