Requirements

Self-designed majors may be constructed in part or in whole from four-unit blocks that are administered through the Center for Integrative Learning. These self-designed major and minor proposals are approved by the Director of the Center for Integrative Learning in consultation with the proposed major/minor advisor. Application forms are linked on the webpage for the Center for Integrative Learning.

1. The major should be constructed from three or four blocks or two blocks plus an existing minor. One unit of additional coursework may also count toward the major (e.g., a capstone course).
2. Coursework should total a minimum of 12 units of academic credit but should not number more than 15.
3. At least one course must address methodology.
4. The major must include an appropriate capstone course.
5. A student may double-count no more than two courses with any other major or minor except in consultation with the Director of the Center for Integrative Learning.
6. The major application must demonstrate why the student’s educational goals cannot be met by existing majors, minors, or a combination thereof.
7. The application for a self-designed major must be submitted and approved by the Director of the Center for Integrative Learning before the end of the junior year.

Requirements

Final approval of these majors rests with the Director of Interdisciplinary Studies. The director evaluates proposals for majors after they have been approved by the faculty members consenting to serve as major advisors.

Students electing this option may apply as early as their third semester but no later than four weeks after classes begin in their fifth semester. Deadline for application is four weeks before the last day of classes if the application is to be acted on that semester.

Interested students should request proposal guidelines from the Provost’s Office and should consult two faculty members, who should assist the student in planning the major and preparing the proposal.

Since an interdisciplinary studies major requires well-developed integrative skills, students who wish to propose such a major will have to demonstrate academic ability beyond minimum competence. Normally, these students are expected to have and maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

Here is a detailed description of the steps necessary for declaring an interdisciplinary major.

1. In preparing proposals, students should keep in close touch with their intended advisors and should have each advisor send a supporting statement to the Director of Interdisciplinary Studies Committee indicating agreement to work with the applicant until the completion of the proposed major.
2. The proposed major should have a descriptive and appropriate title. This title will appear on the student’s transcript.
3. A list of courses should include all courses pertaining to the proposed major and should reflect depth as well as breadth. Coursework should total a minimum of 12 units of academic credit but should not number more than 15. No more than 5 units may already be completed at the time the applicant submits the first draft of a proposal for the major. Special projects courses should be listed under the categories indicated, together with the names of instructors who will supervise them. Special projects’ instructors should indicate their willingness to supervise these courses. Up to 3 units of special project work may count toward the major.
4. A proposed term-by-term course schedule should list all the courses that will satisfy graduation requirements. Course scheduling will be subject to change, but the plans should be as specific as possible, including approved special projects.
5. A copy of the academic transcript should be included.
6. A conceptual rationale should cover the total interdisciplinary major plan and experience. This substantive essay should describe and explicate the proposed major. The rationale should:
   1. State how the proposed major is consistent with the liberal arts.
   2. Explain how the proposed major will integrate and reflect on the disciplines.
   3. Tie together the various components of the proposed major, with attention to the achievement of breadth and depth and the ways in which particular courses advance the goals of the major.
   4. Explain how the proposed major can be supported by faculty, library, studio, and other resources at Beloit College.
   5. Propose a capstone experience that will synthesize and integrate the broad range of knowledge acquired in the process of completing the major.
   6. Explain why a departmental concentration would not serve the student’s intellectual goals.
7. An abstract of one page should introduce the proposal and include:
   1. Title of the proposed major.
   2. Names of advisors.
   3. A one or two-paragraph statement of goals and objectives containing a precise indication of the focus and intentions of the major.

Requirements

Self-designed minors may be constructed from four-unit blocks that are administered through the Center for Integrative Learning. These self-designed major and minor proposals are approved by the Director of the Center for Integrative Learning in consultation with the proposed major/minor advisor. Application forms are linked on the webpage for the Center for Integrative Learning and the Registrar’s Office.

1. At least four units from one of the blocks administered by the Center for Integrative Learning.
2. Two additional courses from the same block. Students may propose up to two units outside the block (e.g. study abroad courses) for approval.
3. A student may double-count no more than one course with any other major or minor except in consultation with the Director of the Center for Integrative Learning.
4. The application for a self-designed minor must be submitted and approved by the Director of the Center for Integrative Learning by the end of the junior year.

Requirements

A student may design an interdisciplinary minor that integrates perspectives from several academic disciplines, although the manner in which such integration is accomplished will vary with the minor and may include special projects.

Final approval of these minors rests with the Director of Interdisciplinary Studies. The director evaluates proposals for minor concentrations after they have been approved by the faculty member(s) consenting to serve as minor advisor(s). Deadline for application is four weeks before the last day of classes if the application is to be acted on that semester.

A more detailed description of the steps necessary for declaring an interdisciplinary minor is available from the Provost’s Office and on the college’s website.

1. The proposed minor should have:
   1. A descriptive and appropriate title.
   2. Six units that are explicitly integrated.
   3. At least 2 units from each of 2 different disciplines.
   4. Three units at the 200-level or above.
   5. A rationale (approximately 750 words) that includes an explanation of how each individual course contributes to the minor as well as an articulation of the purpose and ideas or questions that are central to the minor.
2. A field of study that is more than an extension of the student’s major.
3. Additional requirements:
   1. No more than two-thirds of the units required for the minor may be taken in one department.
   2. No more than 4 units that count toward the minor may be in progress or completed prior to approval of the minor.
   3. No more than 3 courses from an institution other than Beloit College may count toward the minor.
   4. No more than 2 courses counting toward the minor may also count toward the student’s major.
   5. One or more faculty member(s) must act as the advisor(s) for the minor.