SAS students who wish to pursue a specialized area of study in the liberal arts and sciences may propose an individualized major. Satisfactory completion of this major leads to a bachelor of arts degree.

How to Apply

Students must submit a written application to an Academic Advising Center no later than the first term of the junior year; part-time and transfer students may extend this deadline to the completion of 75 credits.

Application must include:

• A 1-page statement describing the student’s academic objectives

• A proposed individualized program listing the courses the student intends to complete and the semester when the student intends to take the courses. Their curriculum will be binding once approved.

• The signature of three faculty sponsors. The sponsors should include at least two members of the SAS, and one of the sponsors must agree to serve as adviser.

• The signature of the Associate Dean of Academic Services.

• The signature of a dean in the SAS Office of Undergraduate Education.

The following requirements apply to all individualized majors:

• The major must consist of at least 36 credits.

• Two-thirds of the credits must be from courses offered by the SAS (01:XXX:XXX).

• Three-fourths of the credits must be at the 300 level or above.

• At least one course must be taken as an independent study directed by the faculty adviser. This course substitutes for a senior seminar and should provide a coherent view of the program of study.

Students who have completed their proposal must meet with an academic adviser in the SAS Office of Academic Services in order to have the program approved by the Associate Dean. Once approved, the Associate Dean will forward the application to the SAS Office of Undergraduate Education for final approval.

Minor

Normally students should select a minor that will require completion of courses beyond those included in the individualized major.