For Prospective
Students

Admissions
Majors & Requirements
Student Life
Financial Aid
Scholarships
The Work College Program
The Career Resource Center
Internship Program
Global Field Studies
Senior Applied Research
Project—SARP

Self-Designed Major

The Self-designed major is a student-centered option for those who wish to explore an area outside of currently offered majors or to integrate coursework from existing major areas. Students work closely with faculty to develop a high-quality academic program that both fulfills students’ educational goals and is within the realm of faculty expertise. Examples of self-designed majors include: Sustainable Systems, Natural History, Dance & Community Development, and Human Ecology, among others.

Self-Designed major proposals include the following:

• 1. Name of proposed major
• 2. Narrative of rationale for proposed major and how it is consistent with the Sterling College mission.
• 3. Name of faculty advisor and narrative of how the advisor’s expertise and interests support the major
• 4. Details of studies that support the major, including:
• • a. Preliminary description of a Senior Applied Research Project that integrates the various aspects of the self-designed major
  • b. Details of any independent study, special-topic course, or self-designed semester plans.
• 5. Resources supporting the proposed major, including personal contacts, organizations, sources of funding, equipment, etc.
• 6. Required courses Credits
• • a. *NS3xx or SS3xx: Quantitative or Qualitative Research Methods 1.0
  • b. *NS439 or SS439: Senior Applied Research Project I 3.0
  • c. *NS440 or SS440: Senior Applied Research Project II 9.0
  • d. *HM445 Senior Applied Research Project Presentation 3.0
• 7. Courses that support the major (in addition to required courses) and an explanation of course progression. They should include:
• • a. 3 credits of Applied Science electives
  • b. 8 credits of Natural Science electives
  • c. 3 credits of Social Science electives
  • d. 3 credits of Humanities electives
  • e. 6 credits of 300- and 400-level courses supporting the self-designed major, including one capstone course.
• Capstone Course
  A capstone course is a three-credit, upper-level course that builds upon all previous courses in the major. It requires students to integrate concepts from courses within the major, allowing for greater, more universal comprehension. It should result in a synthesis of the components of the major to give the student greater insight and the ability to address controversial issues that will arise.
  
  Examples of capstone courses are:
  NS415: Senior Seminar in Natural History NS425: International Forestry and Wildlife Issues SS425: Education and Culture NS435: Global Agriculture HM/SS/NS455: Northern Studies Senior Seminar
  
  An example of an approved capstone course for a self-designed major in Human Ecology:
  A base of one existing capstone course (from list above) plus one credit independent study in Human Ecology.

• Timeline
• 1. Proposals, signed by both student and advisor, are due to the Curriculum Committee by the end of the first semester of Junior year.
• 2. Amendments are due by the end of the second semester of Junior year.