Special Programs

Boston College offers a number of special programs, including the following:

  • Capstone Seminar Program
  • Faculty and Staff Children Exchange Program (FACHEX)
  • Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program
  • Office of Global Education (OGE)
  • Pre-Health Program
  • Pre-Law Advising
  • PULSE Program for Service Learning
  • Reserve Officers' Training Corps
  • Undergraduate Faculty Research Fellows Program

Capstone Seminar Program

The Capstone Seminar Program helps students to "cap off" their Boston College experience by a review of their education and a preview of their major life commitments after college. Capstone offers several integrative seminars each semester exclusively for seniors in all schools. The Capstone seminars explore the struggle to discern your own calling in life as you integrate the four crucial areas of work, relationships, society, and spirituality. Capstone seminars are taught by two dozen faculty from 20 different departments and all four colleges—Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, Carroll School of Management, Lynch School of Education and Human Development, and Connell School of Nursing. Seminars are limited to 15 to 19 students. All courses are listed between UNCP5500 and UNCP5599 in the Boston College Catalog. Many Capstone Seminars are also cross-listed in the home department of the professor and can be taken for elective credit by majors or minors in that department. Department regulations vary. You may take only one Capstone course during your academic career. Capstones cannot be taken as Pass/Fail. If a course requires permission, contact the instructor directly. For other information, contact the Program Director, Fr. James Weiss at james.weiss@bc.edu or see the University Courses section of this Catalog. You may also reference the Capstone Program website with full course descriptions and syllabi at bc.edu/capstone.

Faculty and Staff Children Exchange Program (FACHEX)

FACHEX is an undergraduate tuition remission program for children of full-time faculty, administrators, and staff at participating Jesuit colleges and universities. The program for BC employees is administered through the Benefits Office in cooperation with the Office of Enrollment Management.

For Boston College employees, five consecutive years of full-time employment are required for establishing eligibility for the program. Employees must complete the FACHEX Certification Form available on the Boston College FACHEX website and return it to the Benefits Office for processing before December 1. Only the Benefits Office can certify an employee child as FACHEX eligible in the FACHEX Database, and this form contains the required information for entry. Employees should review the FACHEX website for information regarding rules of the program. In addition, if an employee’s child is interested in applying to any institutions participating in FACHEX, they should be aware of any applicable admission deadlines or requirements at those schools. Contact information for the FACHEX Coordinator at each participating institution can be found on the FACHEX website. BC does not maintain admissions policies of other schools in the program and cannot advise on their behalf.

FACHEX awards tend to be extremely limited in number and are highly competitive in terms of academic selectivity. As a result, there are no guarantees to the children of any given faculty, administrators, or staff that they will be able to utilize the FACHEX benefit at the institution of their choice. Also, many participating schools only consider incoming freshman applicants for FACHEX, so transfer students or upperclassmen may not be eligible.

Employees at other participating institutions should ask their respective Benefits Offices for information on requirements for FACHEX eligibility. Parents and students should then visit the Boston College FACHEX website to view the necessary procedures and conditions for FACHEX applicants.

Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program

The Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program is an undergraduate academic merit program that annually awards full-tuition scholarships and fully-funded, GPSP-sponsored summer programs to 15 incoming freshmen students. Early Decision and Regular Decision applicants who submit their BC applications by the November 1 priority scholarship deadline will be considered. There is no separate application for this scholarship. Students are selected on the basis of superior academic achievement and promise, leadership potential, and a demonstrated commitment to service to society. The Program offers these extraordinary individuals the richest academic experience available at Boston College, one that encourages the pursuit of excellence both within and beyond the University walls. Presidential Scholars receive a full-tuition merit scholarship.

In addition to enrollment in one of the University's several departmental honors programs, during the academic year Scholars meet weekly to share experiences in applying for study grants, language programs, internships, and fellowships, and to attend cultural events. These gatherings are intended to nurture their development into the nation's future leaders. 

During the spring semester freshman Presidential Scholars travel to a country in Europe, while the sophomore Scholars travel to a country in Latin America.  These trips are intended to be the starting point in the Scholars’ journey of becoming “global citizens.” 

