College is full of new opportunities and learning experiences. Asking questions is critical! Compiled below are questions and answers submitted by current PEGS students.

General

  • PEGS occurs during the first 5 semesters of the student’s ʳɫÊÓƵ career. Each semester, students enroll in one three-credit course, each of which is treated by ʳɫÊÓƵ’s registration and tuition structures as a regular class. Please refer to the PEGS Experience page for details on the courses that are part of the program.
  • No, PEGS welcomes students from all majors. In fact, the diversity of interests among our students is a key ingredient of the program’s success.
  • In order to remain in good standing with the PEGS program, students must maintain a minimum 3.5 ʳɫÊÓƵ adjusted GPA, complete the ten-hour service requirement (per semester), and fulfill PEGS program requirements for academic achievement and leadership development.

    • PEGS students with a GPA between 3.25 and 3.5 will be on PEGS probation, but in good standing with the University Honors Program.
    • PEGS students with a GPA between 3.0 and 3.25 will be on probation with PEGS and the University Honors Program.
    • PEGS students with a GPA below 3.0 GPA OR those who do not remain in good standing with the Honors program will be unable to attend trips abroad and will forfeit any trip deposit already paid.
  • There are about 25 students accepted into each cohort every fall.
  • All of the courses in the PEGS program of study are treated just like any other course at ʳɫÊÓƵ. There is no special tuition or associated fees. However, students do contribute towards the cost of their travel experiences; this fosters ownership in the experience. Currently, students should expect the total additional costs of travel to both Costa Rica and Italy to be no more than $1,500. (See below for more information.)

    Tuition and Fees Cost of Attendance
  • Yes, the leadership team provides students with a wide range of opportunities including volunteer projects, social events, study groups, and presentations by community leaders.
  • Not on a weekly basis. There are occasionally events over the summer, especially for incoming first-year PEGS students.

Travel Experiences

  • Yes. During the trip, students have the opportunity to translate their learning into action and develop relationships within the cohort.
  • PEGS students engage in an international trip during the spring semester of their sophomore year.
  • To minimize the cost of international travel, PEGS students typically receive funding from both the ʳɫÊÓƵ's Foundation and the Global Learning Scholarship program. These sources of funding are grants and scholarships and come with no obligations for repayment. After these sources of funding, PEGS students contribute approximately 1/4 of the total cost to travel.
  • During the trip, students will be given opportunities to participate in a number of activities including hands-on service, meeting with political leaders and professors from other countries, collaborating with international students, and visiting some of the key organizations and firms in that particular country. Students will be able to see how the lessons and themes from the classroom are applied in another country.

Courses

  • As members of PEGS and the Honors College, our students receive priority registration to ensure program requirements fit into their schedules.
  • In this three-credit hour course, students will learn about the three pillars of the President's Emerging Global Scholars program: Leadership, Global Competency, and Service.
  • Preparing students to create a competitive and compelling scholarships, graduate school, or internship applications is the focus of this exciting course offered exclusively to PEGS students. Participants benefit from one-on-one guidance in their pursuit of exceptional academic opportunities from their first semester on campus until their last. 

    PEGS students have received a variety of national and international scholarships, including:
    • Fulbright United Kingdom Summer Institute
    • Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program
    • Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program
    • Rotary Scholarship to the University of Oslo, Norway.
    • Prestigious internships at institutions such as the Carter Center, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Pentagon.

Application

  • First-year, full-time students accepted into the Honors College can apply to PEGS. Generally, the students admitted to PEGS will have exceptional academic records, typically indicated by a very high-class rank or a high school academic GPA exceeding 3.7, as well as a record of extracurricular engagement, evidenced by activities such as but not limited to, student leadership positions, community service, or after-school employment. PEGS students must have a high school diploma.
  • The application deadline for Fall 2025 cohort admission is February 1, 2025.
  • Yes, ʳɫÊÓƵ Journey Honors College acceptance letters are sent within 6-8 weeks of application submission. In your letter, you will receive more information about the PEGS decision timeline.
  • Yes, PEGS students are also part of the ʳɫÊÓƵ Journey Honors College.