Program Requirements

GCSP Scholar Requirements

You may be able to complete GCSP requirements as quickly as 1 year, but many students may choose a 2- to 4-year path and receive the same benefits. We encourage students to apply early and complete as many activities as early as possible.

In order to graduate as with NAE honors and a distinction at graduation, scholars need to do the following:

Focus on one of the 4 grand challenges themes
Gain competencies in the five categories outlined below through learning and practice, and participating in coursework, co-curricular, and extra-curricular pursuits. (NAE competency titles are in parentheses.)
Present your GCSP experience before you graduate at the GCSP Showcase.
Create and complete a portfolio early in the semester (by week 8) that you graduate that documents your Scholar’s journey and reflects upon your experience.

Planning your Experiences

Scholars need to meet the requirements for the “Savvy” Level for the Interdisciplinary and one other competency. The rest of the competencies’ requirements need to be met at the “Experience” Level. 1, 2 Scholars also have the option to complete all 5 competencies through the Engineers Without Borders GCSP partnership, or to transfer over competencies from Red Rocks College per the agreement between that school and Colorado School of Mines.

Interdisciplinary (Multidisciplinary) Competency

The purpose of this competency is to provide you with the skills to address the interdisciplinary nature of the Grand Challenges, which requires the ability to synthesize knowledge beyond technical expertise. Upon completing this requirement, you will also be able to describe the challenges and opportunities that inherently socio-technical problems like the Grand Challenges present, and how to best approach such problems.

To meet this requirement, the Scholar must complete 6 credit hours or the equivalent – The “Savvy” level. Choose from the following or feel free to propose your own experience(s) that meet the goals of this competency.

6 Credit-hour Options (Savvy Level):

IDEAS (Thorson First-Year Honors)
Leadership by Design (Grandey First-Year Honors)
Completing McBride, HE, or other interdisciplinary minors will automatically meet this criteria.
Propose your own option 3 Credit-hour Options (Experience Level)
EDNS 301: Human-Centered Problem Definition
EDNS 315: Engineering for Social and Environmental Responsibility
EDNS 430: Corporate Social Responsibility
EDNS 477: Engineering and Sustainable Community Development
EDNS 478: Engineering and Social Justice
HASS 432: Robot Ethics
HASS 466: Science, Technology, and Confucian Ethics
HASS 484 US Water Politics & Policy
HASS 490: Energy and Society
Leadership by Design (Grandey First-Year Honors)
Actively participate in a professional conference relevant to the Grand Challenges themes (present, participate in a challenge, etc.)
Propose your own option

3 Credit-hour Options (Experience Level):

EDNS 301: Human-Centered Problem Definition
EDNS 315: Engineering for Social and Environmental Responsibility
EDNS 430: Corporate Social Responsibility
EDNS 477: Engineering and Sustainable Community Development
EDNS 478: Engineering and Social Justice
HASS 432: Robot Ethics
HASS 466: Science, Technology, and Confucian Ethics
HASS 484 US Water Politics & Policy
HASS 490: Energy and Society
Leadership by Design (Grandey First-Year Honors)
Actively participate in a professional conference relevant to the Grand Challenges themes (present, participate in a challenge, etc.)
Propose your own option

Entrepreneurship & Innovation (Viable Business/Entrepreneurship) Competency

Creating value through entrepreneurship and innovation embodies many of the skills required to address Grand Challenges: ingenuity, teamwork,communication, reading context, and responding creatively to needs.

For this competency, experiences need to be sought where these skills will be developed. To meet this requirement, the Scholar can choose to complete 6 credit hours, or its equivalent to meet the Savvy level or complete 3 credit hours or the equivalent to meet the Experience level. Choose from the following or feel free to propose your own experience(s) that meet the goals of this competency.

