Get Involved

Any UC San Diego undergraduate student is eligible to apply. First- and second-year students are especially encouraged to apply, as they have the longest period of time to complete program requirements. However, transfer and more experienced students are also encouraged to apply and will likely be able to fulfill some requirements retroactively.

The Global Changemakers Scholars Program is currently not accepting applications. We will re-open for applications mid-quarter Fall 2024.  Watch this space.

Global Changemaker Scholars must complete experiences in seven areas. Each requirement is followed by at least one example of how it could be fulfilled, but there are many ways to satisfactorily fulfill requirements, and creativity is encouraged. Scholars design their own programs and can do so without adding many additional courses and lengthening their time to graduation!

1. Project-based learning focused on one or more of the SDGs (or NAE Grand Challenges) (completing the ENG 100D Global Sustainable Development Design course and at least one quarter of ENG 100L Design for Development Lab)

2. Collaborative, interdisciplinary experience (e.g., serving on a project team, such as in Global TIES, or a research team with students from other disciplines)

3. Global context experience (e.g., project-related work, study, or internship in another country, including Mexico)

4. Social responsibility experience (e.g., completing an Alternative Breaks trip or Blum Field Internship or completing significant, supervised volunteer work)

5. Innovation and entrepreneurial thinking experience (e.g., completing one or more social entrepreneurship courses or competing in one or more social innovation challenges)

6. Leadership experience (e.g., holding a significant leadership position in a student organization)

7. Integrity and professionalism experience (e.g., completing one or more ethics courses or equivalent experiences).

In some cases, Scholars may fulfill two requirements with a single substantial activity, with prior approval. Moreover, the same experience can be used to fulfill other campus requirements such as practica, technical electives, GEs, etc. Each scholar must take ENG 100D Global Sustainable Development Design and one quarter of ENG 100L Design for Development Lab. These may be taken concurrently.