TRINITY UNIVERSITY

One Trinity Place

San Antonio, TX 78212-7200

OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR

Phone: 210-999-7201; Fax: 210-999-7202

Email:

PROPOSAL FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY SECOND MAJOR

A student who wishes to pursue an Interdisciplinary Second major must submit a proposal to the

Interdisciplinary Second Major Committee before the end of the second semester of the junior

year. The ISM Committee will consider this proposal and, if approved, will recommend it to the

University Curriculum Council for final approval.

Further information may be found in the Interdisciplinary Second Major section of the Courses

of Study Bulletin.

Please note that the ISM may be awarded only as a second major.

I. STUDENT INFORMATION

Full Name:

ID:

Anticipated graduation date:

Current majors, minors, and concentrations:

II. PROPOSED ISM TITLE (30 characters maximum):

III. Rationale

Please provide a statement of rationale so that the Faculty Advisory Committee, the Interdisciplinary Second Major Committee, and the University Curriculum Council may adequately evaluate the proposed major.

This statement should include at least four paragraphs: 1) one paragraph providing a coherent account of the proposed field of study; 2) one paragraph arguing that the major is truly interdisciplinary, discussing how specific courses are drawn from distinct disciplines in a unified way; 3) one paragraph indicating which course will serve as the synthesis course for the major and describing a coherent project that the student expects to accomplish in that course; and 4) one paragraph explaining how the proposed major complements Trinity’s existing curriculum, drawing on established disciplines without duplicating any existing majors.

If relevant, the rationale could include additional evidence supporting the claim that the proposed major is an accepted or emerging field of study, perhaps by pointing to precedents at other institutions.

Please type your rationale:

IV. COURSE SELECTIONS

Please use the tables below to list all courses that you have completed and that you plan to

complete in pursuit of the proposed major.

The minimum number of hours for an ISM is thirty-six (36). Of that number, at least eighteen

(18) must be upper-division. No more than eighteen (18) hours may be taken from a single

discipline. No more than nine (9) hours may be selected from courses that are used toward the

student's first major.

Your proposal should identify at least twelve (12) hours of courses that will serve as a core for

the major and an array of supporting courses from which the remaining credits will be chosen.

One of the core courses – the synthesis course – must enable you to synthesize the diverse

work of the major. Normally, this will be an existing three-hour independent study course

directed by a member of the Faculty Advisory Committee.

The selection of courses must ensure depth in the area of study as well as breadth of exposure to

varied perspectives.

Core Courses (12 hours required):

Dept. / No. / Title / Semester / Credits / Upper-Division
TOTAL:

Supporting Courses (24 hours required):

Dept. / No. / Title / Semester / Credits / Upper-Division
TOTAL:

Alternate Courses:

Any changes or substitutions to the courses approved on this form will require approval of the

UCC ISM Committee. Therefore, use care to list appropriate courses that are offered with

regularity.

Dept. / No. / Title / Semester / Credits / Upper-Division
TOTAL:

TOTAL NUMBER OF CREDIT HOUR FROM UPPER DIVISION:

TOTAL NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS FROM CORE COURSES:

TOTAL NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS:

V. TRANSCRIPT

Please provide a current transcript.

VI. STUDENT SIGNATURE

I understand that I am responsible for ensuring the timely completion of the courses approved

for this Interdisciplinary Second Major and for receiving approval in advance from the Faculty

Advisory Committee for any changes to this proposal.

Name / Date

VII. FACULTY SIGNATURES

We have read the completed ISM proposal, agree to supervise the student's work in pursuit of

the proposed major, and agree to attend the student's public presentation organized in

conjunction with the synthesis course to assess his or her mastery of the interdisciplinary topic.

Name: / Department:
Name: / Department:
Name: / Department: