Rationale
The Human Problems and Sustainable Solutions major is a self-designed major available for students to develop a program of study that combines multiple fields of interest from the disciplines of the liberal arts in close consultation with faculty. Students may develop a program tailored to their specific interests, academic goals, or unique career aspirations.
Combining disciplines in a curated program provides opportunities for broadening intellectual and cultural awareness and developing multi-faceted assessment skills to address the complexities of contemporary issues.
Purpose
The purpose of the Human Problems and Sustainable Solutions major is to provide students the flexibility to explore a wide range of subjects that contribute to the understanding of the human experience while tailoring their studies to career or educational goals. This individualized program can be more meaningful and practical to the individual with specific professional or intellectual interests. The major highlights interdisciplinarity as a hallmark of the liberal arts and offers students an opportunity to explore multiple fields of study to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary for addressing complex contemporary issues.
Restrictions
Students who have not yet earned 75 credits should discuss their planned course of study with their faculty mentor and gain approval from the relevant academic departments. It is recommended that students consider framing their proposal around a thematic area or issue that necessitates an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary approach and submit a well-developed proposal of their design only after consultation with relevant faculty. The proposal must include a developed rationale for pursuing the program of studies with the courses that constitute this major. Once the proposal has been approved by chairs of the relevant academic departments and by the Dean of CHESS, the Registrar will be informed of the student’s intent to pursue the major and will keep the signed and approved proposal on file.
Major Requirements: 36 credits
1. Students should declare their intention to pursue the major and submit a rationale for their program of studies and the courses that will constitute it before they earn 75 credits.
2. This proposal must be approved by the department chairs who have agreed to sponsor the student. A mentor will be appointed from one of the departments.
3. Eighteen credits (18) must be in one liberal arts discipline (the primary discipline), of which a focus should be identified and mapped by the student and mentor, 6 of those credits must be at the 300-400 level.
4. Fifteen credits (15) can be selected from up to two other liberal arts disciplines of which a rationale for how these courses contribute to the overall thematic course of study should be given and mapped by the student and mentor.
5. Students must complete a three-credit capstone course, HUM 400, supervised by their advisor.
6. The General Education requirements for Paths of Knowledge may not be fulfilled by courses from the selected disciplines which constitute the major.
*If the areas of study are within the same department, then the department chair and a faculty member who teaches in one of the specific areas are asked to approve the proposal.
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