Other Programs of Interest
Self-Determined Majors
A qualified student (3.0 GPA or better) may propose a major curriculum other than
one among the current list of majors at Skidmore. The self-determined major is neither
a double major nor an interdepartmental major. Rather, it reflects the integration
of more than one discipline toward the attainment of a clearly developed and coherent
course of study. The degree program must contain a core of not fewer than ten courses
pertinent to the student's central interest, one of these being an independent study
project that integrates this core of courses, or a senior seminar or colloquium in
which a main project achieves the same goal. Self-determined majors must meet the
all-college requirements, including the maturity-level requirement.
The student proposes a course of study to the Self-Determined Majors Program through
the Director of the Program. A student must apply to pursue a self-determined major
by the second semester of the sophomore year prior to registering for classes for
the junior year. Students making such an application must likewise declare an alternate
major, should the Self-Determined Major proposal not be approved. A final self-determined-major
proposal must be approved no later than October 15 of the junior year or its equivalent,
or the student will need to pursue the alternate major.
Recent self-designed majors include arts administration, documentary studies, digital sound & image, film studies, media & communications, public Health, social justice studies, and music engineering, production, & acoustics.
For more information on the Self-Determined Major homepage to learn more about the program and how to create a proposal.