Interdepartmental (IDPT)

The Individual Interdepartmental Major

Students in the Bachelor of Arts curriculum who wish to investigate subjects, issues, or interests that cannot be served practically by the offerings of an established major may do so by proposing an interdepartmental major. This major shall consist of not fewer than eight or more than 12 courses chosen from among the offerings of two or more departments. The major also requires the successful completion of a senior project, for academic credit, to serve as a means of unifying the experience of the interdepartmental major. All proposals for individual interdepartmental majors are evaluated and approved by the appropriate associate dean of the College. Any additional requirements or special adjustments in this program will be proposed by the student and the principal adviser and approved by the associate dean.

For an interdepartmental major, students should follow this procedure:

1. Review the application process for the interdepartmental major by either searching for the most current version of the application on the Bucknell website or obtaining a hard copy of the application form in the College's Dean's office.
2. Identify and request a faculty member in one of the appropriate academic departments to serve as principal academic adviser.
3. Identify and request two additional faculty members in one or more of the appropriate academic departments to serve as secondary academic advisers.
4. In consultation with the primary adviser and professors in the departments offering courses clearly related to their special interests, define the limits and the central purpose of a major program of interdepartmental study.
5. With the assistance of the advisers, prepare a formal proposal including:
   1. a statement of the reasons to pursue an interdepartmental major,
   2. a list of the courses that will constitute the program of study, and
   3. a preliminary description of the senior project and the ways in which it will serve to unify and integrate the various courses of study. (A complete and detailed description must be submitted before registration in the spring of the student’s junior year.) This formal application is normally due before spring break of the sophomore year.
6. Having satisfied the above obligations, obtain signature endorsements of their proposals on the application form from their primary and secondary faculty academic advisers with whom they have conferred, as well as from the heads of the departments in which they plan to take courses to complete their major.
7. Submit the completed, signed form to the appropriate associate dean of the College for final approval.