Special Opportunities
The intimate size and innovative spirit of our faculty and students combine to create unique opportunities for student achievement.
Our Centers
Center for Science and the Common Good
Now more than ever, scientists need to understand the ethical, political, and religious context in which science operates in order to judge which scientific endeavors best advance the common good. Funded by a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Ursinus College Center for Science and the Common Good fosters that quality of judgment in its science majors by encouraging them to make the most of the liberal education that Ursinus offers. Visit the Center.
U-Imagine! Center for Integrative and Entrepreneurial Studies
U-Imagine! focuses on entrepreneurship and integration as a way of thinking and acting in various contexts. Students learn to approach problems in novel ways, develop comfort with ambiguity, and apply learning in real contexts. The Center provides valuable resources so that ANY student from ANY major feels welcome to use the Center to develop an idea into a product or service that creates value by meeting a social or market need. Visit the Center.
Melrose Center for Global Civic Engagement
Our newest interdisciplinary center honors the late U.S. Ambassador Joseph H. Melrose, Jr. ’66, professor of politics and international relations. He embodied global citizenship as a humanitarian who served many world communities.
The Melrose Center seeks to develop future global leaders through innovative scholarship and unprecedented learning opportunities. This distinctive program will support a cohort of students as global civic fellows who will engage in service-learning or community-based research in locations around the world. Melrose Fellows will take courses emphasizing social and global issues, public policy, economics and international development and have the opportunity to design and implement projects to enhance a variety of for-profit/non-profit businesses, government or other civic organizations through immersive experiences abroad. Visit the Center.
Cooperative Programs
At Ursinus you can take advantage of exciting partnership with several universities that offer students seamless access to advanced degree and professional programs.
University of Rochester
The Simon Business School at the University of Rochester has a Direct Admission Partnership (DAP) relationship with Ursinus College. UC students who wish to pursue their graduate business studiesimmediately following graduation are qualified to apply to the Simon School and receive benefits including a waived application fee, special merit scholarship consideration, and priority admission consideration. Contact the Business and Economics Department.
Columbia University: Pre-Engineering
Arrangements have been made with the engineering school of Columbia University to which a student may apply for transfer after completing three years of prescribed work toward a B.A. at Ursinus College. Ursinus will grant the B.A. or B.S. after the student has satisfied the requirements for that degree, usually on satisfactory completion of the fourth year. The engineering school will grant the engineering degree on satisfactory completion of the fifth year. Learn more.
Case Western - Engineering Dual Degree Program
The Dual Degree Program at CWRU offers majors in Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Physics, and Systems and Control Engineering. Learn More.
Direct Admission to MBA Program at Saint Joseph’s University
Your undergraduate education at Ursinus College has prepared you with the critical thinking, complex reasoning, and written communication skills essential for success. Now, as an Ursinus graduate, you can take advantage of our partnership with Saint Joseph’s University to further enhance your credentials with an MBA from SJU. As a continuation of a partnership that has spanned more than 30 years, Ursinus graduates can matriculate to the MBA program at Saint Joseph’s University immediately after or within two years of graduation to earn program benefits. All graduates, regardless of major, are eligible to apply. Details
Service Programs
Peace Corps Prep
Ursinus has joined 13 other colleges nationwide designated to offer students a Peace Corps Preparatory program in which they gain an educational component helpful for Peace Corps and international service.
Project Pericles
Ursinus is a member of Project Pericles, a national organization of colleges and universities committed to make socially responsible and participatory citizenship an essential part of our educational program - in the classroom, on the campus, and in the community. Project Pericles, named after the Athenian statesman credited with introducing democracy to the ancient world, was conceived in 1999 by Eugene M. Lang to address a national concern: the growing political cynicism and civic disengagement of young people.
Bonner Leader Program
The Bonner Leader Program offers students an opportunity to engage in an intensive service experience. Bonner Leaders are required to complete 300 hours of service in the community each school year. Throughout their tenure as Bonner Leaders, students develop by gaining knowledge, experience, skills and values through their service work with local non-profit organizations. Bonners also enroll in a one-credit course each semester. The focus of this class is leadership development, civic skill-building, reflection on service, vocational exploration, and social justice education.
The Bonner Leader Program is a distinctive offering of our College. Approximately 55 colleges and universities participate in the Bonner network. Schools that participate in Bonner have a unique reputation as institutions dedicated to civic engagement and social change.
International Programs
Center for International Programs
Supporting international study abroad opportunities that immerse students in another culture and foster holistic learning. Ursinus study abroad can take you to a wide variety of international settings. Visit the Center.
Tohoku Gakuin University, Japan
Since 1991, this exchange program has provided Ursinus students with the opportunity to spend the fall semester at sister school Tohoku Gakuin University in Sendai, Japan. Except for Japanese language, all classes are conducted in English. Admission is competitive and students must have completed some Japanese language courses to be eligible. Please note that because of our sister school status, both grades and credits for this program transfer. The program is open to majors in any subject, and students earn 15 credits in EAS-399.
U.S. Exchanges
Washington Internship Initiative
Ursinus enjoys an affiliation with the Washington Internship Institute (WII), an organization that provides intensive internship experiences and academic coursework within a thematic liberal arts framework. Learn more about the Washington Internship Initiative.
Howard Semester
This program allows Ursinus students to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C., under an exchange agreement between the two institutions. Students wishing to participate will normally do so for one semester in their junior year. Students will pay Howard’s tuition and fees.