Earth Scholars is an innovative, community-driven program bringing together students who are passionate about environmental sustainability, social equity, and public health—and who are ready to roll up their sleeves and tackle these challenges directly, through hands-on research and real community partnerships. You'll work directly with local nonprofits to put your ideas into practice while building a tight-knit community of peers and faculty mentors who share your commitment to meaningful change.

Earth Scholars at a Glance

Admissions Requirements

Current first-year AU student

Entrance Semester

Fall semester of sophomore year

Course Requirements

Special sections of SISU-249, SISU-306, and a community-based capstone

Application Deadline

Spring semester of first year

How to Apply

Online application

As an Earth Scholar, your classroom and your community are inseparable. You'll begin the fall semester of your sophhomore year with a one-of-a-kind retreat with your fellow scholars, then move into a specially designed survey course that grounds big ideas about food systems, environmental justice, and land sovereignty in real historical and political context, with field trips and community-based learning woven throughout.

In your spring semester, you'll dive into the methods behind community-based environmental research, working directly with a nonprofit partner on a live project.

In your senior year, you'll take on a capstone experience—collaborating with a community organization on a topic you're genuinely passionate about, with faculty guidance and peer support every step of the way.

The Earth Scholars curriculum is built around a simple idea: that the best way to understand complex environmental and social challenges is to engage with them directly. You'll take specially designated sections of SISU-249 and SISU-306 with your fellow Earth Scholars, combining your classroom knowledge with hands-on community partnerships. You won't just be studying the issues—you'll be working to address them alongside the organizations serving the communities that are most affected.

Earth Scholars is open to all incoming AU first-year students—you don't need to be an SIS major to apply. If you're passionate about environmental sustainability, social equity, or public health and are eager to take your academic work beyond the classroom, we encourage you to apply. Students from all majors and backgrounds are welcome; what matters most is a genuine commitment to community-based research and a desire to make a tangible difference in the world around you.

Online applications for Earth Scholars will open before the end of the fall semester. Completed applications will be due by early February. Be sure to have a copy of your official transcript that you can include in the application. All materials must be received by the deadline to be considered for the following academic year. After the close of the application cycle, applicants will be invited to a 15-minute interview with Earth Scholars faculty leadership.

Have questions about Earth Scholars? Drop us a note using the form below.