Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

  • A polymath is a person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning, known to draw on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific problems. Michael Araki in his study, Polymathy: A New Outlook defines the key characteristics of a polymath as breadth, depth, and integration.

    Practically speaking, breadth refers to three or more different fields of knowledge. Depth refers to the level of mastery a person has in each field, and distinguishes a polymath from someone who dabbles.

    Finally, integration is the skill of a polymath in taking concepts, frameworks, and insights from one field of knowledge and applying it to another.

    There is a growing body of research over the last 20 years that demonstrates that polymaths – those with breadth, depth, and integration – are exceptionally capable at creative and complex problem solving.

    In common language, the term polymath is often thought to refer to someone who is a genius like Leonardo daVinci or Maya Angelou. At its core however, polymathy is a group of skills and that can be learned and developed by most.

  • Polymaths have been proven to be more creative, and to be better able to solve complex problems, unpredictable problems that they've never seen before.

    Additionally, studies have shown that people who pursue multiple majors in college where those majors are unrelated to each other are more resilient to economic shocks like layoffs and recessions.

    Finally, polymaths are described as having a high tolerance for ambiguity and as systems thinkers. They can connect disparate pieces of information in new ways, making them highly effective at innovative problem solving and valuable when working on complex, novel challenges.

    Read more about the science behind being a polymath.

  • Polymath University doesn't have a traditional campus, but is based in Chicago, Illinois.

    Courses in the Polymath Fellowship, and later in the bachelor's program, will be delivered in a hybrid model similar to executive education with short, intense periods in person followed by courses delivered primarily remotely.

    Students in the bachelor's program will be accepted into same-city cohorts to allow for study groups and social- and professional-network development.

  • Polymath University is a nonprofit launched by a group of military veterans and spouses, and allies, who care deeply about the future of higher education.

    Our EIN is 93-3251329.

  • Polymath University is founded by Dan Futrell, a first generation college graduate, an Army veteran and a nonprofit leader who left his role as CEO of the Pat Tillman Foundation to launch Polymath University.

    Kate Ryan Reiling is a veteran of higher education as an executive at Macalester College and at The African Leadership University. She has led curriculum design, learning experience, and innovation programming.

    Dr. Brian Rosenberg, former president of Macalester College and current professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, serves as senior advisor. He is the author of Whatever It Is, I'm Against It: Resistance to Change in Higher Education.

    Dr. David Staley, professor at the Ohio State University and author of Alternative Universities: Speculative Design for Innovation in Higher Education in which he conceived of the academic structure of a polymath university.

    Over a dozen Tillman Scholars, veterans of academia, the military, public and private organizations serve on staff and in advisory roles. Members of our team have launched and led nonprofits, taught scores of college courses, earned gold medals, authored award-winning books and ground-breaking research, and started successful businesses.

    Learn more about the Polymath University team who cumulatively have over a 100 years of postsecondary education, over 75 years of military service, and over 50 years as professors in traditional higher education.

Polymath Fellowship (Fall 2025)

  • The fellowship begins the week of September 2, 2025 right after Labor Day and completes the week of May 18, 2026 right before Memorial Day.

    There will be 38 total sessions, once per week. Exact times of each session will be determined in partnership with the cohort of fellows.

  • The program consists of an in-person orientation in Chicago, six courses delivered remotely over 8-week blocks, mentorship from industry experts, and an Impact Project as a capstone.

  • The Polymath Fellowship has been designed as a master's level certificate for professionals in the first 10-15 years of their career. There is no hard age or experience minimum or maximum, so if you think this fellowship will be valuable to you, you should apply.

  • The modules include Introduction to Polymathy, Interdisciplinary Systems Thinking, Accelerating Impact with Technology, Leadership Through Inquiry, Knowledge Translation, and Human-Centered and Speculative Design.

  • Sessions are delivered synchronous (live) and remotely.

  • Fellows should expect to spend 5 hours per week on the fellowship, with at least 1 of those hours in a virtual session with the cohort.

  • Assume that you will spend ~4 hours outside of sessions for preparation, homework, and on your impact project.

  • You are required to attend every session. Any sessions missed will require additional work to make up to ensure the fellow achieves the learning objectives for that session. Failure to attend sessions or make up work risks your continued participation in the program.

