Application Overview

How do I create an individualized major?

To create an Individualized Major, you take the following steps:

1. Meet with a program advisor (Ken Cormier or Martha Goldstein) as early as possible. This meeting will help you to learn more about the program and assess whether your interests are best met through an individualized major.

2. Enroll in our one-credit gateway course (recommended, not mandatory), UNIV 2600 Individualized Study Across Academic Disciplines. This course will introduce you to the organization of knowledge at the university and the challenges of taking an interdisciplinary approach to learning, and will guide you through the application process.

3. Complete an online application. The application will be reviewed by the Individualized Major Advisory and Admissions Committee. It includes three main components:

When should I begin the application process?

You should meet with a program advisor and enroll in the gateway course as soon as possible. It is recommended that you submit an application once you have earned 30 credits (or have achieved third semester status). The latest you may submit an application is prior to registration for your final 30 credits. This typically means that you will apply as a sophomore or first-semester junior.

See the deadlines page for specific dates and times.

What are the criteria for admission?

The Individualized Major Advisory and Admissions Committee, which is comprised of faculty from CLAS and CAHNR, with representatives from ACES, the School of Business, and the School of Education, makes the admissions decisions. In evaluating an application, the committee will consider two broad criteria:

  • Academic standing. You must be in “good standing” and have a GPA of at least 2.0 (for a major in CLAS) or 2.5 (for a major in CAHNR) in order to apply to the Individualized Major Program. To graduate with an individualized major (in both CLAS and CAHNR), you must achieve a major GPA of at least 2.5. Therefore the Committee will consider whether you are likely to meet the GPA requirement for graduation.
  • Coherence, rigor, and feasibility of the proposed major. The committee will evaluate whether the major theme (as presented in your statement of purpose) and plan of study form a cohesive and conceptually-sound degree. It will also evaluate the academic rigor of the major, to make sure that it is on par with other majors at the university, and evaluate whether it can be completed as planned.