"Design Your Own" Majors at Publics?

Parents Forum
1

<p>My daughter has interests in international community service management that do not fit neatly into a traditional undergraduate major. When she applied to colleges, she chose to apply to three publics without too much detailed research into majors offered, although she had created an initial list of potentials from a College Board search on "international studies." We had been to a prospective student fair at our state flagship where she saw some majors/minors that would fit together to fit her interests, and I think she thought that would be the case at any state flagship university; she actually did research majors more at the 3 privates to which she applied.</p>

<p>She still likes the other two publics, but I've been looking at their majors (in hopes that she will eventually ask my opinion) and don't see much fit other than their versions of "design your own" major. They don't even seem to have international studies majors except buried under Political Science, with most course choices limited to international politics. Does anyone have experience with how frequently customized majors are done and/or how realistic it is at large publics? Are there disadvantages to doing so? Any other advice? (If it makes a difference, she's been offered honors programs, which at least try to sell acceptees that more personalized advising exists.)</p>

2

<p>At some publics, the honors program includes the "design-your-own-major" feature, with help getting into courses. The Echols program at U.Va. has this (or at least did in the past). Perhaps you could have her call the honors program office and ask to talk to an advisor?</p>

3

<p>You can do it at UC Santa Cruz and I am sure other UC schools as well.</p>

4

<p>You need to talk to the schools involved. Make an appointment with, or send a letter to the department head. </p>

<p>If it helps, I remember that Will Shortz (the editor of the NY Times crossword puzzle and many Sudoku books) self-designed his major of "Enigmatology" at Indiana U in the 1970's.</p>