Individually Planned Majors and Minors

A student who wishes to pursue a course of study not included in one of the available majors may petition to receive permission to complete an individually planned major.

Such a major must include at least nine courses beyond core requirements (excluding courses with three or fewer semester hours) and including at least one semester of a foreign language at the second semester elementary-level or higher. At least four courses of the major must be completed in courses above the introductory level in one particular discipline. This discipline will be defined as the major’s concentration. Graded course work in the major must have a grade-point average of at least 2.0. Course work that is included in the individually planned major may not be counted toward a second major or a minor.

To apply for an individually planned major, the student, in consultation with his or her academic advisor, must complete an application, available at the Registrar’s Office, to be approved by the chairperson of the division in which the proposed major’s concentration is included and the Provost and Senior Vice President. This application should be submitted by the end of the second semester of the student’s sophomore year. The application must specify the following:

1. The major’s coverage and definition.
2. The observed or expected conceptual linkages among the concentration and the other subject(s) included in the major.
3. The expected outcomes of the completion of the major in terms of the student’s intellectual growth and plans for graduate study or career.

After the student has secured written approval from his or her academic advisor, the chairperson of the division, and the Provost and Senior Vice President, the Provost and Senior Vice President will file the application in the Registrar’s office. The Registrar will notify the student and the student’s advisor of the acceptance of the proposal.

The degree awarded upon successful completion of an approved individually planned major is Bachelor of Arts.
 

Minors

A student who wishes to pursue a course of study not included in one of the available minors may petition to receive permission to complete an individually planned minor.

Such a minor must include five courses (excluding courses with three or fewer semester hours), of which at least two courses are in one discipline, which is the minor’s concentration, and must be at the 300 or 400 level. Of the other three courses included in the minor, another two must also be at the 300 or 400 level. Graded work in the minor must have a grade-point average of at least 2.0. Course work that is included in the individually planned minor may not be counted toward a major or another minor.

To apply for an individually planned minor, the student, in consultation with his or her academic advisor, must complete an application, available at the Registrar’s Office, to be approved by the chairperson of the division in which the proposed minor’s concentration is included and the Provost. This application should be submitted by the end of the second semester of the student’s junior year. The application must specify the following:

1. The minor’s coverage and definition.
2. The observed or expected conceptual linkages among the concentration and the other subject(s) included in the minor.
3. The expected outcomes of the completion of the minor in terms of the student’s intellectual growth and plans for graduate study or career.

After the student has secured written approval from his or her academic advisor, the chairperson of the division, and the Provost and Senior Vice President, the Provost and Senior Vice President will file the application in the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar will notify the student and the student’s advisor of the acceptance of the proposal.