From the
Provost

Welcome to St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
At St. Mary’s we are all learners, dedicated to creative and intellectual exploration in a community revolving around our students. We invite you to engage fully in the exciting academic life that we create together and to challenge yourself to work toward excellence in all that you undertake. My staff and I wish to provide you with the support you need to be successful in your endeavors. Don’t hesitate to call on us.

- Larry Vote, Provost

The Core
Curriculum

St. Mary's
Projects

 

Would You Like To Design Your Own Major?

That's what Amanda Smith '07 (below, right) is doing as she meets with the coordinator of the student designed major. She is proposing a major, "Psychology, Media, and Marketing." In her junior and senior years she will study economics and psychology at St. Mary's, spending one semester on media courses at New York University.

Contact Professor Don Stabile, Coordinator of Student-Designed Majors, in Kent Hall 228.

How Do You Design Your Own Major?

In your sophomore year, as you are finishing you general education requirements, meet with an advisory committee of faculty members to present your ideas. Work with them to design a program of at least 44 credit-hours, chosen from at least two but not more than four disciplines.

In your senior year, complete an 8-credit St. Mary's Project (SMP)--again of your own design.

Policies and Guidelines

• Section I - Requirements for the Major
• Section II - Administration of the Major
• Section III - Advisers and the St. Mary’s Project Mentor
• Section IV - Admission to the Major and Program Changes
• Section V - The Proposal for the Major
• Section VI - Sample Listing of Courses for ISDM in Chinese Studies
• SectionVII - The St. Mary’s Project

You can also download the entire guidelines in PDF format

Section I - Requirements for the Major

1. The completion of all general education requirements;
2. Admission to the major, through approval by the advisory committee;
3. A minimum of 44 semester-hours of course work, chosen with the advice of the student’s advisory committee;
4. Courses chosen from at least two and not more than four disciplines. (Some flexibility in the number of disciplines represented is possible for student-designed majors in topics related to approved cross-disciplinary study areas;)
5. Three upper-division courses in the primary discipline, and at least three upper-division courses from among the secondary disciplines.
6. A St. Mary’s Project of 8 semester-hours;
7. Elective credits to complete the required total of 44 semester- hours.

A grade of C- or better must be obtained in all courses in the student-designed major, and the student’s cumulative GPA in the major must be at least 2.00. Internship semester-hours will not be applicable to the 44 required semester-hours.

Section II - Administration of the Major

Each student-designed major will be administered by an advisory committee. To provide continuity for the major program as well as for individual students choosing this major, the administrative member of the committee will be the Coordinator of Student-Designed Majors. The remaining advisory committee members will consist of two faculty advisers chosen by the student, one from the discipline of primary concentration, and one from a secondary area of concentration. All proposals and program changes will be developed by the student in consultation with members of the advisory committee and must be approved by the committee.

Section III - Advisers and the St. Mary’s Project Mentor

1. Each student will develop a program in consultation with the advisory committee (see Section 2). The student should select one member of this committee to chair the committee. In choosing the advisory committee, the student should be aware of the faculty members’ future plans and should choose a primary adviser who will be on campus throughout the course of the program. If unforeseen circumstances require the replacement of a faculty adviser, the remaining advisory committee members should help the student choose a replacement.
   
2. The advisory committee must approve and sign the student’s initial proposal, including the projected program of courses, before the student is formally admitted to the major. The committee may recommend supplemental advisers if they deem it necessary. Upon the student’s admission to the major, the advisory committee will be responsible for advising the student until the student graduates. Consequently, the advisory committee oversees not only the student’s fulfillment of the requirements of the major but also the student’s fulfillment of all requirements for the B.A. degree at St. Mary’s College of Md.
   
3. The student will design a St. Mary’s Project in consultation with a faculty mentor. The St. Mary’s Project mentor is not required to be a member of the advisory committee. The St. Mary’s Project mentor is responsible for overseeing and grading the project.