In the summers, Scholars are challenged to test and apply what they have learned at Boston College to the world beyond the campus by participating in experiential learning programs focusing on service learning (after the first year), independent international study and travel (after the second year), and professional internship (after the third year).

Through this carefully balanced combination of academic rigor and co-curricular opportunities and challenges, the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program seeks to develop exceptional scholars and leaders for the Boston College community and far beyond.

Office of Global Education (OGE)

Global education is an integral part of the undergraduate experience at BC. Each year approximately 1,200 students—or nearly 50% of a given graduating class—spend a semester, summer, or academic year studying, interning, conducting research, and/or volunteering abroad. BC collaborates with a number of partner universities worldwide to administer programs in over 30 countries. To apply for semester/academic year programs abroad, students are required to have at least a 3.0 GPA and be in good academic and disciplinary standing. The OGE also offers approximately 30 short-term, faculty-led summer programs and internships that are open to both BC and non-BC students and have no minimum GPA requirement. Students should begin planning to go abroad as early as their freshman year. Information on the OGE website, Study Abroad 101 group meetings, and individual meetings with OGE advisors help students choose the best program for their academic needs. For more information, please visit bc.edu/global-education. The OGE is located in Hovey House (258 Hammond Street, 617-552-3827).

Academic Year Programs*

*Note: “BC in —” programs denote those options where there is a resident director or on-the-ground support staff in addition to services offered by the host institution. Services range from full-time coordinators to more limited support.

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Approved External Programs

To complement BC program offerings and accommodate students who would like to study in a country or a city in which BC currently does not offer direct enrollment options, the Office of Global Education offers a selection of approved external programs as semester and full-year options. Students pay Boston College tuition to participate in provider programs and remain eligible for BC institutional financial aid. For a complete list of approved external programs, visit bc.edu/global-education.

Summer Programs

Faculty-led summer programs and internships are open to BC undergraduate and graduate students, as well as external applicants, with OGE approval. Programs are taught in English, with the exception of language courses. A sampling of Summer 2024 programs listed are subject to change on an annual basis:

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Other Opportunities

SEA Education Association Programs

The university offers a semester-long opportunity with SEA Education Association (SEA), an Environmental Studies program, which challenges students intellectually and physically by combining a sailing experience with the study of the deep ocean. The interdisciplinary program tracks are designed for students who wish to gain a comprehensive understanding of the world’s oceans, as well as explore a specific ocean-related theme, including shore components in Woods Hole, MA, and the Pacific.

Pre-Health Program

The Core curriculum at Boston College is an advantage for students interested in professions in the health field, as it allows students to explore their unique talents and passions. The skills acquired in the study of the sciences and the humanities are readily transferable to careers in the field of health and medicine. 

“Science is the foundation of an excellent medical education, but a well-rounded humanist is best suited to make the most of that education.”  

—David Muller, Dean for Medical Education and Professor and Chair of the Department of Medical Education and Co-Founder of the Visiting Doctors Program at Mount Sinai Medical School (Julie Rovner of KHN; Kaiser Health News, May 27, 2015). 

Finding purpose in an academic program of study remains one of the most important decisions for BC students considering a career in the health professions. English majors acquire analytical skills needed for absorbing medical text.  Philosophy majors develop critical thinking skills needed for differential diagnoses. Theology majors evaluate tenets beneficial in medical ethics and palliative care. History majors develop the ability to ask the pertinent questions in formulating patient history. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges’ 2022–2023 Report of Applicants and Matriculants to U.S. Medical Schools, the percentage acceptance rate of students majoring in the humanities was higher overall than for those majoring in other disciplines. Listed, as follows, are the acceptance rate percentages by discipline for the 2022–2023 application cycle: Humanities—50%, Mathematics, and Statistics—45%, Physical Sciences—46%, Biological Sciences—40%, and Social Sciences—40%.  (Derived from data supplied in Table A-17 of the AAMC summary).

“The humanities provide an outstanding foundation for understanding complexity and human variability, the conceptual basis for understanding medicine.”  

—Charles M. Wiener, MD, Professor of Medicine and Director Emeritus, Osler Internal Medicine Training Program at John Hopkins Medical Institute (Beth Howard—AAMC Medical Education, December 12, 2016).

