
Individual-designed Major
The Individual-Designed major allows highly motivated and
self-directed students to pursue a course of study that falls
outside of existing majors and minors by developing an
individualized cross-disciplinary course of study. Students
pursuing the major will integrate courses from various
disciplines into a unified and coherent course of study that is
academically sound and that will contribute to the individual
student’s intellectual development.
For what type of careers might i be prepared?
The knowledge and skills acquired
in the individual-designed major can
be the foundation for careers in many
areas, including education, social work,
counseling, government, science,
health care, business, law and the arts.
Individual-designed majors often are
particularly well-suited to pursue graduate
work in their area of interest and include
service-learning projects and independent
study.
how and when would i apply for the individual-designed program?
If you are interested in pursuing an
individual-designed major, you should
meet with your adviser and then with at
least two appropriate faculty members
to discuss your interests and proposed
course of study. An application for
approval of an individual-designed major
is required and includes a two- to three page
essay describing a proposed course
of study and a listing of the courses to
be taken. Your plan must be developed
and approved before you complete 70
semester hours.
To propose an individual-designed
major, you should have a 2.5 or higher
GPA for all Berry courses completed.
more information
For more information on Individual-Designed Majors, visit our catalog.
Former and current students' individual-designed majors:
Agricultural Development
Child Development Family
Studies
Dance Biomechanics
Disability Studies
Human Development & Family Science
Linguistics
Public Health
Along with my passion for dance, I also have a passion for working with individuals with disabilities. I have a brother who is 25 and was born with cerebral palsy. Having a
brother with special needs
has really
taught me to never underestimate anyone’s capabilities.
Many look down upon those who have
physical or mental disabilities, and so I wanted
to share my love for dance
with those who aren’t given the opportunity to experience the joy that dance
has to offer. So I chose to pursue
an interdisciplinary
major with a concentration in both dance and
psychology.
Kara Kempthorne
Class of 2007