6 Credit-hour Options (Savvy Level) – Choose 1 from the following:

Start-up/Pitch Competition that occurs over a semester (must include a prototype or mock-up, and preferably a pitch/business plan)
Propose your own option
Choose 2 “Experience Level” options to complete

3 Credit-hour Options (Experience Level) – Choose 1 from the following:

EBGN 360: Introduction to Entrepreneurship Successful completion of an InnovateX Course
EDNS 151: Design I– Entrepreneurship-Focused option -not offered every year
EDNS 251: Design II – Entrepreneurship-Focused option -not offered every year
Leadership by Design (Grandey First-Year Honors)
Start-up/Pitch Competition Sprint
Business Plan or Pitch Competition, must pitch solution to Grand Challenge
Hackathon participation
Active participation and substantial contributions to the Entrepreneurship Club, Maker Club, or a related student group
Student Innovation Competition at a Global Grand Challenges Summit
Professional Conference or Training relevant to Entrepreneurship
Propose your own option

Multicultural (Multicultural) Competency

The Grand Challenges are problems that impact all cultures, geographical areas and populations across the world. Working across cultures and geographies requires a special understanding and awareness that is rarely fostered in conventional engineering curricula. Thus, GC scholars must find experiences that will help foster skills necessary to pose culturally appropriate solutions.

To meet this requirement, the Scholar can choose to complete 6 credit hours, or its equivalent to meet the Savvy level or complete 3 credit hours or the equivalent to meet the Experience level. Choose from the following or feel free to propose your own experience(s) that meet the goals of this competency.

6 Credit-hour Options (Savvy Level) Choose 1 from the following:

Study abroad or international internship experience lasting for a summer or a semester
Significant Involvement in Mines Without Borders or another global service group with international involvement for minimum of one academic year and at least one in-depth service trip/project
Propose your own option
Choose 2 “Experience Level” options to complete

3 Credit-hour Options (Experience Level) Choose 1 from the following:

EDNS 375: Engineering Cultures
EDNS 477: Engineering and Sustainable Community Development
EDNS 479: Engineers Engaging Communities (cannot also be used to meet the Service Learning requirement)
HASS 425: Intercultural Communication
Study abroad or international internship experience occurring during a fall/spring/winter break or as part of a class
Active Involvement in Mines Without Borders or another group with international involvement for minimum of one academic year

Service, Leadership, and Social Consciousness (Social Consciousness) Competency

Each of the Grand Challenges aims to address a major societal or global problem, and understanding that engineering solutions should primarily serve people and society reflecting social consciousness. Service-learning, leadership and community engagement combined with or integrated into your engineering education will prepare you to address problems that impact people and their communities in your future career. Such engagement requires sustaining relationships over time.

6 Credit-hour Options (Savvy Level) Choose 1 from the following:

Year-long commitment to GCSP as an active student director
Leadership position in Mines Without Borders, Circle K, Active Minds @Mines, Rotaract, or another service-related organization for minimum of one academic year
Working in Residence Life, as an RA or Peer Mentor for a minimum of one academic year.
Working as a University Innovation Fellow, for a minimum of one academic year.
Propose your own option
Choose 2 “Experience Level” options to complete

3 Credit-hour Options (Experience Level) Choose 1 from the following:

HASS 374 / HNRS 476: Community Engagement Through Service Learning
EDNS 479: Engineers Engaging Communities · Working in an on-campus service role for one year.
Substantial involvement with Circle K, Active Minds @ Mines, Rotaract, or a related student group
STEM Tutoring or other forms of sustained STEM outreach for one semester.
Active involvement with Mines Without Borders, Circle K, Active Minds @ Mines, or another service- related organization for one academic year
Volunteer or Service experience (40 hrs.) relevant to your GCE theme area
Service-Study Alternative Spring/Winter Break
Propose your own option

Research or Project-Based Experience (Talent) Competency

Project-based learning and undergraduate research experiences provide opportunities for students to unify the skills and knowledge they have acquired from their diverse courses and extracurricular experiences, and to apply them to a problem that matters. Addressing the Grand Challenges will require such an ability.

