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Program
of Study
The Individual Majors Program allows a student
to design a course of study which is not represented in
one of the more than 50 departmental and interdepartmental
majors currently offered at Wellesley. A student
interested in designing an individual major must explain
why her academic interests are not adequately addressed
through these existing departmental and interdepartmental
programs. Likewise, the proposed individual major must
represent and be described as a meaningful program of
interdepartmental coursework built around a specific
departmental concentration. The major should lead to the
cumulative development of knowledge and expertise in a
student's fields of interest. Finally, it should include
both theoretical and methodological work at the advanced
level. The statement of intent should indicate the
assumptions or questions to be explored in the major,
with a clear rationale for the selection of courses.
An
Individual Major ordinarily will include at
least:
- Eight units of coursework above the Grade I
level -- for courses taken away from Wellesley, catalogue descriptions must be submitted with proposal
- An area of concentration (a minimum of four units of
coursework in one department above the Grade I
level)
- Two units of coursework at the Grade III level
Advisors
A student planning an individual major must have
two advisors representing two different departments
included in the major. One advisor should be from the
departmental from which the area of concentration is
drawn. A student whose individual major includes a
substantial number of M. I. T. courses may wish to have
an M. I. T. advisor in addition to the two Wellesley
advisors.
In becoming individual major advisors, faculty are
agreeing to work closely with the student to assure that
her selection of courses and their proposed sequencing
represent a strong and coherent program of study. The two
faculty advisors are expected to meet jointly with the
student to develop her major plan and should continue to
meet with her once each term after the major has been
approved. Prior to graduation, both advisors are required
to certify that the student has fulfilled all
requirements for the major as outlined in her approved
plan of study.
Once the plan has been discussed and approved, the
proposal form should be completed by the student and the
statement of intent signed by both advisors. Newly required in Fall
2005 The
primary advisor should write a statement as to why the student's
plan of study
cannot be accomplished within an existing major. A
grade report or online unofficial transcript is also required.
Please
return
to
Jennifer
Lewis (Registrar's
office,
Room
336) for presentation to the CCI for final approval.
Deadlines
A student seeking approval for an individual
major should submit her proposal
as early as possible, customarily in the second semester
of her sophomore year. Students in the Class of 2008 should submit
their proposals on or before Monday, April 9, 2007. The Committee
on Curriculum and Instruction will not ordinarily accept individual
major
proposals in the senior year.
After an individual major has been approved, the
student must complete the courses planned for the major
as described in her proposal. Any changes to an
individual major must be approved by both advisors (as
indicated by their signatures) and submitted to the
Committee on Curriculum and Instruction normally no later
than the end of the add/drop period in the first semester
of the senior year. The Committee on Curriculum and
Instruction must approve all changes to an individual
major.
Forms
- Jennifer G. Lewis JLewis@wellesley.edu
- Office of the Registrar
- Date Created: Sept 21, 2000
- Date Modified: Sept 12, 2006
- Expires: January 1, 2008
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