Program Requirements

Program Structure

The Grand Challenges Scholars Program (GCSP) consists of five competencies to provide the expertise and skills necessary to address a Grand Challenge. Each Texas A&M Grand Challenges Scholar will develop a customized plan for developing each of the five GCSP components and ensure they help the student approach their chosen Grand Challenge. They will also provide connectivity across these five components and a Grand Challenge problem or problem area.

GCSP Competencies

Below are the five competencies of the program as directed by the National Academy of Engineering and is standard across all GCSP programs across the nation.

• Talent - Mentored research or project experience related to a Grand Challenge to enhance technical competence

• Multidisciplinary - Understanding gained through experience of the multidisciplinary character of implementable and viable Grand Challenge solutions

• Viable Business/Entrepreneurship - Understanding gained through experience that viable business models are necessary for the successful implementation of Grand Challenge solutions

• Multicultural - Understanding gained through experience that serious consideration of cultural issues is mandatory for all viable Grand Challenge solutions

• Social Consciousness - Deepened social consciousness and motivation to address societal problems, often gained through service learning, as serving people is the vision of the Grand Challenges

Fulfilling the Competencies

GCSP scholars fulfill all five competencies throughout their college careers. Descriptions and reflections of their experiences will be compiled in their GCSP portfolio, which is a valuable portion of the program. Examples of how to meet the requirements for each of the competencies are provided below.

Talent - Two semesters of mentored research or creative project experience geared towards solving your grand challenge area of choice: health, sustainability, security or joy of living.

• 491 Research
• AggiE Challenge
• Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URS)
• Undergraduate Summer Research Grant Program (USRG)
• National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
• Design project or competition

Multidisciplinary - Complete ENGR 499 - Grand Challenges Scholars Program (one credit hour) the first spring semester in the program and one additional interdisciplinary course or experience relating to a grand challenge area, such as the following:

• Minor or certificate outside of engineering related to your grand challenge area
• Texas A&M University’s Public Policy Internship Program
• Internship with local, state or federal government representative

Viable Business/Entrepreneurship - Complete an entrepreneurship course or participate in a significant entrepreneurial experience.

• Engineering Entrepreneurship courses
• Concept, Creation and Commercialization Certificate
• NSF Innovation-Corps (I-Corps) Program
• Engineering Inc. (student incubator)
• Participation in multiple entrepreneurship competitions such as:
  • Problems Worth Solving Competition
  • Aggies Invent
  • Ideas Challenge
  • TAMUhack

Multicultural - Complete two multicultural/global courses or experiences.

• Study, internship or research abroad
• International Engineering Certificate
• Active membership in a global engineering organization like Engineers Without Borders
• Research related to global health issues
• Minor with an international focus (for example, a foreign language minor)
• Leadership in an international project
• Membership in one of the top-five teams in the final round of Invent for the Planet

Social Consciousness - Gain significant participation and leadership in community service projects or outreach events

• Alternative Spring Break
• Significant leadership role in The Big Event
• 30 hours of community service that incorporates engineering or interfacing with a community targeted by your grand challenge area
• 30 hours of free tutoring (elementary, high school, or undergraduate level)
• Peer teaching or mentor position, including but not limited to:
  • Engineering Honors Community of Scholars (ECOS) fellow
  • Engineering Village peer mentor
  • CLEN 181 peer mentor
  • ENGR 102 and 216 peer teacher
  • Peer teacher position in your department
• Service trip with Engineers without Borders
• Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS)
• Significant participation and/or leadership role in organizations such as as Engineers Serving the Community

The above is a list of pre-approved activities that is continually updated. If you have a question regarding whether an activity can count, please reach out to gcsp@tamu.edu.

Scholars are allowed to count their college experiences before joining the program toward their competency completion if they complete the reflection in their GCSP portfolio.

Maintaining Active Status

To maintain active status, you must:

• Be a student in good standing with the university, maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0. 
• Maintain continuous progress in five areas.
• Participate in GCSP meetings and activities.
• Submit an annual report describing their GCSP activities for the past year and their plans for completing all GCSP requirements.
• By graduation, scholars must submit a completed GCSP portfolio and present it at the GCSP Spring Symposium.