Overview

The BA or BS degree in the Independent Major allows highly self-motivated students to explore either an existing field that is not an explicitly designated major in the College and at UM (e.g., linguistics) or one that is emerging (e.g., peace studies) under the supervision of a Faculty Guidance Committee.

The Independent Major must consist of at least thirty (30) credit hours of coursework beyond those needed to fulfill General Education requirements. Of those thirty (30), at least six (6) must be at the 300 level; additionally, six (6) credit hours will be satisfied by a Capstone project/thesis in the last two (2) semesters of the Bachelor’s degree. If a student wishes to pursue the IM as a double-major, the Faculty Guidance Committee should give particular attention to the appropriateness of the student’s plan of study; in keeping with the College's regulations, the Independent Major must consist of at least 24 graded credit hours that are not counted towards any other major or minor.

A student’s Faculty Guidance Committee should be comprised of two tenured or tenure-track faculty, typically from different departments in the College of Arts & Sciences, who represent the disciplinary breadth of the courses selected for the IM. A third Faculty Guidance Committee member might be appropriate when the proposed course of study encompasses expertise from three Departments or disciplines. The Faculty Guidance Committee Chair, who has primary oversight responsibility regarding satisfactory completion of the major, will serve as the primary advisor for the student’s senior research/creative project under most circumstances, and must be a tenure-track faculty member. Exceptions to the Chair serving as the primary advisor might include situations where there are co-advisors. It is the role and responsibility of the student to assemble their Faculty Guidance Committee.

Curriculum Requirements

The Independent Major proposal must include at least thirty (30) credit hours of coursework beyond those needed to fulfill General Education requirements. Of those thirty (30), at least six (6) must be at the 300 level; additionally, six (6) credit hours will be satisfied by a Capstone project/thesis in the last two (2) semesters of the Bachelor’s degree. Because many courses have variable availability and conflicts are inevitable, strong proposals will identify more than 30 credit hours of coursework before being submitted to the Faculty Guidance Committee for approval. If a student wishes to pursue the IM as a double-major, the Faculty Guidance Committee should give particular attention to the appropriateness of the student’s plan of study; in keeping with the College's regulations, the Independent Major must consist of at least 24 graded credit hours that are not counted towards any other major or minor.

Independent Major Requirements
Approved courses 100-500 level18
Approved courses 300-500 level6
Capstone project/thesis project (to be completed during the last two semester)6
General Education Requirements
Written Communication Skills:
WRS 105First-Year Writing I3
WRS 106First-Year Writing II3
or ENG 106 Writing About Literature and Culture
Quantitative Skills:
Fulfilled through the Calculus Sequence
Areas of Knowledge:
Arts and Humanities Cognate9
People & Society or STEM Cognate (depending on which one is fulfilled through the major)9
STEM or People & Society Cognate (fulfilled through the major)
Other Graduation Requirements
UMX 100The University of Miami Experience0
Calculus Sequence:8
Calculus Concepts with Foundations A
and Calculus Concepts with Foundations B
and Calculus II
Calculus I
and Calculus II
Calculus I
and Calculus II
Approved statistics or computer science course3
Minor (may be used in lieu of a cognate to satisfy an Area of Knowledge in General Education)15
Second Language Proficiency Requirement (3-9 credit hours, depending on the student's initial placement in the language chosen)9
Electives31
Total Credit Hours120
1

A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation.  Sufficient credits must be earned in electives to enable the student to complete this minimum of 120 credits.  The exact number of elective credits required will vary depending on the number of credits needed to complete all other graduation requirements.

2

Advanced Writing and Communication Proficiency: Degree candidates must complete at least four writing courses, and at least one writing course must be in the student's major discipline. 

3

See the College of Arts and Sciences Bulletin Overview page for more information about general graduation requirements.

Sample Plan of Study

This Sample Plan of Study represents one possible version of a new first-year freshman student’s 8-semester plan.  The individual student's plan may vary depending upon the initial placement into English Composition, Mathematics, and modern language. Moreover, numerous plan variations are possible if a student enters the University with advanced college credits, wishes to participate in study abroad, chooses a special program option, or selects additional majors or minors.  

Independent Major students construct their individualized plans in collaboration with their Faculty Guidance Committee and assigned academic advisor(s).

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman Year
FallCredit Hours
WRS 105 First-Year Writing I 3
MTH 161 Calculus I 4
UMX 100 The University of Miami Experience 0
Cognate Course 3
Language (first course) 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring
WRS 106 or ENG 106 First-Year Writing II
or Writing About Literature and Culture
3
MTH 162 Calculus II 4
Cognate Course 3
Language (second course) 3
Elective (1) 3
 Credit Hours16
Sophomore Year
Fall
Independent Major courses (2) 6
Cognate Course 3
Language (third course) 3
Minor (first course) 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
Independent Major courses (2) 6
Minor (second course) 3
Approved statistics or computer science course 3
Cognate Course 3
 Credit Hours15
Junior Year
Fall
Independent Major courses (2) 6
Minor (third course) 3
Cognate Course 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
Independent Major courses (2) 6
Minor (fourth course) 3
Cognate Course 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Senior Year
Fall
Independent Major course (capstone) 3
Minor (fifth course) 3
Electives (3) 9
 Credit Hours15
Spring
Independent Major course (capstone) 3
Electives (4) 12
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours122

Mission

The BA or BS degree in the Independent Major allows highly self-motivated students to explore either an existing field that is not an explicitly designated major in the College and at UM (e.g., linguistics) or one that is emerging (e.g., peace studies). The course of study incorporates greater interdisciplinary breadth than currently is currently offered in existing majors by including complementary courses from at least two departments, programs, or colleges/schools.

Goals

The Independent Major allows students to pursue a BA or a BS degree in the College of Arts & Sciences in an area or combination of areas not covered by existing majors and minors and in close consultation with and under the oversight of their Faculty Guidance Committee.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

  • analyze and synthesize material and approach it critically.
  • write cogently and clearly in the manner appropriate to their field of study, in keeping with the College’s Advanced Writing and Communication Skills guidelines.
  • formulate research questions and learn how to begin to find answers to them, in keeping with the creative and interdisciplinary nature of their major.