Section IV - Admission to the Major and Program Changes

1. The student wishing to pursue a Student-designed Major must apply for admission to the major by submitting a proposal for an SDM to the Coordinator of Student-Designed Majors. Prior to submitting this proposal, the student must have chosen an advisory committee and secured their agreement to act as members. The completed proposal must be submitted no earlier than the first week of the first semester of the sophomore year. It is recommended that students design their SDM before the end of their junior year. The application must include a written proposal and a program of courses that includes all courses for the major. The student is responsible for all other requirements for the B.A. degree at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. The proposal should be developed in consultation with the advisory committee. A copy of approved proposals will be kept on file by the Coordinator of Student-Designed Majors.
2. Revisions to the program may be submitted any time for approval by the advisory committee. Forms for submission of program may be obtained online.
3. In all cases, the student is responsible for meeting the deadlines of the program. To receive permission of leaves of absence or policy privileges not specifically addressed by College academic policy, the student must first apply through the advisory committee.

Section V - The Proposal for the Major

A proposal for a Student-Designed Major must be submitted to the student’s advisory committee. Although the advisory committee may already be familiar with the student’s intended program, it is through the written proposal for the major that the advisory committee will come to understand and evaluate the nature of the student’s plans. It is very important, therefore, that the proposal for the Student-Designed Major be written clearly, coherently, and with a comprehensive coverage of the student’s intended academic goals. The proposal should fully describe the following:

1. The student’s special academic interests along with an explanation of why they cannot be addressed by existing majors.
2. The student’s educational goals and the role that the student-designed major will play in the fulfillment of those goals.
3. The courses to be taken that constitute the ISDM. (See Section 6 for a model.)
4. Any anticipated field work, independent research, or independent studies as well as plans for off-campus study (internship credits are excluded from fulfilling the major requirements).
5. Possible subjects for the St. Mary’s Project and an indication of the courses that will be used to complete the project. Students may register for St. Mary’s Project as IDIS 493/494, or through one of the disciplines (e.g., ENGL 493/494).

Although it is not likely that a student will have a clear idea for a St. Mary’s Project at the time of application for the major, a preliminary description of desired projects will give the committee a clearer insight into the student’s aims.

Section VI - Sample Listing of Courses for ISDM in Chinese Studies

• * Primary discipline: Chinese language courses
  • *FLCH 101: Elementary Chinese I – 4 credits
  • *FLCH 102: Elementary Chinese II – 4 credits
  • FLCH 201: Intermediate Chinese I – 4 credits
  • FLCH 202: Intermediate Chinese II – 4 credits
  • FLCH 335: Chinese Literature – 4 credits
  • FLCH 399: Independent Study in Chinese Culture – 4 credits
  • Yunnan Program (Transfer credits) – 10 upper-division credits
  • Total: 34 credits
• * Secondary discipline 1: History courses
  • *HIST 105: Legacy of the Modern World – 4 credits
  • plus 8 credits chosen from the following list:
    • *HIST 301: Immigrant and Family Life in 20th Century America – 4 credits
    • HIST 315: U.S. Diplomatic History to 1900 – 4 credits
    • HIST 351: History of Traditional China – 4 credits
    • HIST 352: History of Modem China – 4 credits
  • Total: 12 credits
• * Secondary discipline 2: Anthropology courses
  • Yunnan Program (ANTH transfer credits) – 4 upper-division field study credits
  • Total: 6 credits
• * St. Mary’s Project IDIS 493/494: SMP combining Chinese language, history, and anthropology
  • * Total: 8 credits

TOTAL NUMBER OF CREDITS FOR THE MAJOR: 58 credits

*Courses already taken

Section VII - The St. Mary's Project

Every student will complete a St. Mary’s Project. The process for proposing and completing a St. Mary’s Project in the student-designed major is the same as any other major. The student will find a mentor willing to work on the St. Mary’s Project. Working with the mentor, the student will prepare a project proposal and an action plan for the St. Mary’s Project. Both of these forms are available online, and should be turned in to the Registrar’s Office after completion.

Important Forms

• Application for the Student-designed major
• Student-designed major proposal approval form
• Program revision for Student-designed major