Pre-Health students are encouraged to reflect on who they would like to become as health professionals. Eighty-two percent of BC students participate in campus service and volunteer organizations. This augments the formation of students to be “men and women for others'' in the health career of their choice. Health professions graduate schools are interested in students who demonstrate a commitment of service to the underserved and the poor, including populations historically underrepresented in patient care. This dedication to others expands and informs their decision to pursue a career in the health field which supports comprehensive patient care and health equity for all. Students entering the Pre-Health program are encouraged to reflect on the mission of the Core curriculum to refine a purposeful and authentic life that integrates academic disciplines and the building of relationships. Each semester, a student should be engaged in a course (or courses) that inspires them and creates an awareness and a curiosity to explore and grow. Furthermore, Pre-Health students considering their program major are encouraged to reflect upon “The Three Key Questions” posed by Fr. Michael Himes, Professor of Theology at Boston College:  

  1. What brings me joy? 
  2. What am I good at? 
  3. What does the world need me to be? 

The Pre-Health program in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences is an open program for all students in every major program of study at Boston College. There is no minimum GPA requirement. The program provides support and comprehensive advising to undergraduates and alumni of Boston College interested in medical, dental, or veterinary careers, as well as other areas of health profession study. Students benefit from majoring in any of the varied academic disciplines offered at BC, which would help them address the three aforementioned questions. As a Jesuit, Catholic institution, Boston College is dedicated to the continual process of intellectual inquiry and student formation. Students are encouraged to examine the full spectrum of options and to select a major and find an enriching program of study in which he/she will excel.  

Utilizing the Pre-Health Team to Maximize Success

Irrespective of major (humanities or STEM), the BC Pre-Health team meets with students at every stage of their Pre-Health portfolio development, from prospective freshmen to seniors and alumni. The Pre-Health team assists with all aspects of planning when considering a career in the health professions, including selection of a major, course selection, gaining health-related experience, evaluating extracurricular activities, preparing for professional exams (MCAT, DAT, GRE) and all aspects of the pre-and post-application process for health profession schools. If you are considering a career in a health profession, please set up an appointment with our office by emailing premed@bc.edu. For up-to-date information about the Pre-Health program please email us in order to receive notifications regarding programming and upcoming events. Our office resides within the Academic Advising Center and is located in Stokes Hall S132. 

All Majors at Boston College Have Access to the Pre-Health Program

It is important to note that medical, dental, and veterinary medical school admissions committees accept a wide variety of majors. Therefore, it is imperative for students to decide on the particular major that would lead to their success as they embark on their unique career path.

Students are invited to think, explore, and discern in order to learn across disciplines and develop their minds and educational experiences to the fullest potential. The goal is to gain the ability to think critically, both broadly and deeply, and at Boston College, a liberal arts education is focused on the whole person. The liberal arts have always been at the center of the Jesuit, Catholic intellectual tradition, which promotes the integration of students’ academic and personal goals, inspiring them to reflect on who they are, who they want to become, and how they want to engage in the world for the common good. 

Gregory Kalscheur, S.J., Dean of the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences shares, “At Boston College, we hope our students become women and men of depth of thought and creative imagination, who are ready to engage the needs of our world and well-prepared for meaningful lives of leadership, scholarship, and service.”

In choosing a major, we encourage students to allow their choice of major be shaped by academic experiences and exploration in programs of study that resonate with the student’s interests, skills, and talents. For example, a student may want to reflect upon evidence of previous academic success in a certain area when selecting a major. However, if a student is considering a major program of study that is new to the student, without prior foundational coursework, then the student may wish to weigh the pluses and minuses in forging new territory, as opposed to leveraging prior academic success. Exploring the groundwork for future immersion in a discipline is the primary tenet of the Core curriculum which fosters a broad and diverse perspective of the humanities and arts, the sciences, and the social sciences. 

The BC Pre-Health team works with students to strategize on the optimal timeframe and coursework necessary to complete the foundational requirements. Keep in mind that course requirements vary when applying to health profession schools. Irrespective of any major at Boston College (humanities or STEM), below is a summary of the necessary Pre-Health program requirements. The Pre-Health team encourages interested students to research the requirements for specific medical or dental schools of interest, as well as research elective coursework helpful in preparation for standardized entrance exams. 

