Office of Academic Services
Adviser Guide

CPO Box 2205
110 Lincoln Hall
Berea, Kentucky 40404
Phone: 859-985-3208
Fax: 859-985-3918 or 3921

Office Hours:
M–F, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Contact:

Independent Majors
 

Independent Majors are designed by students who wish to pursue an integrating idea or principle that cannot be met through a standard Berea College major program. Students are free to propose topics. While the list is not exhaustive, some examples of previously approved independent majors are: Appalachian Studies, Classical Studies or Classical Civilizations, Comparative Literature, Ecological Building Design, Film and Video Studies, Peace and Social Justice Studies, and Sustainability and Environmental Studies.

Students interested in an Independent Major should talk with their Academic Adviser, or the person they would like to have as the Independent Major Adviser (must be above the rank of instructor and a member of the Teaching Faculty from one of the departments or interdisciplinary academic programs with course work included in the proposed major). After consultation with the Independent Major Adviser and a College reference librarian regarding available resources, a tentative Curriculum Plan is developed. Approval of the Curriculum Plan must be obtained from the Chairperson/Director of all departments and interdisciplinary programs in which two or more courses in the major are required. Completed proposals are submitted to the Office of Academic Services for review by the Coordinator of Advising, liaison to the Academic Program Council. The Council and/or Coordinator of Advising may accept, reject, or request that the student modify and resubmit the proposal. If approved, copies are sent to the student, the Independent Major Adviser, and the student’s file in the Office of Academic Services.

Proposals are subject to the following guidelines:

  1. For primary majors and those involved in the Official Declaration of Major process, the Intention to Declare a Primary Major form and the completed Independent Major proposal must be submitted by the September or February deadlines set by the Office of Academic Services (OAS). Students who are required to declare a major will receive a letter from OAS stating such early in the Fall or Spring term in which the student will accumulate fifteen (15) course credits.
  2. For second majors, or those wishing to change their primary major, proposals must be submitted by the regular-term deadline set by the Coordinator of Advising (usually the first weeks of October and February) and published in the #Academics public folder on MS Outlook with the guidelines.
  3. The student must obtain approval from the Coordinator of Advising in OAS if the proposed Independent Major will require that the student’s College career be more than eight regular terms (including transfer terms). The student must include a rationale statement explaining the need for additional terms in the proposal materials.
  4. The Coordinator of Advising will serve as the Department Chairperson for all Independent Majors.