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Dictionary of Academic Regulations (Fredericksburg Campus)
Academic Regulations (Fredericksburg) Home > Dictionary of Academic Regulations (Fredericksburg Campus) > Regulations A to Z > M > Major, Special Program

MAJOR, SPECIAL PROGRAM.

This option allows a B.A./B.S. student in conjunction with his or her advisor, in lieu of a regular major program, to develop a major by selecting at least eight courses (30 to 40 credits) from two or more disciplines to form a coherent field of concentration.  The student must also complete the required prerequisites for all courses included in the special major.  Recent special major programs have been approved in Asian Studies, Creative Non-Fictional Writing, Cultural Studies: Africa and Latin America, Gender Studies in Journalism, Italian Studies, Linguistics, Planning and Design, and Women’s Studies.

Any B.A./B.S. student interested in developing a special major program must apply to the Curriculum Committee prior to completing 15 credits in the proposed special major program.  The approval of the Committee is required before a special major program can be undertaken.  The Committee usually meets once per month during the academic year. Committee meeting dates, course grid forms, and instructions for requesting approval of a program are available in the Office of Academic Services or online.

A BLS student interested in developing a special major must submit a degree plan to the BLS Committee before he or she accumulates 90 credits.  The major must contain a minimum of 39 hours of credit, at least 21 of which must be in upper level (300 or 400-level) courses.  The approval of the Committee is required before a special major program can be undertaken.  The Committee meets once per month during the academic year.  Requirements for the degree plan are available from the BLS Office and on the program’s website.  Once approved, the major program cannot be changed without the Committee’s approval of a written request, with rationale, from the student and approved by the student’s major adviser (see DEGREE PLAN.).

NOTES:

  • Courses taken to fulfill any Major Program requirement must be taken for graded credit.  No course that is to be counted in the credits required for the Major Program may be taken on a pass/fail basis.
  • A degree-seeking student must satisfy either the major program requirements listed in the University Catalog in effect at the time of major declaration OR any intact set of major requirements listed in a subsequent University Catalog.  Unlike General Education requirements, Major requirements are determined by the semester of major declaration, not by the date of matriculation.