Spark Scholars Program

Ignite Your Education

Spark your academic career and your future by taking advantage of college courses as a high school student.

When you enroll as a Spark Scholar (formerly known as Young Scholars) at Wilkes, you’ll get a glimpse into general education college courses while also earning credits toward your college degree.

Applications for Intersession 2025 & Spring 2025 are now open!

Apply to be a Spark Scholar

A Jump Start at a Low Cost

Spark Scholars get a head start on college credits at a significantly lower cost. As a Spark Scholar, students can take up to two Wilkes courses per semester for only $50 per credit.

A typical course is three credits. For comparison, part-time tuition is regularly about $995 per credit.

Additional Benefits

In addition to the above credit rate, Spark Scholars get access to the following benefits.

  • E.S Farley Library privileges at Wilkes.
  • Free parking on campus.
  • Assistance in career planning, college selection and financing.
  • Wilkes student ID.
  • Free admission to most Wilkes University athletic, musical and cultural events.

Students in the Spark Scholar program are not eligible for our Colonels are Covered program. Colonels are Covered applies to full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students only.

Contact Us

For students with a last name starting with A-M:

Cassie Dipippa

Senior Assistant Director
Undergraduate Admissions

cassandra.dipippa@wilkes.edu
(570) 408-4403

For students with a last name starting with N-Z:

Liz Nicholas

Associate Director of Transfer Admissions
Undergraduate Admissions

elizabeth.nicholas@wilkes.edu
(570) 408-6809

Spark Scholars Award

Wilkes University Admissions is excited to announce the Spark Scholars Award for students taking courses through the Spark Scholars program!

Two levels of scholarship are available:

$5,000

Students earning 30 + Wilkes University Spark Scholars credits prior to high school graduation and ultimately enrolling at Wilkes will receive a total (stackable) scholarship of $5,000 evenly distributed throughout a student's undergraduate studies up to 4 years.

$4,000

Students earning 12-29 Wilkes University Spark Scholars credits prior to high school graduation and ultimately enrolling at Wilkes will receive a total (stackable) scholarship of $4,000 evenly distributed throughout a student's undergraduate studies up to 4 years.

Application Process

  1. Submit a Spark Scholars application online.
  2. Watch for an email from Wilkes detailing the next steps you need to take.
  3. Pay the course fees and purchase textbooks your courses may require (Wilkes will explain via email how to pay your bill).
    • Students in the Spark Scholar program are not eligible for our Colonels are Covered program.

You must apply to the Spark Scholars program each term or semester you intend on taking classes.

Course Selection

After an application is submitted, a follow-up email will be sent with a list of courses offered in the upcoming term(s). In general, Spark Scholars are eligible for and recommended to take 100-level courses. Spark Scholars may take other courses offered at Wilkes provided they have the background required by the course, meet all pre-requisite requirements and have the approval of school officials.

The Recommended Courses list below can help you make your course selection.

  • An asterisk ( ) means the course is taken by students majoring in the subject.
  • Courses with a number in parenthesis means the course has a lecture/discussion portion and a lab portion each week.
    • Example: "Elements and Compounds (4-3)" has four hours of lecture/discussion and three hours of lab each week.
Course Number Course name Credit(s)
ACC 101 Introduction to Financial Accounting 3
ANT 101 Introduction to Anthropology 3
ANT 102 Cultural Anthropology 3
ART 101 Experiencing Art 3
ART 111 Fundamentals of Color and Design 3
ART 113 Drawing 3
ART 120 Painting I 3
ART 121 Printmaking 3
ART 122 Sculpture 3
ART 123 Photography 3
ART 134 Computer Graphics I 3
BIO 105 The Biological World (2-2) 3
BIO 115-116 Human Anatomy and Physiology (3-3) 4-4
BIO 121-122 This course is taken by students majoring in the subject. Principles of Modern Biology I & II (4-3) 4-4
CHM 105 Chemistry and Modern Society (2-2) 3
CHM 115 This course is taken by students majoring in the subject. Elements and Compounds (4-3) 4
CHM 116 This course is taken by students majoring in the subject. The Chemical Reaction (4-3) 4
COM 101 Fundamentals of Public Speaking 3
CS 115 Computers and Applications 3
CS 125 This course is taken by students majoring in the subject. Computer Science I 4
DAN 100 Dance Appreciation: Comprehensive Dance Form 3
DAN 110 Introduction to Modern Dance 2
DAN 120 Tap Dance 2
DAN 130 Introduction to Jazz Dance 2
EES 105 Planet Earth 3
EES 210 Global Climate Change 3
EES 230 This course is taken by students majoring in the subject. Ocean Science (3-3) 4
EES 240 This course is taken by students majoring in the subject. Principles of Environmental Science (3-3) 4
EC 101 Principles of Economics I 3
EC 102 Principles of Economics II 3
ENG 101 Composition 4
ENG 120 Introduction to Literature and Culture 3
FR 101-102 Elementary French I & II 3-3
FR 203-204 Intermediate French I & II 3-3
GR 101-102 Elementary German I & II 3-3
GR 203-204 Intermediate German I & II 3-3
HST 101 Historical Foundation of the Modern World 3
HST 102 Europe Before 1600 3
HST 207-208 American History 3-3
MTH 101 Solving Problems Using Mathematics 3
MTH 111-112 This course is taken by students majoring in the subject. Calculus I & II 4-4
MTH 150 Elementary Statistics 3
MUS 100 Applied Performance (Additional Fees) 1-2
MUS 101 Introduction to Music I 3
PHL 101 Introduction to Philosophy 3
PHL 110 Introduction to Ethical Problems 3
PHY 171 Principles of Mod. & Classical Physics (3-3) 4
PHY 174 Applications of Mod. & Classical Physics (3-3) 4
PHY 201-202 This course is taken by students majoring in the subject. General Physics I & II (Requires Calculus) (3-3) 4-4
PS 111 Introduction to American Politics 3
PS 141 Introduction to International Politics 3
PSY 101 General Psychology 3
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology 3
SP 101-102 Elementary Spanish I & II 3-3
SP 203-204 Intermediate Spanish I & II 3-3
THE 100 Approach to Theatre 3
WS 101 Introduction to Women's Studies 3

If you have any questions or concerns about course selection, please contact:

For students with a last name starting with A-M

Cassie DiPippa
Senior Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions
cassandra.dipippa@wilkes.edu
570-408-4403

For students with a last name starting with N-Z

Elizabeth Nicholas
Associate Director of Transfer Admissions
elizabeth.nicholas@wilkes.edu
570-408-6809