Self Design, BA

Self-Design Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts (30-48 credits)

The purpose of a Self-Designed major is to enable students to pursue an individualized program of studies different from one of the established majors available at Pitt-Greensburg. Students considering this alternative should schedule an appointment with a Pitt-Greensburg advisor.

1. A Self-Designed major must differ significantly from an existing Pitt-Greensburg major, must be multidisciplinary (i.e., include courses from more than one department), and must maintain the same high standard of academic quality as other Pitt-Greensburg majors (e.g., a student will be expected to earn a C- grade in all courses in the major and the student will be expected to complete a suitable capstone course as part of the major). Courses used to fulfill major requirements may not be used to fulfill simultaneously the General Education degree requirement for the baccalaureate.
2. A Self-Designed major must have one or more faculty sponsors who assist the student in developing the plan of studies. The faculty member(s) must agree to serve on a continuing basis in monitoring the student’s progress and approving any changes in the major. Faculty sponsorship is terminated when the student changes to another major or completes requirements for graduation.
3. Students interested in the Self-Designed major must submit a written proposal outlining the purpose, rationale, and courses of the self-designed major. The proposal should contain the following elements:
   1. Title Page
      1. Title of proposed major and degree sought (e.g., BA, BS).
      2. Name, address, work, and home telephone numbers.
      3. Name, department(s), and telephone number(s) of faculty sponsor(s).
      4. Signature of approval of the proposal by faculty member(s) and his/her/their division chair.
   2. Content of Proposal
      1. A clear statement of the purpose and rationale for the major must be made. Include the scope of the program of studies and relevance of the courses proposed.
      2. List the courses on a separate page with course numbers, titles, and number of credits.
      3. A minimum of 30 credits is required. A maximum of 48 credits is allowed if all the courses are in arts and sciences.
4. The Vice President for Academic Affairs grants final approval of the major through a letter to the faculty sponsor(s) and student. Any further changes in the major must also have approval from the Vice President for Academic Affairs.