Declaration of Major
Satisfactory completion of a major field is required for graduation. Most major programs require a minimum of 32 credits but may include more. At the department’s discretion and approval, up to 8 credits from related fields (cognates) may be counted toward the major. The requirements for each major program are listed in the Academic Areas of Study section of the Grinnell College Academic Catalog. Academic departments typically expect that the majority of courses constituting the major, and all required courses, will be completed at Grinnell.
The Declaration of Major Form may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. A student declares a major prior to preregistration for the fifth semester (typically during the spring semester of the second year) and is held to all major requirements in effect at the time of declaration. The head of the department in which the major is declared, or a designated colleague, then becomes the student’s adviser. Most students choose a single departmental or interdepartmental major, however, a student may be permitted a second major or may arrange a special program as an independent major.
Changing a Major
After the start of the third year, changing a major is handled in the same way as a Declaration of a Second Major.
Completing a Major
Students are held to the major requirements in effect at the time they declare their major. Students are expected to plan their schedules in advance in order to complete the courses required for their major when those courses are normally offered. Since the completion of a major is one of the requirements for graduation, waiving any of the specifications of the major (required courses or course distributions) must be first approved by the department and then approved by the Committee on Academic Standing. Transfer courses may be counted towards the completion of the major if they are approved by the department and the department chair has officially notified the Office of the Registrar. A major cannot be completed out of residence.
In the case of a second or “double” major, no credits are allowed to be shared with the other major. When a concentration and a major are related, up to 8 credits of work included in a student’s major may also be counted toward the concentration. In the case of a second or “double” concentration, no credits are allowed to be shared with the other concentration. Only up to 8 credits total may be shared between all majors and all concentrations.
Declaration of an Independent Major
Most students choose an established major, but students who have demonstrated high academic achievement may, in cooperation with two faculty advisers, design an independent major. The Declaration of Independent Major Form and Instructions may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. For initial advice concerning completion of the application, students should consult the Office of the Registrar. This is a substantial process and deadlines are important. Independent major regulations are:
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An independent major is a coherent study program that cannot be pursued within the College’s established majors. The application begins with a purpose statement describing the major questions that prompt the proposal and the major themes that unify the proposed course work into a coherent body of study.
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The quality of a student’s academic record may be a sufficient reason for turning down an application. To receive approval for an independent major, it is expected that a student’s cumulative GPA of all graded Grinnell College courses is at least 3.0 at the time the application is submitted for consideration.
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The work of the major is divided into (a) the courses forming the methodology and subject matter core of the program, and (b) elective courses that supplement the basic core. The core program provides a solid foundation in one or more academic disciplines by the inclusion of those courses most fundamental to the theory and methodology of those disciplines. Students are required to complete the core program as approved. The Dean of the College must approve any change. Additional work for the major is chosen from the approved elective list.
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The independent major must include a minimum of 36 credits plus the 4-credit senior thesis (499), taken in not less than two or more than four academic departments established by the College. The program must have at least 32 credits of course work with a maximum 4 credits of individual study work (Plus-2, 297, 299, 387, 397, 399, and 499) or internship (300.) At least 8 credits of course work must be at the 300 level or above, and not more than 4 credits of work at the 100 level.
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Two faculty advisers are required for all independent majors to assist in planning the major and to supervise the thesis. One adviser must be a full-time faculty member. The other may be part-time. Advisers should be persons who expect to be at Grinnell in the student’s senior year to supervise the thesis planning, research, and writing. If one of the advisers leaves the College, on leave or permanently, the student is responsible for finding another faculty adviser and having the change approved by the Dean of the College.
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All students pursuing independent majors must complete a senior thesis. The senior thesis is an academically demanding research project, and students applying for an independent major should be prepared to engage in a rigorous, self-guided research process that culminates in a high quality senior thesis. The independent major thesis should utilize the ideas that unify the major into a coherent whole. Both in conception and in execution, the thesis must have approval of both faculty advisers. Acceptance of a copy of the finished thesis by the Dean of the College completes this requirement of the major.
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The independent major is indicated on the student’s transcript by a specific title such as “Independent Major: International Relations.” Titles should be short (two or three words) and descriptive of the course work as a whole. The courses that constitute the major are not specified on the transcript.
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Students carrying an independent major may not carry a second or double” major.
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To be considered for honors in an independent major, graduating seniors, in addition to meeting the College’s general requirements for honors, must demonstrate, by consensus of their two advisors, superior performance in course-work and curricular breadth, combined with superior progress (to the date of consideration) on the senior thesis.
Declaration of a Second or “Double” Major
The procedures for declaring second majors require the following:
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The Major Declaration or Change of Major Form may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. This form must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar no later than the first day of preregistration for a student’s seventh semester (typically spring of the third year).
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Courses must be designated to one major, but not both.
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A statement explaining why the requested second major is necessary to achieve the student’s particular educational objectives as described in the comprehensive academic plan submitted with the first major and how the second major will modify that plan.
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The request must have the approval of the adviser of the first major, the adviser of the second major, and the department chair of the second major.
Concentrations
A liberal education should include both depth of study in one discipline and breadth of study in several. The required completion of a major fulfills the first requirement. The interdisciplinary concentrations offered at Grinnell provide one way to fulfill the second, for each was conceived as an integral part of a liberal education.
Each recognized concentration includes an organized cluster of courses drawn from several disciplines and related to a common focus of interest. Thus, each provides a structured introduction to a broad area of study while including sufficient flexibility to adapt each program to a student’s particular focus of interest. Each culminates in a senior seminar in which students and faculty draw upon their work in the several disciplines.
In most of the programs, the senior seminar provides time for pursuit of a research topic appropriate to the field and to the student’s level of accomplishment in the relevant disciplines. Students may complete a concentration in addition to a major. Concentrations are shown on a student’s transcript. Students wishing to pursue a concentration are expected to declare their intention before preregistering for their seventh semester (typically spring of the third year). To declare a concentration, students discuss their plans with the program chairperson and obtain their signature on the Declaration of a Concentration Cover Sheet. Students then complete the appropriate Concentration Worksheet and submit it, along with the signed Cover Sheet, to the Office of the Registrar.
When a concentration and a major are related, up to 8 credits of work included in a student’s major may also be counted toward the concentration. In the case of a second or “double” concentration, no credits are allowed to be shared with the other concentration. Only up to 8 credits total may be shared between all majors and all concentrations. Completion of a concentration is entered on a student’s permanent record together with the student’s major.
Teacher Certification
Students who want to earn teaching licensure must apply to enter the Practitioner Preparation Program no later than the deadline for declaring a major, that is, prior to preregistration for the fifth semester (typically during the spring semester of the second year.)
Students should discuss licensure requirements with education department members as soon as they have determined their major since the requirements for licensure in secondary education are usually different than the requirements for the major. In addition to the course requirements in the major and in education, students must take courses in all divisions of the College.
Grinnell has a ninth semester program in which student teaching is completed the semester following graduation. This program is strongly recommended by the Grinnell College Department of Education, but with careful planning and department approval students can complete the program in eight semesters. Applications for both the licensure program and student teaching may be obtained from Department of Education website.
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