For example, at Berry College, Rette Solomon ’24 created a unique academic experience where she could pursue her dreams without sacrificing her passion. As a lifelong photographer and equestrian, she pursued a long-term goal of working in the equestrian world as a visual storyteller. Devising her own major, she designed, proposed and blended a plan that included coursework from marketing, communication, entrepreneurship and art. Today, she is the content and marketing specialist for Tryon International Equestrian Center and Resort.
Are you a student who has a variety of interests that do not neatly fit into a traditional major? Or are you fascinated by how different areas of study intersect? If these descriptions pique your curiosity, you might want to consider an individually designed major in college. Not all colleges offer this path, but many times, smaller schools with high faculty-to-student engagement offer ways to intertwine disciplines to meet your career goals. Explore how you can design, propose and pursue your own interdisciplinary track in college in this article.
What is an individually designed major (IDM)?
Typically, college students choose and officially declare a major. “Declaring a major” does not mean yelling your favorite subject out your window or posting #premed on your socials. Instead, students fill out a form with their advisor, and the registrar’s office keeps this official record on file, tracking that students follow the correct series of classes to earn academic credit toward graduation. Experts in each field agree on the series of classes required to graduate, known as the curriculum. Students cannot graduate until they have completed all the required courses.
In contrast to this more common process, an IDM major is a flexible academic curriculum or path designed to allow students to combine courses from different areas of study to create a cohesive and academically rigorous major. Whether you are interested in blending technologies with political science or integrating environmental studies with business, an IDM major provides the framework to tailor your education to your aspirations.
What does it take to design a major?
Although this process may look a little different across the board, many colleges use a similar system to the one in place at Berry College included below:
1. Faculty collaboration
Because curriculum is typically agreed upon by experts, others in your field should also understand the value of your plan. To design an IDM major that will be academically recognized, students need to work closely with their advisor and at least two faculty members to develop the major curriculum that aligns with field standards. Together, students and faculty can identify important objectives, learning outcomes and the courses that will help achieve specific goals and receive the respect needed in their areas of focus.
2. Proposal development
After initial discussions, students typically draft a proposal outlining an approximate 60-hour cross-disciplinary plan of study. Students propose a major title and write an essay explaining how the selected courses and the proposed program best meet their educational goals and specific learning outcomes.
3. Capstone project with real-world application
Once approved by Berry, an IDM major has extensive learning resources at their disposal, including advising for international travel, civic engagement opportunities, undergraduate research and access to state-of-the-art labs and creative spaces. The IDM major culminates in a capstone project or paper that integrates the coursework from each area, demonstrating the student’s comprehensive understanding of the chosen fields.
Who should consider an IDM major?
Casey Dexter, dean of undergraduate experiences at Berry College, describes the type of students who benefit from designing their own majors: “These students are often driven by a unique blend of passions with clear personal and professional goals in mind. For example, a student seeking depth and focus in organizational leadership may choose to curate a collection of coursework and specialized training in psychology, communication and management. By weaving together distinct but interconnected experiences, they chart a personalized academic path with the help of multiple faculty mentors.”
In other words, an IDM major is perfect for highly motivated and self-directed students who want to take control of their education. It is for students looking for flexibility to explore diverse interests and the opportunity where a double major or minor does not meet their needs for the dynamic career they have in mind.
For example, Hunter T. Berry ’21 majored in cyber law. With an eye on a position with the federal government in cybersecurity or in a company like Amazon, Microsoft or Google, he was deeply interested in the intersection of technology and law. Today, he works as a patent attorney, preparing patents and working on prosecution focused on technologies related to electrical engineering and computer science. His degree has continued to equip him with necessary critical-thinking skills while being flexible enough to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of technology.
Ready to chase down your dreams or blaze your own trail in college? Consider the Individually Designed Major at Berry College. Learn more here about this innovative program and start planning your future today.
