INDIVIDUALIZED STUDIES

 

Individualized Studies Program

 

Contact: Chair, Committee on Interdisciplinary Studies

 

Degree Offered:

 

Bachelor of Arts Individualized Studies: (specific title of student’s program)

 

Students whose intellectual and professional goals are not achieved within the boundaries of existing majors may design, with the help of two or more faculty mentors, an interdisciplinary degree program in Individualized Studies with area(s) of specialization chosen by the student and reflected on the student’s transcript and diploma. One full-time faculty member should be identified as the chief sponsor. The INS proposal should include programmatic student learning objectives and should demonstrate linkage between the INS major’s mission and the college’s mission for each student’s curriculum plan. Curriculum designs are available from the Registrar’s office and include:

 

            1.         45-hour College core.

2.         33 credit hours in the major (Individualized Studies portion). The requirements for these 33 credit hours are as follows:

 

a.         Specified coursework, including studies in two or more departments. To ensure the interdisciplinary nature of the program and its rigor, a maximum of 21 credits may be taken in one department.

b.         24 credits must be taken in upper level course work (300-400 level).

c.         IND 443 Senior Project or an equivalent capstone course offered in any of the College’s academic departments is required for completion of the program.

d.         Credits in the major may be selected from regular course offerings, approved study abroad experiences, field experience (including field experiences coordinated through our Cooperative Education and Service Learning departments, as well as field experiences/practica sponsored by academic       departments), and preapproved (by appropriate Daemen faculty) course work at other institutions.

                        e.         Studies may include a maximum of nine credits of Independent

                                    Study/Research.

 

3.         Twelve credit hours in foreign language must be completed through the intermediate level.

            4.         30 credit hours in free electives/ additional departmental requirements.

 

The Individualized Studies major is considered to be a proactive degree whereby the student and mentors design a program and obtain approval from the Committee on Interdisciplinary Studies (CIS). Although some courses the student may have taken before approval will count towards the 33 credit hours in the major, most of the major courses should be completed after approval by the CIS. Ordinarily, the CIS requires that students submit their Individualized Studies proposal no later than the midterm of the second semester of their sophomore year.  This time frame is necessary to ensure the academic soundness of the degree and to ensure that courses needed for degree completion will be offered when needed. It is also recommended that students complete at least their freshman year before applying for the Individualized Studies degree.

 

In order to develop an academically sound Individualized Studies major, interested students must follow the procedures set forth below:

 

a.         The student will meet with the Chairperson of the Committee on Interdisciplinary Studies to discuss the proposed individualized studies major and review the required forms to be submitted for the review of the major.

           

b.         The student must identify at least two full-time faculty members, given the focus of their intended area of study, who agree to act as sponsors for the proposed course of study, approve the selection of the courses that meet the breadth and depth expectations of the individualized study major, and monitor completion of the course of studies. The faculty member(s) must agree to assist the student in developing the curriculum of study and monitor the student’s progress.  

           

c.         The student and faculty advisors must submit a proposal for the Individualized Studies major to the CIS. The student and faculty members will meet together as a committee to complete the proposal. Supporting documentation must include the student’s typed proposal outlining the overview and rationale for the proposed course of studies, the courses that will comprise the major and an estimated completion calendar. In addition, recommendations by all faculty sponsors involved in the program must be submitted, along with forms acknowledging the proposal’s review by appropriate department chairs. The student must meet with the academic department chairs of those departments in which the program’s faculty sponsors hold appointment. Department chairs will have the opportunity to review and comment on the proposed program and will be asked to identify any issues (e.g. course availability) that may prevent the student from completing the program in a timely manner. The CIS will advise of any needed revisions in order to obtain approval. 

           

d.         The student cannot pursue the Individualized Studies major until CIS has approved the proposal. Once the proposal is approved, the student must complete the coursework as set forth in the proposal in order to graduate with the Individualized Studies degree. Changes to the program require the approval of the faculty mentors and the CIS.

           

e.         Ordinarily, it is expected that the course work required to complete the Individualized Studies major will be completed after the proposal has been approved.

           

f.          Approved proposals are sent to the Academic Dean for signature.