Program of Study

Suggested Foundational Curriculum for Pre-Health Students:

  • Two semesters of Biology with Lab 
  • Two semesters of General Chemistry with Lab 
  • Two semesters of Organic Chemistry with Lab and/or one semester of Organic Chemistry with one semester of Biochemistry* 
  • Two semesters of Physics with Lab (either Calculus-based Physics or Algebra-based Physics is acceptable; refer to major program requirements as well.) 
  • Two semesters of English 

*It is incumbent on the prospective applicant to be knowledgeable of individual medical school requirements when planning his or her course selection. We suggest meeting with a member of the Pre-Health team if uncertain. 

The required courses for the professional school of interest may be taken during any of the four undergraduate years in any order with the exception of the General Chemistry– Organic Chemistry sequence. In order to apply to health profession schools directly upon graduation from BC, the student must complete all course requirements in three years, in addition to successful completion of standardized testing. Most BC applicants, however, elect to distribute the Pre-Health coursework over four years of undergraduate study and apply to medical, dental, or veterinary school as seniors and/or as alumni. The average age of a student matriculating into medical school is approximately 25 years old; therefore, electing to take one or more “growth” years to explore, reflect, and act on a specific health-related problem, clinical, or scientific inquiry may inexorably improve the competitiveness of a student’s candidacy. At Boston College, the Pre-Health team operates as a cohesive advising unit that closely collaborates with students during each undergraduate year of portfolio development to help create a career narrative.

Freshman Year: Interested students should attend the freshman meeting and set up an initial consultation with the Pre-Health program office to learn and capitalize on the benefits of drop-in advising sessions and explore resources. 

Sophomore Year: Interested students should attend the sophomore meeting and review progress and achievements with the Pre-Health team. Specific attention should be given to gaining relevant health-related experiences.  

Junior Year/Senior Year: Interested students should attend the application meeting and meet regularly with the Pre-Health team to ensure that all materials are complete to initiate the BC committee letter application process. 

The BC Pre-Health program collaborates closely with BC alumni and the greater professional community to offer students the full gamut of possible pathways leading to a meaningful career in the health field. A unique aspect of a valued service that BC offers students interested in medical or dental school is the opportunity to obtain a committee letter of recommendation endorsed by the Boston College faculty committee. This letter presents a comprehensive assessment of the student under review by the committee and showcases the accomplishments and achievements of an applicant in a personalized portfolio. Additionally, during the application process, students receive one-on-one expert advising from an individual faculty member on the committee. While the Pre-Health team is dedicated to ushering students through the process of applying for professional health programs, it is important to note that the onus is on students to reflect, discern, and act in order to pursue their unique career path.

Freshman Pre-Health Checklist

  1. Register for Pre-Health program announcements at premed@bc.edu 
  2. Attend the freshman meeting (first week in September —email invitation will be sent out) 
  3. Read the freshman checklist online 
  4. Make an appointment with a member of the Pre-Health team by calling 617-552-4663 
  5. Cultivate a mentor (get to know your professors and other administrative staff) 
  6. Develop study skills, attend office hours, and seek tutoring assistance from the Connors Family Learning Center and/or academic support when warranted 
  7. Visit academic departments to research programs of study, minors, and concentrations 
  8. Get involved with a health-related club (e.g., Mendel Society, Predental Society) 
  9. Get involved judiciously with on- or off-campus service organizations and extracurricular activities 

Pre-Law Advising

Boston College has a dedicated pre-law advisor and offers pre-law advising through the Career Center. The Boston College Career Center and two pre-law student associations, the Bellarmine Law Society and the AHANA Pre-Law Student Association, present panels each year on different aspects of the legal profession and the law school admission process. The pre-law advisor is available to meet individually with students interested in law as a career whenever questions or concerns arise. While no particular major is preferred by law schools, it is suggested that students consider including some of the following courses in their programs of study: logic, mathematics, law, public speaking, English (especially intensive writing courses), history, sociology, and political science. You can indicate your interest in receiving announcements of pre-law panels and activities by officially registering as Pre-Law in the Academic Advising Center or Office of Student Services. Before scheduling a pre-law advising appointment, students should review the Boston College Pre-Law Advising Handbook. For further information, contact the Career Center at 617-552-3430 and view the Career Center’s website for information on Applying to Law School.

