Beginning in the fall semester, first-year Scholars enroll in a year-long foundations course while engaging in an 8 hour per week placement with a local community organization. The course offers a framework for Scholars to explore their civic identities, critically analyze the root causes of social issues, and develop skills to take action for positive social change in community settings. Tufts faculty support curriculum development and actively engage with Tisch Scholars. 

In subsequent semesters, Scholars enroll in seminar courses designed to expand on the content of the first year, offering students the opportunity to design and lead classroom discussions with their peers and program staff. Covering topics such as community organizing, community care, resume-building, networking, and political engagement, seminars offer tools to succeed at Tufts, in their community placement, and in their future careers. 

Scholars receive academic credit from the Civic Studies department for each course. 

As a new Scholar, each student will interview and be paired with a community organization before their first semester in the program. Scholars spend 8 hours per week during the academic year engaged in projects to build capacity at their placement organization. After their first year, Scholars may choose to stay with their initial placement and take on additional responsibility or move on to a new community organization. Many continuing Scholars also support new Scholars as they begin a placement, contributing to the larger Scholars community. 

Critical reflection is built into the rigorous academic coursework throughout the program and Scholars are able to synthesize their classroom learning and the project-based work at placements. Additionally, eligible Scholars may receive work-study payment for their time spent in a community placement. 

Scholars often highlight the strong sense of community that is fostered during the program. Opportunities to engage within and across cohorts are incorporated into the program through events, retreats and formal programming. Community care is emphasized in the program and many students develop strong relationships outside of the classroom, supporting one another at events and across campus. 

Students in their third and final year of the Tisch Scholars program develop a capstone project during their final seminar course. Each spring, capstone projects are showcased during events open to the community. The capstone can be developed in collaboration with a community organization or developed with peers based on a theme or topic related to the program.