Individualized Major

Why Take an Individualized Major?

The individualized major is a good fit for students who are highly motivated and self-directed but who cannot find a major to match their career goals. An individualized major allows you to combine coursework from two or more disciplines to meet the broad range of skills needed in today’s ever-changing world. You will develop your plan of study with the assistance of two faculty advisors to focus on precisely what you want to study. An individualized major must be declared before 60 credits are completed.

Why Take an Individualized Major at Eastern?

Students pursuing an individualized major at Eastern design an interdisciplinary plan of study that consists of courses from two or more disciplines and results in a B.A. or B.S. degree. This allows students to take courses in areas that naturally complement each other in today’s workplace, while developing a strong educational base in at least one subject to facilitate entrance into graduate programs. An individualized major must be declared before 60 credits are completed.

Examples of Interdisciplinary Majors

Art Therapy
Cognitive Neuroscience
Environmental Studies
Expressive Visual Arts
Psychology of Video Communication
Multimedia Writing
Museum Studies

For inquiries and questions about how to get started please contact:

Chair, Individualized Major Committee
Robert Greene
FAIC, Rm. 306
(860) 465-5133
greener@easternct.edu

Alumni Testimonials

The Travelers

Erin Dutton ’05

Erin Dutton designed an Individualized Major called Journalism and Creative Nonfiction. She is a content manager for the Risk Control Department at The Travelers insurance company. “For me, telling a story is more than art. It’s a purposeful profession. The writing and journalism courses I took at Eastern taught me about the structure and arch of a well-written story. The content I now develop follows these same principles.”

Silver Circle Art Center

Carly Martin ’07

Carly Martin designed an Individualized Major called Expressive Visual Arts. She is the founder and director of Silver Circle Art Center in Putnam, CT. “With the support of Eastern’s faculty and administration, I was able to tailor my college experience to my unique and challenging life circumstances. I was given the flexibility to create a meaningful degree that reflects my professional and personal aspirations.”

Voya Financial

Nicole Fuhrmann ’17

Nicole designed an individualized major in Cognitive Neuroscience. She is a Senior Network Security Engineer at Voya Financial. “Eastern’s cognitive neuroscience program taught me how to understand behavior from a biological perspective. Through the efforts of the admissions team, psychology department and Veteran’s Center, I had the resources I needed to succeed while being employed full time and serving in the U.S. Air Force.”

Environmental Studies

Emily Mantel ’18

Emily Mantel designed an Individualized Major called Environmental Studies, and is now a human resources assistant ad OdysseyRe. “I created this major in my first year as a transfer student. The chair of the program helped me design it with the needed classes, timeline and expected graduation. Eastern gave me the tools and experiences to start my career.”