PULSE Program for Service Learning

For a description of the PULSE Program, please visit the PULSE website.

Reserve Officers' Training Corps

Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps

Through a cross-enrolled program with Boston University, interested Boston College students may participate in the Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program. Scholarships (full and partial) are available to qualified students for four, three, or two years and include tuition (full or partial), books, fees, and a monthly stipend. Freshmen and sophomores can compete for 2- and 3-year scholarships, some of which would cover full tuition, others which cover $15,000 per academic year. Academic specialties for scholarships include all majors. All training, drills, and classes are held at the BU campus. Service obligations are one year for each scholarship year (active duty), while pilots are obligated for eight years active duty after completion of flight school. To obtain further information, contact the Department of Aerospace Studies, Boston University, 617-353-4705, afrotc-all-mail@bu.edu.

Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps

The U.S. Army offers Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at Boston College as an extension school in cooperation with Northeastern University. Combined, Boston College and Northeastern University make up the Liberty Battalion. Boston College students attend classes and training on the Chestnut Hill campus. Upon graduation and successful completion of all pre-commissioning requirements, Cadets receive a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and serve on active duty, U.S. Army Reserves, or National Guard in a variety of fields. Qualified graduates may also be selected to attend professional schools, such as medical or law school.

Scholarships may be available for qualified high school students admitted to Boston College and college students currently attending BC. In addition, scholarships may be available to Boston College Nurses through the ROTC program. All scholarships include full tuition and mandatory fees, a monthly stipend, and money for books. Boston College also awards additional incentives for Army ROTC scholarship Cadets. For more information including an application, contact the Liberty Battalion Enrollment and Scholarship Officer at 617-373-2376 or visit the BC Army ROTC website and rotc.northeastern.edu.

Marine Corps Platoon Leaders’ Class (PLC)

Available in connection with the Marine Officers Selection Office, Boston, the PLC Program is open to qualified freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. No formal classes or training takes place during the academic year. Students/candidates attend Officer Candidate School (Quantico, VA) training either in two 6-week sessions (male freshmen/sophomores) or one 10-week session (male and female juniors/seniors). Pay and expenses are received during training. No commitment to the USMC is incurred after OCS until a degree is awarded and a Second Lieutenant’s commission issued. Service obligations are then three and a half years active duty or longer for aviation positions. Students/candidates may drop from the program at any time prior to commissioning. For more information, contact the Marine Officer Selection Office, Boston, at 888-753-8762.

Navy Reserve Officers’ Training Corps

Qualified BC students may cross enroll in Navy Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (and the Marine Corps Option) at Boston University. There are 3- and 4-year programs with possible scholarships (full tuition, some books/fees expenses, monthly stipend, but no room and board). All classes and drills are held at Boston University. Scholarship students incur an active duty service obligation. For further information, please contact the Department of Naval Sciences, Boston University, 617-358-0471, burotc@bc.edu.

 

ROTC courses display on the academic record but do not count towards the required number of credits for graduation or in the G.P.A. Beginning with the class of 2026, 6 credits from ROTC courses can be counted towards credits and G.P.A.

Undergraduate Faculty Research Fellows Program

Boston College established the Undergraduate Faculty Research Fellows Program (URF) for the purpose of enhancing the academic experience of undergraduates by cultivating their research skills and fostering mentor relationships between undergraduates and faculty. The program provides a grant to faculty to pay for a student's research assistance with a faculty member's research project. It is considered student employment and the student may work up to 20 hours a week during the academic semester, up to 40 hours a week during semester breaks or the summer, depending on faculty need, the funding available, and student availability. Students do not apply directly.

The application for an Undergraduate Research Fellowship must come from the faculty member whose research project the student will assist. Students can inquire directly with faculty to express their interest in being involved in the faculty member’s research. Students cannot receive academic credit for work done under an URF.

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