6 Credit-hour Options (Savvy Level) Choose 1 from the following:

Independent research under the supervision of a faculty mentor related to a GCE theme area for a minimum of 1 year
EDNS 491 & 492: Senior Design on a GCE-related project; other Senior Design courses could qualify as well, if they are GCE-focused (3 credits each semester)
Relevant internship experience (1 summer = 6 credits)
Propose your own option
Choose 2 “Experience Level” options to complete

3 Credit-hour Options (Experience Level) Choose 1 from the following:

EDNS 151: Introduction to Design (Grand Challenges section or Grand Challenges-related project)
EDNS 251 (EPICS II)– Grand Challenges related project
EDNS 401: Projects for People (may be repeated once for a total of 6 credit hours)
CEEN 477: Sustainable Engineering Design
Propose your own option

Footnotes from Experience Planning

Previous experiences or coursework completed before starting the program may count toward GCSP components if they were completed while the student was enrolled at Colorado School of Mines or Red Rocks Community College. Pre-college activities will not be counted. Approval is case-by-case and is up to the Director’s discretion.
GC Scholars cannot choose the same activities to satisfy multiple components (e.g., you may not use the same course to satisfy Component 2 and Component 4), with the following exception in #3:
Grandey First-Year Experience students can choose whether to use that experience as 6 credit-hours for the Interdisciplinary Competency, or as 3 credit-hours for the Interdisciplinary Competency and 3 credit-hours for the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competency.

Program Requirements & Important Notes

Scholars who are focused, motivated, and plan ahead should be able to complete all requirements for their degree program and the GCSP without extending their time to graduation. The benefits of the program recognize outstanding work the Scholars conduct, as well as support your effort along the way (like access to apply for Honors Enrichment funds, and community events for comraderie).

The program elements are outlined below in order:

Students may apply during the application periods offered each semester. See eligibility requirements above.
Students are notified of acceptance generally within 1 month of application deadline.
Accepted Scholars begin the program right away. You will meet the other Scholars and begin to receive guidance on building a plan to complete the program components. You should begin starting GCSP activities right away the spring you join the program.
Previous experiences or coursework completed before starting the program may count toward GCSP components if they were completed while the student was enrolled at Colorado School of Mines or Red Rocks College. Pre-college activities will not be counted. Approval is case-by-case and is up to the discretion of the GCSP Director.
Students must be in the program for a minimum of 2 semesters, and must complete the program in full before graduating.
Students are required to submit documentation for the completion of each competency.
Scholars must attend Grand Challenge Scholars Meetings (2 out of 3 meetings must be attended per semester. Only one absence excused or unexcused per semester is allowed.)
Each scholar must attend one individual portfolio check and meeting per year with the Program Director.
As you complete each activity, submit your artifacts and summary through Teams. Creative submissions are encouraged.
All Scholars will be in the program at least 2 semesters (this is the reason only students with 1 year remaining may apply), but many more will spend 2+ years in the program. You will need to fulfill all components before graduating to receive all benefits, and you can also finish the GCSP a year or two before graduating if you plan carefully. Regardless, at the end of your final term in the GCSP:
- Scholars will present a poster and/or other artifacts highlighting their activities and synthesizing their experience for all of the components during a Grand Challenges Showcase at the final meeting of the term.
- Scholars must submit a finished portfolio by Week 8 of their final term in the program. The GCSP Director will review your portfolio to determine if you have mastered the components and completed the activities in full. You may receive feedback that requires edits to a portfolio submission, so turning in your portfolio by the deadline is imperative. Your final portfolio is due by Week 12 of your final term.
When the portfolio and presentation are deemed complete, the Scholar will receive distinction at graduation, an honor cord, certificate from the NAE, and scholar gift.

*NOTE: The program displayed above is the most recent GCSP curriculum for scholars beginning their program in Fall 2021 or later. Other scholars may choose to follow this program or the original CSM GCSP program.