The Haslam Leadership Scholars (HALS) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, was founded in 2008 with a generous gift from Jimmy and Dee Haslam and Jim and Natalie Haslam. The mission of Haslam Leadership Scholars is to attract, cultivate, and retain future leaders of Tennessee. We provide transformational learning experiences that help each Haslam Leadership Scholar understand and build their academic and leadership potential.
The Haslam Leadership Scholars minor is an intimate, four-year cohort-based enrichment program that honors the Haslam family’s legacy of developing community-minded and intellectually gifted young leaders through a series of transformational learning experiences. Scholars benefit from an exclusive academic curriculum focused on leadership and personal development, a cohort study abroad experience, and a Tennessee internship experience.
2025-2026 anticipated program of studies
Requirements
Leadership Series
- HALS 107: Haslam Leadership Scholars Professional Development (0); repeated multiple semesters
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HALS 207: Foundations of Leadership I (1)
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HALS 208: Foundations of Leadership II (1)
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HALS 307: Inclusive Leadership (1)
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HALS 308: Conflict Resolution (1)
Experiential Learning
- HALS 297: Haslam Leadership Abroad (1)
- HALS 391: Leadership Internship (1)
Communication Series
- One Vol Core approved Honors Written Communication course (3)
- One Vol Core approved Honors Oral Communication (OC) or Applied Oral Communication (AOC) course (3 credit hours)
Capstone Series
- HALS 397: Haslam Leadership Group Capstone: Tennessee Solutions (3)
- HALS 497: Honors Capstone (3 credit hours; variable credit and repeatable) or department approved capstone equivalent
Total credit hours required: 18 hours
Haslam Scholars are expected to make timely progress towards honors graduation while maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5. Students not meeting expectations will be required to complete additional academic coaching and support.
Students are encouraged to complement their studies by participating in one or more of the University of Tennessee’s specialized departmental honors concentrations or college honors programs.
- Tennessee residents, we seek a geographically diverse cohort with representation from across Tennessee.
- Students who demonstrate knowledge of and prior experience in the program’s core values of leadership, service-learning, and civic engagement
- Students with different perspectives, experiences, and racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds
- Students in the following Colleges, Schools, or majors:
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- Haslam College of Business
- Tickle College of Engineering
- Herbert College of Agriculture
- Baker School of Public Policy
- Retail, Hospitality, Tourism Management