Self Designed Major

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>Is anyone or anyone you know doing a self designed major? If so, why, how is going, what are some challenges? Do you feel that for the most part it is worth it?</p>

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<p>My friend desgined a major that he is doubling with. He is a math and zombie survial double major. Guess which one he designed.</p>

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<p>uhhhh . . . math</p>

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<p>The school was cool with Zombie survival major?</p>

<p>Is that something he’s going to put on his resumes?</p>

<p>What classes is he taking for it anyway?</p>

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<p>At NYU, we have the Gallatin School of Individualized Study, where everyone creates their own program. </p>

<p>Honestly, some of the stuff strikes me as a bit stupid (Wine-making?), but who am I to judge? The students there have unique majors that they have almost complete control over, so they’re probably enjoying their classes a lot. As far as making up majors like “Zombie Survival”, honestly, NYU really just wants your money, they’ll let you study just about anything as long as it’s not completely idiotic. Of course, not many people have $200k to throw away on a Zombie degree. Although rumor has it a Gallatin alumnus majored in Evil and is now a CEO. :slight_smile: So if you want an individualized degree, definitely consider Gallatin at NYU. You’re also allowed to take classes in other NYU schools if you’re in Gallatin, so many students take “practical” classes like in the Business School while majoring in the History of Ceramics or whatever.</p>

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<p>me! it’s fun. i like being able to pick my own upper div requirements.</p>

<p>the only hard part is that sometimes you have to take an extra step in getting into upper-div classes because only majors are allowed in. for example, you have to email the prof and say that even though you’re not a psych major, you still would like to take their psych123 class because you made it required for yourself!</p>

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<p>He said he’s not going to put it on his resume.</p>

<p>Required classes:</p>

<p>A couple anatomy classes
Basic biology
2 EMT classes
2 wilderness survival classes
2 archery classes
3 jujitsu classes</p>

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<p>^you can do that at Northwestern?</p>

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<p>[1](<a href=“http://cbs2chicago.com/local/northwestern.rhodes.scholars.2.872368.html]Northwestern”>http://cbs2chicago.com/local/northwestern.rhodes.scholars.2.872368.html)

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<p>Hi,</p>

<p>Doing and individual major is something that my daughter might consider as she goes along. She is an incoming freshman this year at a “Big 10” school that allows this. We have heard that they are pretty flexible as long as there is a “purpose” to it (probably no Zombie majors :)). </p>

<p>Her strong interest at this point are Art, Writing, and Psychology. At her school Art is in the school of Education and the others in L&S. It would be hard to work through all 3 areas and still fulfill the Gen Eds. </p>

<p>Part of the advantage to her would be that in an individual major, she would be considered a major in all 3 areas, thus getting to take upper level course only open to majors.</p>

<p>The other part is that at her school to major in a subject you need to have 54 Art credits, 40 Psych, about 30 English to major in each of those areas. Her understanding is that if she put together a major of say “Art Therapy and the Communications of it’s Benefits to Society”, she might only need to take maybe 40 Art, 33 Psych, and 24 English. That way she would have enough time to fit the other requirements and still get a solid indebth education in all of the areas that interest her.</p>

<p>I have also heard that if MIGHT be a benefit in getting into some grad schools if done right.</p>

<p>DJD</p>

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