The individually designed Interdisciplinary Studies major helps to accommodate Endicott students whose interests are not met by current Endicott majors. The program is not designed to overlap with existing majors but rather to provide qualified students with an academic program that meets their unique needs. Offering students flexibility, independence, and academic rigor, this option provides undergraduates with the opportunity to draw on the resources of the entire Endicott curriculum, across majors and disciplines.
Application Process:
Students must submit, and have approved, a detailed proposal that describes their anticipated area of study. Students must complete the College’s core curriculum, two semesters of world language, two IDS 201 Interdisciplinary Seminars, IDS 302 Methods of Inquiry in the Humanities, or PSY 240 Research Methods, and IDS 489 Senior Research and IDS 490 Senior Thesis or IDS 491 Senior Capstone. Students may apply no earlier than the second semester of their first year and no later than the first semester of their junior year. The proposal for acceptance into the individually designed Interdisciplinary Studies major should include the following:
- A statement that clearly defines the focus of the student’s Interdisciplinary studies major. Students should explain the rationale behind their proposal and describe connections between courses to be taken, internships to be explored, and professional goals to be pursued.
- A statement that explains how the proposal will allow the student to pursue a unique course of study.
- A tentative list of the eight courses (24 credits) that will comprise the student’s concentration. Subsequent changes are not encouraged, but if they are necessary students must get the approval of their advisor and the Dean of the School of Social Sciences, Communications, and Humanities. If nine or more credits are to be taken in an existing Endicott major, the proposal will be reviewed by the dean of that program.
Before applying, students should discuss their interest in the major with Department Lead. In preparation of the proposal, consultation with advisors and/or professors is encouraged. Completed proposals should be submitted to the Dean of the School of Humanities, Communication and Social Sciences, who will review them along with the Provost, and Deans of other schools if at least three courses in the proposed concentration satisfy requirements in a program they oversee. Students will be notified in writing of their acceptance into the program. The title of the individually designed major will appear on the transcript upon degree completion.