Independent Minor
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Guidelines for Preparation of Independent Minor Proposals
Description
The independent minor gives students who focus their energies on a traditional major or dual major an opportunity to explore the cross disciplinary implications of their study in a formal manner. It also allows students to construct and obtain recognition for a coherent interdisciplinary content, thematic or other focus for study supplementary to their major. An independent minor should contain at least 6 courses approved by a faculty advisor who would also agree to act as the minor’s sponsor as well as facilitator for the student.
Criteria
The minor should normally include or culminate in a directed study to help the student integrate the subject matter from the disparate fields covered by the minor. Any course currently offered within the University and acceptable to the student’s faculty advisor and the College Curriculum Committee is potentially eligible for inclusion in the independent minor. However, no more than one third of the minor’s courses may be introductory courses. Prerequisites required by departments or colleges for admission into courses approved for inclusion in the independent minor may not be counted as fulfilling the minor’s requirements. Where courses proposed for the minor are subject to enrollment limitations, instructor permission, or other restrictions, the student must include with the proposal, letter(s) of support from the course faculty or from the chairperson of the unit offering the course(s) or the unit curriculum committee as appropriate. Students are not allowed to propose an independent minor where a defined minor already exists.
Guidelines
1. Description and Overview
Please write a short description of your objectives for the independent minor, including the reasons why existing minors within the University do not adequately meet your educational. professional and personal goals.
2. Minor Requirements
Please list the courses that will comprise your minor.
3. Additional Documentation
Attach all transcripts from Northeastern and other colleges or universities from which transfer credit may have been received.
In writing the independent minor proposal, you should work closely with a faculty member who will serve as your advisor in the minor. Please attach a letter of endorsement for your proposal from the faculty member who has agreed to be your independent minor advisor.
Procedures for Submission of Proposals
1. Proposals must be submitted to the student’s dean’s office advisor, who will review the proposal for format and submit it to the College Curriculum Committee for overall curricular review.
2. Proposals will be considered only if the student is an upperclassman and is not on academic probation.
3. Once a proposal has been accepted by the College Curriculum Committee, the student will be notified by a dean’s office liaison. A copy of the proposal will be placed in the student’s folder to become a matter of record. All requirements listed as part of the original proposal will be reviewed at the students’ graduation clearance interview. If changed occur within the minor as proposed, the student must submit petitions, signed by the faculty advisor, to the dean’s office liaison to the Curriculum Committee. If a change is deemed as substantial, it will be subject to approval by the Curriculum Committee. To avoid confusion, students should check with the dean’s office liaison as petitions for changes are submitted.