RELATED LINKS
The individualized major offers an opportunity for exceptional, creative, self-motivated students to explore innovative and multi-disciplinary fields of knowledge. The individualized major is intended to foster a closer relationship between the student and the faculty advisors. The student will develop an academic research project from its inception, through a coherent set of courses, the different stages of research, and the writing and rewriting of a high quality thesis under a scholar's mentorship.
Individualized Major
Students may apply for an individualized major if they have:
Earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5.
Declared a standard major by the end of their sophomore year. (They must continue on to complete at least a minor in that area.)
As part of the application students must:
- • Meet with Dr. Alice Kelley in the College Office no later than their fourth semester to discuss details of the application process.
- • Establish the fact that the goals of the planned major cannot be met within the boundaries of a current major.
- • Plan a tentative coherent course of study for the major, with at least 14 course units, to culminate in a major research project which, upon completion, will be presented to the university community in a public lecture. (This should be done in consultation with two faculty advisors. See Below.)
- • Find at least one standing faculty member in the School of Arts and Sciences who recognizes merit in the proposed individualized study and accepts the responsibility of acting as the student's main advisor for the individualized major and for sponsoring and overseeing the thesis.
- • Find another faculty member whose specialty is in some way related to the major, but is different from the first advisor's and who is willing to serve as a second advisor.