Program Experience

Your Journey as a Corde Scholar

The Corde Scholars Program is a transformative four-year experience designed to prepare you for a life of impactful leadership. We admit ten students each year who are called to make a difference and intend to devote their lives to it.

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The Four-Year Plan:

In collaboration with the program director and mentors, you will create an evolving four-year plan for learning beyond the classroom. This personalized plan will guide your summer experiences, use of enrichment funding, and ultimately, your future career path. Key components include:

  • Community-Engaged Learning: Engage with local and global communities through programs like the Institute for Social Concerns’ RISE and NDBridge, Proximities courses, or select courses in your major.

  • Scholarship for the Common Good: Participate in Justice Labs or Summer Fellowships, conduct research in your discipline that contributes to human flourishing, and present your findings at conferences or for publication.

  • Global Learning: Experience at least one global learning opportunity, whether a semester abroad, a short-term cultural exchange, or travel to an international conference.

  • Leadership on Campus: Practice leadership by planning and hosting campus events focused on social justice issues, fostering dialogue, and building community. Serve in leadership roles within clubs, residence halls, and other campus units.

The four-year plan culminates in an online portfolio to propel your next steps after graduation.

Curriculum:

All Corde Scholars participate in a unique curriculum designed to deepen their understanding of contemplative leadership and social justice. The heart of the curriculum is a one-credit course on Tuesday nights, taken every semester for four years. In addition, students take one 3-credit course sometime during their four years.

  • SOCO 23916 Contemplative Leadership Practicum (0-1 cr.): Required each semester, this weekly activity/experiential learning course provides a space to provide mutual support, reflect on leadership experiences, and plan program events. [Fall 2026: T 6-7:15p]

  • Required 3-Credit Course: Choose one of the following or an approved substitute:

    • SOCO 30572 The Art of Dialogue: Learn to lead conversations on controversial topics, practice empathetic listening, and develop skills for engaging in conflict and building community. [Fall]

    • SOCO 30857 Conflict Transformation: Explore the role of communication in managing interpersonal and organizational conflicts, focusing on self-differentiated leadership, forgiveness, and reconciliation. [Spring]

Retreat Program:

Our retreat program is central to cultivating spiritual development and community:

  • Inward Bound (Pre-Matriculation): The week before classes begin, gather for a retreat combining group building, personal reflection, and an introduction to Notre Dame.

  • Annual Spring Retreat: Each cohort attends a retreat during their sophomore, junior, and senior years, sharing spiritual journeys and hearing from experienced leaders.