Thomas Jefferson Scholars FAQ
Who are the faculty Mentors?
Dr. Chad Jordan, Plant and Microbial Biology, and Dr. William Kimler, History, are the faculty Mentors for the program. They are award-winning advisors, noted for their care and attention to students, and both are Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professors.
What does it mean to be a mentor?
We believe a mentor’s role is to help students develop as scholars, as citizens, and as individuals with strong values and a sense of community. It is accomplished along many avenues. At a program level, the Mentors coordinate with the student organization, encouraging practices of shared governance and goal-setting and planning. You’ll be connecting with them every two weeks in the organization meetings, and across all four years of your studies. They travel with the students on the Fall Retreat and on the international trip. On a more personal level, continuous contact is a value, establishing a relationship with a professor who gets to know you, your troubles and successes, and your goals. Or to provide a place to vent about something. Or to figure out how to navigate a large, complex university. With long experience at NC State, your Mentors are valuable links to a network of faculty, opportunities, and advice. Their key is listening and learning about you, to assist you toward your goals.
Are the Mentors my academic advisors?
The Mentors will advise and help in many ways, especially in how to articulate two degree plans simultaneously. You also have an academic advisor in each of your majors.
Who will advise me in the summer for course selections for my first semester?
Your assigned advisor for your incoming major will advise you, but the faculty Mentors will also review your credits and course selection and provide advice on how to get started for your intended degrees.
What majors are available?
All majors in each college are available. See the current Catalog lists for CHASS and for CALS. Explore them with your faculty Mentors, other advisors, and the other Jefferson Scholars in those majors.
When do I start my second major/degree plan?
You’ll enter NC State in the program in which you were admitted. You have to have 12 credit hours at NC State before adding the second plan. Continuation in the Jefferson Scholars requires you to have the two degree plans by the end of your second year.
What is the “Self-Design” major in CHASS?
In this plan, a student designs a cluster of courses to address a topic or a combination of studies that is not found already in one of NC State’s majors. It requires consultation with the director of the major, and an application for the justification and design of the focus.
What’s the difference between a BA and a BS in some of the CHASS majors?
The BA requires a World Language competency to the 201 (third semester) level, and a range of humanities and social science courses. The BS track has the same basic language competency requirement as the CALS degree, and the same communication skills requirement. The BS includes a concentration in one scientific discipline – which would be your CALS major. The amount of overlap between the CALS and CHASS degrees can make this an efficient path, but it may not have enough humanities for your interests. Not all CHASS disciplines offer the BS track.
Can I change majors?
Yes. It’s a good idea to carefully consult with advisors about the impact on meeting degree requirements and your path to a timely graduation. Many programs share requirements, and often there is little impact on progress toward degree.
Can courses in one major count in the other?
Yes, there is much overlap of requirements, and the General Education courses count in each major. Each college and major has its own specialized requirements as well. You’ll find that many courses can be used in both degrees – it’s not as if you’ll be taking 120 credit hours in each degree plan!
What are the special Jefferson Scholars courses?
In your first semester, you will take ALS 495 (LEAD: Leadership, Exploration and Development), a discussion seminar taught by the faculty Mentors. The goal is to introduce you to interdisciplinary approaches to current problems of agriculture and society. It also begins to build the peer group and networks across the colleges.
In your second year, you will take a section of ANT 252 (Cultural Anthropology) just for your cohort. It meets a required general education category, introduces you to a valuable social science, and provides a continuing connection with your peer group.
Third year students take HI 481 (History of the Life Sciences), an Honors seminar taught by the CHASS Mentor, Dr. Kimler. It also meets a required general education category. Many students write a research project related to their dual majors.
In the fourth year, Scholars pursue a research or creative project, usually within one of their disciplines, or in guided study with a faculty sponsor.
How do I complete two degrees in 4 years?
The overlap of requirement means that the typical transcript of a successful Jefferson Scholar shows around 30 credit hours beyond the single degree. But our typical student also enters with around 20 hours of AP, IB, Early College, or other transfer credits. Most of our students finish in 4 years, and a few take one or two more semesters.
Can I do Study Abroad and still finish in 4 years?
Many Jefferson Scholars study abroad, in the wide range of programs at NC State. It takes some careful planning and perhaps some additional summer school, but it can be don with little to no impact on time to graduation. And it’s highly encouraged as an experience!
Is there scholarship support?
Students who enter the third year with both degree plans declared, a GPA above 3.0, and active participation in the student organization receive a small scholarship, and again in the fourth year.
There are also support funds for Study Abroad, and department scholarships for some majors. All of these are granted through competitive application.