Program Overview
Through our Early College Scholars Program, St. Louis area students have the opportunity to enroll in courses for credit and study alongside undergraduates at Washington University. Students may enroll in up to six units of credit per semester. Courses are the undergraduate-level courses in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and mathematics offered by the College of Arts & Sciences. Students commute to campus for courses.
This program is an ideal option for students who:
- Have unique academic interests not available through their high school.
- Are looking for courses beyond their high school curriculum.
- Need to enroll in a college course to fulfill a high school requirement.
- Are exploring alternative options to AP courses.
- Want to advance their knowledge in a particular academic area such as math or foreign language.
- Would like a commuter option to our residential summer pre-college programs.
Eligibility
To be eligible for Early College Scholars students should:
- Be a current 12th grade St. Louis area high school student.
- Meet any prerequisites listed for a course.
We are looking for mature, academically motivated students enrolled in challenging curriculum which may include honors, advanced placement, and International Baccalaureate courses, if offered by their high schools.
COVID-19 Information
Washington University is taking significant measures to protect the community from COVID-19. Visit WashU Together for more information on WashU's COVID-19 response.
As a condition of employment, enrollment, and/or access to Washington University and affiliated facilities, all University employees, students, and trainees must be immunized by vaccination against COVID-19 unless granted a medical or religious exemption from the University.
Dates
Courses run during the academic calendar set by the Office of the University Registrar. Academic calendars are available here.
Enrollment
Students who may be interested in enrolling in courses should contact our office at precollege@wustl.edu to schedule an advising appointment to discuss eligibility and enrollment procedures. Priority for enrollment in fall and spring semesters is given first to full-time undergraduate students, and if space is available, then pre-college students may be permitted to enroll in a course. Courses in the summer are open to pre-college, undergraduate, and visiting students to enroll.
Students may view a list of courses by semester by visiting courses.wustl.edu. Be sure to select "Arts & Sciences" as the school option. Not all courses included in course listings are available for pre-college students to enroll. Course enrollment is dependent upon instructor and department approval.
Fees and Scholarships
The 2021-2022 program fee for Early College Scholars is $3,540 per 3-unit course. The program fee must be paid in full before enrollment can be processed. Need-based scholarship assistance is available. Children of Washington University employees and returning students are eligible for a 10% discount. Details on need-based scholarships and discounts are available here.
Grades and Transcripts
At the conclusion of course work, participation in the Early College Scholars Program will be recorded and grades earned become part of a student's record at Washington University. Students may request an official transcript of grades earned to be sent to any school to which they are applying for undergraduate admission. Requests should be made through the Office of the University Registrar. Credit courses award a traditional letter grade (A, B, C, D, F).
Pre-Matriculation Credit
Courses enrolled through the Early College Scholars Program are considered pre-matriculation credit. Every university has its own pre-matriculation transfer credit policy, and we encourage students to do their research as they make future plans. For current guidelines on pre-matriculation credit at Washington University, please review the Pre-Matriculation Units section of the Washington University Bulletin.
If students intend to use credit earned through the Early College Scholars Program for high school graduation requirements, that must be arranged by the student with their high school.
Enrollment in courses through the Early College Scholars Program does not guarantee acceptance into undergraduate or graduate programs at Washington University.
Orientation
Once a student has been enrolled for course work, they will be invited to join the A&S Pre-College Orientation in Canvas which includes additional information about policies, procedures, and available resources.