  • The program emphasizes active learning and collaboration. Your engagement and attendance in sessions will be considered fulfilled if you are actively participating.

  • Yes. In addition, you will need to be in a place where you have good lighting and sound, are able to fully participate in session discussions, breakout rooms and other ways to engage. Loud public locations, or locations with poor internet connection are not conducive to collaborative learning.

  • The Impact Project is a capstone project unique to each fellow. It can be a presentation to senior leadership, a project for an external organization, a business plan for a new venture or a pivot point for your career.

  • Yes, the program is designed to accommodate working professionals. That said, we also expect a significant commitment during the Fellowship so be prepared for this to be a significant part of your life during the duration of the Fellowship.

  • Polymath University will identify expert mentors related to your wicked problem and will assign them to you.

    Your mentors will be experts in their field with knowledge or experience that is applicable to your Impact Project. They will serve as thought partners as you apply the curriculum from six courses to your unique Impact Project. They will be assigned based on the fit between your project and their experience, as well as the names and characteristics you described in your application, and each mentor will have read your application materials and will have given a green light to specifically serve as a mentor with you.

  • It is expected that you will meet with each mentor every month. As with any mentorship, you as the mentee own and guide the relationship, and will be expected to initiate meetings, provide updates, and best leverage your mentors to create value for your Impact Project.

  • Withdrawals will be handled on a case by case basis. Please contact the Academic Lead for support with this.

  • While Polymath University offers non-degree courses outside of the fellowship that may be eligible for credit at partner institutions, we do not expect the Polymath Fellowship to be eligible for course credit elsewhere.

  • You will have an Academic Coordinator who will serve as your key contact person in the program. The Academic Coordinator will be the one person who can help you think about this fellowship in relation to your career, as well as the overlap of all sessions and mentors. In addition to this Academic Coordinator, each student will be assigned 3 mentors and will have regular contact with their professors as well.

  • Yes. For the 2025-2026 cohort, only those residing in the United States are eligible to apply. There is no citizenship requirement to apply.

  • Yes. This certificate program, the Polymath Fellowship, is a post-baccalaureate fellowship.

Bachelor’s Degree (launching 2028)

  • The Polymath Fellowship application will open September 3, 2024. Learn more about the Polymath Fellowship.

    The undergraduate program is expected to launch in Fall 2028. Between now and then, we will be working with our employer partners to build curriculum alongside supporting our fellows.

    Sign up to our newsletter for updates.

  • The Polymath University bachelor's degree, launching in 2028, will be accredited through partnership with an existing and accredited university. All degrees earned at Polymath University will be accredited.

  • Polymath University is committed to making college accessible to all who want it through a debt-free degree. Working with employer partners to fill high-demand roles, Polymath U. will place students into internships in their second and third years of a 3-year degree program. While concurrently studying toward a degree and working as an apprentice, Polymath U. students will earn entry level pay and will have their tuition covered by their employers.

    For students who are unable to pay for their first year, prior to earning an income through their apprenticeship, a payment plan that draws from that apprenticeship income and that concludes at graduation ensures that a Polymath U. degree is available to all and that our graduates walk the stage to receive their diplomas without carrying school debt beyond that stage.

    For illustrative purposes only, if a student is unable to pay for their first year is placed into an apprenticeship that pays $42k per year in addition to their tuition for years two and three, they would take home approximately $2,900 monthly after taxes. To cover their first year tuition of ~$9,000, they would pay $375/month during their 24 month apprenticeship ending at graduation. In total, they will have earned ~$70k post-tax over two years and after paying back $9k for their first year, and will graduate with a no-debt bachelor's degree and over a year's worth of cumulative work experience, placing them well ahead of their peers.

  • Apprenticeships are different from internships and co-ops in that there is an expectation that apprentices will have a full time job upon graduation.

    That said, every apprenticeship placement will be unique to the student and the employer, and Polymath University can not guarantee that 100% of apprenticeships will lead to immediate roles.

    With over a year of cumulative work experience under your belt upon graduation, and with the breadth of your studies, graduates of Polymath University will already have a leg up on their peers in seeking employment.

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