what is the scholars program, and what does it entail/how is it different from other classes?
and how do you get into it?
Like I said, it is the equivalent of a civilian university honors program. It is determined by your academic composite coming in and your first prog (mid semester) grades.
They invite those with >3600 (out of 4000) academic composite which consists of things like your HS GPA, class rank, SAT/ACT, etc. and >3.6 GPA at prog. They're (at least my 4 dig year) target is to invite about 60 with the expectation of getting around 45 to enter the program. Some people are able to get into the program without an invite. Typically this is when they have a lower composite, but high GPA. Sometimes just the initiative of wanting to be in the program by speaking with the program leads or getting a program faculty member to recommend you along with good grades is enough. To remain in the program requires >3.5 GPA and to graduate with scholar's distinction requires the same. I had a friend graduate with me who had a slightly lower GPA (~3.4) but her grades were waived for being a double major with a language minor (she was poli sci and foreign area studies double major with a chinese minor).
Anyone wishing to enter and is interested in the program needs to ensure they maximize their grades as soon as classes start.
The courses are taught with a different philosophy. Graduating as a Scholar requires taking 10 scholars courses and the scholars capstone course. These courses replace normal core. I took the following courses under scholars:
Behavioral Science (100-level)
History (100 and 200 levels; 100 is general history, 200 is military history)
Geopolitics (200 level; I took it with eagle36. One of my top 3 teachers at USAFA taught this course, it was a BLAST. Eagle can confirm!)
Political Science (300 level)
Humanities 200 (can replace English 211 core and english 211 scholars)
Law for AF officers (200 level; also took with eagle)
Military Strategic Studies (MSS 400 level)
Philosophy/Ethics (300 level)
Scholar's Capstone (One of my 3 teachers was the Dean, BGen Born)
Other courses: (I didn't take)
Economics (100/200 level)
English 211S (literature)
Humanities 400 (replace English 400 or 400S)
Here's the official link I did a search on. Section 6-8 of the handbook has all the full details of the program now:
http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfr/curriculum/CHB.pdf