Application Process

A major in Interdisciplinary Studies must be approved before carts open in PATH in the final semester of the student’s junior year. Proposals for self-designed majors are submitted using the button below, approved by the adviser and then by the Vice-Dean for Arts, Humanities and Interdisciplinary Studies, in consultation with the Committee on Interdisciplinary Studies (CIS). The committee meets once a month to consider proposals. Dates of meetings for each semester are posted on the Committee’s website. Often the CIS requests applicants to revise and resubmit their proposal; these changes are not considered for approval until the next meeting.

There are five components to the proposal for self-designed majors:

Declaration/change of major form
Course selection form (see below)
Your unofficial transcript (uploaded in the application)
A completed questionnaire that provides a rationale for your proposed program of study
A brief statement of support from your advisor.

Apply now for self-designed major

Course Selection Form

Your proposal for a self-designed major should include and identify the following categories of courses:

Introductory courses: generally numbered in the 1xx or the 2xx range, these courses give prospective majors a broad overview of the field and prepare them for taking advanced courses in the major. You should include no more than two of these in your course list.
Core courses: these courses cover the subject matter and engage the methods that define the academic field as a whole. They are rarely topics classes. Students in traditional majors are often required to take these courses, or to select related courses from a list to fulfill area requirements. Your advisor will help you choose and identify these for your own major. You should include between 9 and 15 credits of core courses in your course list.
Electives: these courses build on the core material. Often narrower in scope than core courses, they allow students to explore subfields in the subject. Students often choose from a menu of electives (in this case you will be required to take all of the courses you list). Electives are often fulfilled by topics classes (see above). If you include a topics class in your course list, be sure to identify the specific class title. As a self-designed major you may include a wide range of courses in this grouping, including repurposing core courses from traditional majors. You should include 9-15 credits of electives in your course list.
Capstone: these courses, generally numbered at the 4xx level and often designated as a COLL 400, give majors the opportunity to bring together what they have learned by studying and researching a specific topic in the field. Three credits or more of Interdisciplinary Independent Study or an Honors Project may also serve as a capstone. The procedures and standards for an Honors Project will be those in force in the department or program of the student's honors advisor. You should devote 3-6 credits of your major to a capstone experience.
Major Writing Requirement: These courses provide students with the opportunity build on the writing proficiency they develop in COLL 150; they are generally offer as advanced classes (300 or 400 level) in the major.

Proposal Questionnaire

You will be asked to respond to the following questions:

How does your major build on, and differ from standing majors offered by W&M? Why don’t available majors fulfill your educational goals?
Have you found majors similar to the one you are proposing at other universities? If so, which ones did you find useful and how have you adapted their requirements to your own design?
Fields of study are defined by method or practice, and by subject matter. Students are usually introduced to essential subject areas and methods in their core courses. Identify those courses in your major; why did you choose them?
Comment on how courses outside the core build on and contribute to your defined field.
How will this major enhance your education?
How does this major prepare you for your career plans?

Proposal and Approval Timeline

Complete the application process with your advisor. Make sure your application is accurate and be sure to save a .pdf copy.
For timely consideration by the CIS, please submit your proposal no later than one week before a scheduled meeting of the committee.
Approval can take up to 30 days once the application is submitted.
If for any reason the application requires further details or revisions by the student and/or advisor, the application process will have to start from the beginning.
Upon approval, an email confirmation will be sent to the student, advisor, and the Registrar’s Office. Please note that it can take up to 5 days before the information is updated in DegreeWorks.

Change in Program

Any changes to your approved self-designed major must be made using the Petition for Change [DocuSign]. Work with your advisor to make sure your proposed changes will still fulfill all requirements.

Priority Registration

Since students pursuing self-designed majors do not have the same priority registration privileges as most students in majors offered by departments and programs, they may request an override for any “Major Restricted” course during the priority registration period. Please note that overrides can only be granted for courses that are core requirements of your Self-Designed major. Undergraduate Education staff will verify that the course(s) you request is required. However, please note that this is NOT a guarantee that you will get into a course. It simply gives you the same access to enrollment as majors in the department. We will contact you at the appropriate time to ask you to submit your override requests.

For More Information About the Application Process: Please contact Sharon Morris, Undergraduate Education Administrative Coordinator.