Self-Designed, B.A./B.S.

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The Self-Designed Major allows York College students to construct an individualized program of study using existing courses offered by one or more academic departments. A student interested in pursuing such an option must have a 3.0 or higher grade point average, and two faculty members representing the disciplines included in the proposed major must agree to serve as self-designed major advisors. Finally, students must prepare a proposal for their plan of study that defines the title of their intended major, lists the courses which he or she plans to include in their program, and provides a rationale for the development of their self-designed major.

Since the early planning stages of the Self-Designed Major are especially important for both the student and advisor, students should be encouraged to construct a plan as early in their academic careers as possible. The proposal for the Self-Designed Major must be approved by both advisors. Then, at any time prior to the completion of 59 credits, the student must submit the proposal to the Academic Programs Committee for review and action. Changes in approved Self-Designed Major programs must be endorsed by both advisors and approved by the Academic Programs Committee. Under normal circumstances, courses used to construct a self-designed major may not be simultaneously used to complete other college majors or minors.

Required Courses for Self-Designed Major

The required courses for each student’s self-designed major must be approved by the Academic Programs Committee following endorsement by the student’s advisors. A minimum of 39 credits within the major selected from at least two academic disciplines must be included. This coursework must include a minimum of 18 credits at the 300 level or above, and at least 15 credits of coursework must be completed in each discipline represented in the major. No more than six credits of independent study or internship may be completed as part of the requirements for the major.

Degree Requirements

Institutional Degree Requirements

General Education Requirement

First Year Seminar

FYS 102 Common Hour 0 credit hours
FYS 100 First-Year Seminar 3 credit hours

Foundations Requirements

Disciplinary Perspectives Requirement

Choose 3 credits of the following Humanities courses:

FLM 216 Introduction to Film 3 credit hours
HIS 101 The Foundation of the West 3 credit hours
LIT 200 Introduction to Literary and Textual Studies 3 credit hours
PHL 221 Introduction to Philosophy 3 credit hours
PHL 238 Race, Gender, and Sexuality 3 credit hours crosslisted as WGS 238 Race, Gender, and Sexuality 3 credit hours

Choose 3 credits of the following Arts courses:

ART 101 Art and Visual Culture 3 credit hours
CRW 272 Introduction to Creative Writing 3 credit hours
MUS 186 Listening to Music 3 credit hours
THE 154 Introduction to Theatre 3 credit hours

Choose 3 credits of the following Social and Behavioral Sciences courses:

ECO 205 Economic Perspectives 3 credit hours
ENT 150 Introduction to Entrepreneurship 3 credit hours
MKT 100 Principles of Marketing 3 credit hours
PS 110 Introduction to Political Science 3 credit hours
PSY 100 General Psychology 3 credit hours
REC 101 Recreation and Leisure in Modern Society 3 credit hours
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology 3 credit hours

Choose 3 credits of the following Natural and Physical Sciences courses:

BIO 204 Exploring Biology 3 credit hours
CHM 240 Perspectives on the Molecular World 3 credit hours
CHM 241 Perspectives on the Molecular World Lab 0 credit hours
G 151 Introduction to Physical Geography 3 credit hours
G 152 Introduction to Physical Geography Lab 0 credit hours
PHY 252 Science and Sustainability 3 credit hours

Constellation Requirements

The Constellation requirement is met when a student completes four courses from a minimum of three disciplines within the Constellation requirements. Students who transfer in 60 credits or more at the time of admission to the college will be waived from the Constellation requirement, except for Education majors. The waiver applies to the requirement for graduation but does not waive the credits to graduate; students need to meet the overall bachelor’s degree credit requirement.