Plan of Study Guidelines

Your plan of study consists of a list of preferred courses (Part A) and a list of alternative courses (Part B), should courses on your A-list be unavailable.

Your list of preferred courses (Part A) in your plan of study must:

• consist of at least 36 credits at the 2000-level or higher. Of these, 18 credits must be from the College granting your individualized major (CLAS or CANR).
  

• include a research methods course. A research methods course will introduce you to how knowledge is produced and evaluated in a particular discipline. Go to research methods courses page for examples.
  

• include a capstone. The capstone provides students with the opportunity to consolidate their understanding of their major subjects through a project that is relevant to and integrates their individualized major. This requirement can be fulfilled in one of three ways:
  • by taking the program's capstone course (INTD 4600 W, 3 credits)
    Most students in the program fulfill the capstone requirement by taking the capstone course.
  • by completing a thesis project (6 credits: typically an independent study in the Fall and INTD 4697W in the Spring, all under the supervision of the thesis supervisor)
    Students in the Honors Program who plan to fulfill their Honors Scholar requirements in their individualized major must fulfill the capstone requirement by completing a thesis. Other students outside of Honors who are motivated to complete a substantial independent capstone project are also encouraged to complete a thesis.
  • By completing an approved alternative capstone
    Occasionally a student may identify a departmental senior seminar or other advanced course that provides him/her with the opportunity to integrate the themes of his/her individualized major. Such alternatives must be approved in advance by the director and the student's primary advisor.
  • For more information on these options see the section on Capstone.
• include another writing-intensive course in your major, beside the capstone. This will normally be a course that is designated "W" in the course catalog.
  

You are strongly encouraged to include an internship and/or study abroad in your plan of study. For more information on internships and study abroad see the section on Experiential Learning.