(Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science)

An Individual Major is a self-designed program for students who find that their educational objectives cannot adequately be met by any of the University’s existing majors. The Individual Major allows students to incorporate courses from several academic areas into a unique program of study intended to prepare them for employment or graduate study in a specific field of interest. In keeping with the interdisciplinary mission of the University, all Individual Majors are strongly encouraged to incorporate courses from several academic areas offered at UW-Green Bay.

To develop an Individual Major, students must meet with a faculty adviser and the Associate Provost to discuss their educational and career objectives. Students write a proposal which includes a statement of objectives, a list of proposed courses for the major, intended degree, and a rationale explaining how those courses form a coherent program of study. The proposal must be approved by the Associate Dean and faculty adviser before being submitted to the Individualized Learning Committee for final approval. Students completing an Individual Major must complete all University requirements for a degree, including general education, residency, and English and mathematics proficiency. It is highly recommended that students who wish to pursue this course of study have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above.

The minimum requirements for an Individual Major include 30 credits of upper-level credits focused on an area, and an appropriate array of supporting courses. Students should submit the proposal to the Associate Provost no later than the beginning of their junior year to ensure timely graduation.

Additional information and assistance in planning an Individual Major is available from the Office of the Provost.

Individual Major

An Individual Major is a self-designed program for students who find that their educational objectives cannot adequately be met by any of the University’s existing majors. The Individual Major allows students to incorporate courses from several academic areas into a unique program of study intended to prepare them for employment or graduate study in a specific field of interest. In keeping with the interdisciplinary mission of the University, all Individual Majors must consist of coherent programs of study that are interdisciplinary in nature.

The Individual Major must also conform to all of the University’s requirements for graduation and be approved by

• The Associate Provost
• At least one faculty advisor selected by the student
• The Individualized Learning Committee

It is highly recommended that students interested in an Individual Major have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above. All the necessary approvals for an Individual Major must be completed no later than the end of your junior year.

Eight steps to developing an Individual Major

1. Identify your interests and research your career objectives and educational needs
   1. Discuss your career plans with others (faculty, family, professional contacts).
   2. Use the Internet and other resources to find additional information.
2. Discuss your plans with potential faculty advisors and then with the Associate Provost.
   1. Contact a member of the faculty who is knowledgeable in the area of your Individual Major. The faculty member also should be willing to guide your studies and to recommend approval of your program.
   2. After choosing your faculty advisor, discuss your plans with the Associate Provost. Students should bring the proposal to the Associate Provost the beginning of their junior year to ensure timely graduation.
3. Prepare your Individual Major proposal.
   1. Work with your faculty advisor to prepare a proposal three to five pages typed, double-spaced. The proposal should describe and explain why and/or how an Individual Major will allow you to achieve your objectives.
4. Proposals should include the following:
   1. Title (which will appear on your transcript)
   2. Personal background: relevant experience and interests
   3. Career goals
   4. Explanation of why you want an Individual Major
   5. Description of how the courses represent a cohesive program of study
   6. Explanation of why the proposed Individual Major is unique from an existing major, a double major or a major/minor on campus o Examples of similar programs at other institutions
   7. Timetable for completion
   8. Post-graduate plans
5. List all courses you propose to complete for your Individual Major.
   1. Divide your list into lower-level and upper-level courses. In creating the list, you should consult not only with your faculty advisor, but also with faculty teaching in programs in which you will be taking courses.
   2. List the course number, credits and title, and anticipated completion date as shown in the example below.¹
6.  Your list must contain at least 30 upper-level credits organized around an interdisciplinary theme. Keep in mind the Individual Major is an interdisciplinary program; your courses must come from at least two different academic areas/fields of study.
7. Get a letter of support from your faculty advisor.
   1. If the draft proposal and the list of courses are acceptable to the faculty advisor(s), request a letter of support from the advisor(s) to include with the proposal. Letters should indicate that the faculty advisor is confident that you will be able to manage the major and that he or she is willing to serve as an advisor.
8. Discuss your proposal with the Associate Provost.
   1. The Associate Provost will review your proposed program of study to assure it is clearly written, fulfills all University requirements, reflects the University emphasis on interdisciplinary study, and can be completed in a timely manner.
9. Submit your final proposal to the Associate Provost. The Associate Provost will schedule a meeting with the Individualized Learning Committee. The completed proposal should contain:
   1. Your narrative
   2. The list of courses and timeline for completing the Individual Major
   3. An unofficial copy of your transcript
   4. A letter or letters from the faculty member(s) who will be your advisor(s)

The Individualized Learning Committee will review your proposal and will:

• Approve the proposal;
• Request revision and resubmission of the proposal; or
• Deny the proposal

The Chair will notify you of the Committee’s decision.

Examples of completed Individual Major Programs:

• Sports Management
• Women’s Health Issues
• Nutrition Ecology
• Environmental Health Management
• Cross Cultural Health Studies

¹

Courses, credits, and titles            When completed    Where taken

PSYCH 102 (3 cr) Psychology          Enrolled                    UW-Green Bay

HUM STUD 201 (3 cr) Humanities  Spring ’16                 UW-Green Bay

ART 105 (3 cr) Drawing                      Fall ’17                      UW-Oshkosh

Faculty