Interdepartmental (IDPT)

The Individual Interdepartmental Major

Students in the bachelor of arts curriculum who wish to study subjects, issues or interests that cannot be met by the offerings of an established major may do so by proposing an interdepartmental major. This major shall consist of no fewer than eight and no 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 the Culminating Experience for the interdepartmental major. All proposals for individual interdepartmental majors are submitted to the College of Arts & Sciences dean's office. Any subsequent requirements or special adjustments in this program will be proposed by the student and the primary adviser and submitted to the dean's office as well. Proposals will then be submitted to the Interdepartmental Major Subcommittee of the Arts & Sciences Curriculum Committee for review and approval.

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 or PDF copy of the application form from the college dean's office.
2. Identify and request a faculty member in one of the appropriate academic departments to serve as primary 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 College of Arts & Sciences dean's office for submission to the Interdepartmental Major Subcommittee of the Arts & Sciences Curriculum Committee for review and final approval.