Guidelines for ad hoc interdisciplinary majors including Mathematics
Advice to students for the process
- We recommend you propose and seek departmental approval for an ad hoc interdisciplinary major early, ideally at the moment of declaration of major. Both departments need ample time to thoroughly discuss your petition.
- When answering these questions, you should consult with a faculty member in each department.
- Both departments must approve your petition. After both departments have discussed your petition, you will be informed by both departments simultaneously whether or not your petition is approved.
Questions students must answer in the petition
- What is your main motivation for pursuing an interdisciplinary major?
- Why are your goals not met by a standing major / minor combination?
- What are your plans for your thesis? Explain why you believe your thesis would not be better handled by one of the established majors.
- How does your plan for your thesis rely on the specific 300-level classes you are proposing to take? Answer this question in detail with reference to course content.
Criteria for designing an ad hoc major
While the requirements below represent the minimum baseline, the primary criterion for approval is the intellectual coherence of your proposed interdisciplinary thesis and its genuine reliance on both disciplines.
- For Math/—, you should take at a minimum: 111, 112, 201, (113 or 202), (321 or 332), MATH 3XX, MATH 3XX.
- You must take the qualifying exam.
- Students who have not completed any 300-level coursework before the start of their thesis are not likely to be approved.