Individual Major

Anne Berry, Tomson Hall 154
507-786-3361

wp.stolaf.edu/cis

The Individual Major

The Individual Major Program (IM) is the academic home for students who choose to pursue a self-designed, integrative Individual Major. Students propose a sequence of courses, seminars, independent studies, or experiential learning as the means of pursuing an Individual Major. Proposals must include:

1. A description of the proposed area or topic of study.

2. A list of at least 10 courses organized in 3 areas, with an explanation of how each area and course contributes to the major. The 10 courses can include the senior capstone course. 

3. A set of key questions that will guide studies in the major, including broader questions in the disciplines supporting the major and specific questions related to narrower topics of the major.

4. Initial plans for at least 2 potential senior projects. 

5. A summary of the student's preparation to carry out the proposed major, and a justification of the major as a coherent, integrative academic plan. 

Each proposal must have the support of a faculty academic advisor. The coherence, depth, and feasibility of each proposal are evaluated in a Final Review Consultation (FRC), after which the student is allowed to declare the Individual Major. At the end of the senior year, the student’s work in the major is publicly presented to the IM faculty and certified by the IM Director. Proposals for Individual Majors may be submitted any time during the sophomore year and the first part of the junior year. The deadline for final approval of an Individual Major is Dec. 1 in the fourth semester prior to the student's  graduation. Should a student be planning to graduate mid-year, the deadline for final approval will be moved up one semester to May 1. 

Most students pursuing an Individual Major have only one major, and none can have more than two majors total. Pre-existing concentrations at the college cannot be expanded into an Individual Major nor can a concentration serve as the base for Individual Major coursework. Should a student have another major or a concentration, no more than three courses that count toward those areas may be used toward the 10 required for the Individual Major. Study abroad/away can be used to count toward the 10 course total.

All Individual Majors are eligible for the Ken Bonde Memorial Award. Students are nominated by their IM Faculty Advisors, and awards are determined by a committee chaired by the Director. More information about the award is available on the Individual Major website.

The Web Portfolio

Each student with an Individual Major creates and maintains a public web portfolio that demonstrates the integration and coherence of their major.  Its web-based structure allows a student to make explicit links among the examples of their own work as well as to outside sites of public discussion related to the topic of the Individual Major. The web portfolio also allows a student to track and reflect on their intellectual development as they complete their studies.  The web portfolio must be submitted to the Director with the list of completed courses and the senior project by no later than two weeks prior to the end of their final semester.