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Self-Designed Major, B.A.

The Self-Designed Major (SDMJ) is an opportunity for motivated undergraduate students in good academic standing to design a personalized, interdisciplinary program of study. A Self-Designed Major goes beyond Carroll’s existing majors and minors allowing students to draw from the curricula of three or more disciplines to create a coherent and unique academic plan. In keeping with the college’s liberal arts foundation and the college’s mission, the SDMJ is one of the ways that Carroll provides for the “expansion of the intellectual, imaginative, and social awareness of its students” while preparing students for, “students for leadership and their chosen vocations.”

A student who wishes to pursue a Self-Designed Major will identify 2-3 faculty advisors to serve as their faculty advisory committee. Representing the key disciplinary areas of the student’s SDMJ, the faculty committee members will work with the student to craft an academic plan that intentionally combines diverse methodologies and learning experiences, while ensuring the appropriate content and rigor across the chosen disciplines. 

When planning a Self-Designed Major, students are encouraged to look beyond the traditional boundaries between divisions and disciplines and instead consider how the content of individual courses compliment and build on one another. The final Self-Designed Major’s personalized curriculum will reflect a matrix of courses that provide coherence, breadth, and depth over the  student’s entire course of study. 

Students must submit a formal SDMJ proposal that includes an annotated academic course plan which describes the courses, the intended learning goals, a narrative explanation of why the intended thematic focus makes sense, and a signed faculty agreement form.

 

I. Major Program requirements

A minimum of forty-eight (48) semester credits that include courses from a sponsoring discipline and other courses deemed to be relevant by the student and the Self-Designed Major committee broken down as follows: 

  • Between eighteen to twenty four (18-24) semester hours must be taken within the sponsoring discipline. The student may not be required to take more than twenty four
    (24) semester hours within the sponsoring discipline.
  • At least twelve (12) semester hours must be taken in a second discipline.
  • The list of required courses must contain a minimum of twenty four (24) semester hours at the 300/400 level
  • At least one half of the credits required in the student's Self-Designed Major must be taken at Carroll College. Carroll College’s Core Curriculum requirements apply to all SDMJs and do not have to be reflected in the proposal.
  • Note: Carroll College’s Core Curriculum requirements apply to all SDMJs and do not have to be reflected in the proposal.

 

Eligibility and Process for proposing a Self-Designed Major

  • Students must be in good academic standing prior to submission of the proposal.

  • New, incoming first-year and transfer students who intend to pursue a SDMJ should declare their primary sponsoring discipline as their major until the SDMJ plan is finalized and approved.

  • Students will form a faculty advisory committee of 2-3 faculty members representing the key disciplinary areas of their plan. The faculty member from the primary area of study will serve as the student’s main point of contact throughout the planning process.

  • Once a student has indicated an interest in proposing a SDMJ, they will need to meet jointly with their primary faculty advisor and the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs (AVPAA) to review the process and requirements and get access to the online SDMJ planning form.

  • The final SDMJ proposal should be submitted to the AVPAA no later than three (3) semesters prior to graduation.

  • The AVPAA will review the proposal and may schedule a follow-up meeting with the student and their Self-Designed Major committee. 

  • Once the proposal is finalized and approved, the AVPAA will notify the Office of the Registrar so that the customized SDMJ degree requirements can be entered into the student’s record.

Notes:

  1. In addition to developing their plan for major requirements, students pursuing a Self-Designed Major must pay close attention to Core Curriculum requirements and other Bachelor's Degree requirements.
  2. An approved application form must be filed with the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs who will notify the Office of the Registrar no later than three semesters prior to graduation. Usually, this deadline will be the end of the student’s fifth semester.
  3. The student must be in good academic standing prior to submission of the proposal.