Description | Skills | Experience | Sample Careers/Work Settings | Salary
Double Majors/Minors | Advanced Degrees | NCSU Orgs | Prof. Orgs | Links | Next Steps

Description of Major

The self-designed major program exists to allow undergraduate students to design a major in an area of academic interest that crosses disciplinary boundaries.

Admission to the self-designed major program is by application only. The first step for the student who wishes to enter the program is to identify a faculty adviser. This adviser will assist the student to develop an academically sound major in an interdisciplinary area. If the student is not able to identify a major adviser, Ms. Sandy Stallings [email: stallings@ncsu.edu, phone: 515.9739], Chair of the Self-Designed Major Committee, can help students identify an appropriate adviser.

With assistance from the adviser, the student completes an application for the self-designed program (application form and instructions are below). The application must be approved by the Self-Designed Major Committee. This committee meets twice a semester to review applications. Contact Ms. Stallings for details.

Courses include:

1. The courses selected must make one coherent academic course of study. The description (see below) of your concentration that you submit as part of your application package will make clear how the courses are related to each other and to the theme (title) of your concentration. A proposal that consists of five courses in one discipline and five courses in another discipline, without an adequate explanation of their relationship, is not a multidisciplinary studies concentration and will not be approved. 2. The courses included in the concentration must be from at least two disciplines and total 30 credit hours. No more than 15 hours in the concentration may come from a single discipline. At least 5 courses must be from the humanities and social sciences, defined as follows:

Courses offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Economics courses (College of Management) Courses on the General Education Requirement (GER) lists of humanities and social science courses. At least 3 of these 5 courses must be taught in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHASS)

3. No more than 15 hours of concentration courses should consist of transfer credits. 4. The concentration must include 8 courses at the 300- and 400-level and at least 2 of the courses must be at the 400-level. The concentration will not, as a rule, include 100-level courses. Foreign language courses at the 202-level and above may be allowed in the concentration. Students who wish to include a 500- or 600-level course must submit written permission to take the class from the instructor with their application package. 5. At least 12 hours of concentration courses must be begun after the date when your application is approved. Students are encouraged to apply to the program as early as possible. 6. Students who use independent studies (except for the independent studies listed in number 7), special topics courses, internships, studios, and practicum courses must submit attachments to the application with a full description of these courses, explaining their relevance to the concentration. 7. Of the 30 credit hours, 3 should consist of a 2-credit independent study (IDS 498a), taken preferably in first semester after your program is approved, and a 1-credit independent study (IDS 498b), taken in your next-to-last or, preferably, in your last semester at the University. The 2-credit course will involve readings in interdisciplinary theory and will also focus on the issues and bibliography in your concentration area. You do not need to explain the relevance of these independent studies to your concentration. 8. Students may not include in their major concentration courses for which they do not have the prerequisites or any other necessary qualification to take the course unless they submit written permission to take the course from the course instructor with their application package. The concentration as approved by the Self-Designed Major Committee is fixed. Substitutions are sometimes possible, but only if the request for the substitution and the reason for it are submitted in writing with the endorsement of the adviser prior to the time you begin the course.

Note: See the following link (the Undergraduate Catalog listing) for an entire description of program:

The Undergraduate Catalog shows a listing of Interdisciplinary Studies, and the degree audit shows the curricula requirements for this major. If you are interested in expanding your career options, consider double-majoring and/or adding a minor.

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Skills You Develop In This Major

• Skills will vary with concentrations

Gaining Career-Related Experience

You are strongly encouraged to gain career-related experience prior to graduation in the form of an internship, summer job, or co-op.

Co-op is a program of alternating semesters of work and school. Paid work terms of increasing responsibility enable students to graduate with the minimum equivalent of one year of relevant work experience. Full-time enrollment during the semester prior to the first work term is required. You can begin co-op after completion of at least two semesters (30 credit hours) at NC State (one semester for transfers and graduate students). An NC State transcript must show grades and admission to a degree program. A minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.50 (3.00 for graduate students) is required. The Co-op Office web site lists the Orientation Schedule, which is the first step to program participation.

Internships are typically full-time during the summer or (for some) part-time during the semester. You can start interning or seeking summer jobs related to your field, whenever you are ready. The University Career Center provides services to help you get started.

Participate in ePack, the Career Center's on-line system that connects employees with students through internship postings, on-campus interviews, information sessions, and resume searches. You may activate your ePack account at any time.

Internship Example

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Sample Career Titles and Possible Work Settings

The following lists provide a brief sampling of the kind of jobs and work environments you might find with a degree in this major. These titles and work settings are by no means an exhaustive listing. Because the world of work is always changing, over time job titles and work settings can change. The below listing is provided in hopes of giving you initial insight into a particular career field that would employ the skills and knowledge gained through this major.

Sample Career Titles	Sample Work Settings
Contact Career Center	2100 Pullen Hall, NCSU

Careers Needing Advanced Degrees

• contact Career Center, 2100 Pullen Hall, NCSU

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Salary

Baccalaureate - $ varies by concentrations
From NACE 2010 Salary Survey: http://www.naceweb.org/research/salary_survey/

The salary listed above is an average starting salary based on skills and experiences gained at the Bachelors level. Keep in mind that salary level typically increases with additional experience and/or educational degrees.

Furthermore, you may have the opportunity to mold an entry-level position into your dream job and subsequently increase your salary as you learn more, add responsibilities and gain experience.

NC State Related Organizations & Clubs

NCSU Student Organizations

Professional Resources (Outside NC State)

These resources include organizations, clubs, and conferences not affiliated with NC State and can be an important part of your career pursuit.

Varies by concentration pursued

Links to Related Resources

• University Career Center
• For more specific information on occupation/job skills, expectations, and salary, go to the Occupational Information Network site and search for a specific job. (hint: for salary info, select a report on one of the jobs and find the wages link at the bottom of the page.)
• The list of available Minors at NC State.
• Experimental Courses Listing (a.k.a. Special Topics)
• Department of Interdisciplinary Studies
• College of Humanities & Social Sciences
• Cooperative Education Program
  

Next Steps

Need more information about this major? Contact the expert on this major,
Coordinator of Advising.

Don't want this major? Continue exploring the available majors.
Still unsure of your major and/or not sure what to do next?
You know you want this major. What do you need to do now?

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Last updated: 7th of November, 2010 at 10:23:47 AM

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