GFX Scholars
Apply by Wednesday, May 15th at 11:59pm CT!
Form community with fellow first-year engineering students while exploring your interests and passions as a GFX Scholar
The GFX Scholars program offers a unique way to build community with fellow students by exploring various interdisciplinary interests under the guidance of a dedicated and experienced instructor. All GFX Scholars courses include locally or globally engaged projects that help you develop and improve your skills.
We are offering 10 GFX Scholars programs in fall 2025. Some of these programs involve international travel, some classes meet in fall only, and still others meet in both fall and spring so that you can apply the concepts you learn in the fall. All GFX Scholars courses are designed to be small, encourage you to build community among engineering peers with similar interests, and learn invaluable communication, teamwork, and project management skills. Review the descriptions below to find the GFX Scholars program that best aligns with your interests!
Global Sustainability (fall and spring)
Learn firsthand about global and local sustainability needs in this two-semester program that includes a short-term faculty-led study abroad program in Trinidad & Tobago in January 2025. Students must pay additional fees for travel. Many scholarship opportunities are available.
Global Disaster Resilience (fall and spring)
How do you engineer island communities to be resilient in the face of climate change? Join this two-semester program to learn more and participate in a hands-on project led by an experienced engineering faculty member in Puerto Rico in January 2025. Students must pay additional fees for travel. Many scholarship opportunities are available.
Global Community Service (fall only)
A key component of being an engineer is understanding how to tailor your skills to a community’s needs. Join this fall-only program to learn more about indigenous knowledge, practices, and community service in the Andes. This course will include a short-term faculty-led study abroad program in Bolivia in January 2025. Students must pay additional fees for travel. Many scholarship opportunities are available.
Honors Community Engagement & Development (fall only)
Understand grassroots rural community development across the US and globe. Work with fellow students on community-identified projects in rural communities in West Virginia, Ecuador, and Jamaica. Then conclude class with a short-term faculty-led study abroad program in Jamaica in January 2025. Enrollment restricted to incoming James Scholars students only. Students must pay additional fees for travel. Many scholarship opportunities are available.
Career Development (fall and spring)
Learn firsthand from Engineering Career Services on what it takes explore career options and prepare for your future in the fall. Then practice your new skills in the spring as you work on a project for international start-ups.
Innovation (fall and spring)
As an Innovation Scholar, you develop an entrepreneurial and leadership mindset, discover what motivates you to be an engineer, and learn how you can make an impact by becoming an innovator.
Research (fall and spring)
As a Research Scholar, you will actively explore research interests, learn the skills necessary to identify research opportunities, and visit various research labs on and off-campus.
Technology & Civic Engagement (fall and spring)
Learn from experts on the importance of technology in civic engagement. Explore how valuable engineering skills can be used to improve communities in many ways, from voting to transportation. This course will include at least one trip to a conference in Chicago.
Leadership (fall with optional spring)
Successful engineers possess not only technical skills, but also key skills in communication, project management, and understanding of service to community. Join this course, supported and taught by faculty in the Women in Engineering program, to learn more about how to be a dynamic leader.
Projects – Toy Design (fall only)
As a GFX Projects Scholar, you will use engineering design principles to collaborate with your peers and younger STEM students to develop innovative toys and games.