Individualized Major

The Individualized Major must be a coherent program of study that crosses disciplinary lines by combining courses from at least two disciplines. Any Individualized Major should adhere to the same principles of breadth,depth, and liberal-arts centered inquiry that the faculty has established for existing majors. Specific requirements include:

• At least 32 and no more than 56 semester hours;
• no more than 32 semester hours from the same disciplinary prefix;
• at least 12 upper-division semester hours and at least 12 lower-division semester hours;
• at least 4 Writing-centered semester hours, and
• an integrative senior capstone.

If the Individualized Major is a second major, no more than 50% of the course work from the first major may be counted towards it.

Proposals for Individualized Majors must be submitted no later than the end of the sophomore year—or, for students who have transferred in more than 48 semester hours, no later than the end of the first semester at Willamette.

Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis for students declaring an Individualized Major as a second major, or under other extraordinary circumstances. Students seeking an exception should consult with the Faculty Associate Dean for Curriculum and Student Success.

The Individualized Majors proposal form includes instructions on how to develop the proposal with two tenure-track faculty and a representative from the CAS Dean's office. The form should be used for both student-created majors and pre-approved majors.

Proposal Instructions

All students designing an Individualized Major must consult, early in the process, with the Dean of Willamette College or the Associate Dean for Curriculum and Student Success, in Smullin 108.

Completed Proposal Requirements

For a pre-approved major:

• A completed Individualized Major proposal form with signatures
• A copy of the relevant template
• A chart laying out your course plan for your final four semesters in college

For a modification of a pre-approved major:

• A completed Individualized Major proposal form with signatures
• A copy of the relevant template
• A chart laying out your course plan for your final four semesters in college
• A proposed list of courses you will use to satisfy major requirements
• A narrative explanation of the modifications you are requesting
• An unofficial transcript

For an entirely new major:

• A completed Individualized Major proposal form with signatures
• A chart laying out your course plan for your final four semesters in college
• A narrative explanation of your proposed major, including a set of learning outcomes
• A proposed list of courses you will use to satisfy major requirements
• An unofficial transcript

Templated Majors

• Chinese
• French and Francophone Studies
• German
• Latin American Studies
• Russian