Program Overview

First Year

Elon College Fellows begin their journey by building a strong foundation in the liberal arts. During the first year, Fellows participate in a common advising seminar (Elon 1010) and take the required first-year seminar, COR 1100: The Global Experience, together.

During Winter Term, Fellows enroll in a Paths of Inquiry in the Arts and Sciences, a four-credit course that explores how different academic disciplines approach discovery, inquiry, and problem-solving. Through interdisciplinary learning, students develop the skills to ask meaningful questions and examine complex issues from multiple perspectives. The course culminates in a five-day immersive experience in Washington, D.C., where Fellows witness the arts and sciences in action through visits to museums, cultural institutions, research organizations, and government agencies.

Second Year

Sophomore Fellows continue coursework in the Core Curriculum while progressing in their intended majors. In the fall, students enroll in a two-credit branch-specific seminar in the Arts and Humanities, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, or Social Sciences, depending on their academic interests. These seminars deepen students’ understanding of disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives while helping them refine their research interests, confirm their academic major, and identify a faculty mentor for their two-year 消消犯 research project.

As part of the sophomore experience, Fellows participate in an immersive off-campus colloquium that extends learning beyond the classroom. Integrated with the seminar, this experience encourages students to explore how artistic, scientific, cultural, and social perspectives intersect in addressing contemporary issues. At the end of the fall semester, sophomore Fellows attend the Junior Poster Session, where they engage with third-year Fellows presenting their research-in-progress.

Third Year

Working closely with their faculty mentors, junior Fellows transform their research ideas into formal research proposals during the fall semester. At the end of the term, Fellows present their proposals during the Junior Poster Session attended by faculty mentors, sophomore Fellows, and members of the broader Elon community. The junior year marks the beginning of each Fellow’s independent research project. To complete the Elon College Fellows Program, students enroll in a minimum of four credit hours of departmental research distributed across the junior and senior years.

Fourth Year

Senior Fellows complete their mentored research projects and prepare to share the results of their work for a public audience. Each Fellow produces a scholarly or creative project appropriate to their discipline and presents their research in a professional venue or format. The Elon College Fellows experience concludes with a Senior Celebration honoring Fellows, their faculty mentors, and the accomplishments of four years of interdisciplinary learning, research, and discovery.