Individually Designed Major

Program Director: Joseph Lennon, Ph.D.
Office Location: 105E Saint Augustine Center
Telephone: 610-519-4647
IDM Application
 

About

An individually designed major (IDM) is motivated by the learner’s own goals and guided by a roadmap that the student develops in close consultation with faculty.  Unlike an independent study, where a faculty member takes the lead in preparing a set of readings and assignments, an IDM places the primary responsibility on the learner to identify the goals, explicitly define periodic assessment benchmarks, and construct a long-term plan of study.

An objective of IDM is to foster a more explicit pursuit of interdisciplinary study, providing a mechanism for you to design a major that will intentionally integrate different methodologies, topics, disciplinary cultures, and learning styles. 

PRIMARY MAJOR (122 credits)

Faculty members and the established programs and departments within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) serve as resources for the students. Students must be highly motivated and independent learners in order to pursue this course of study, which is only viable if existing majors and minors do not provide a pathway to the learner’s goals. Lastly, and crucially, these goals must be articulated early in the student’s college career by the end of the first semester of sophomore year.

Required Major Courses (33 credits)

An Individually Designed Major (IDM) is motivated by students’ own learning goals, and guided by a curriculum map that you will develop in consultation with faculty mentors, the Associate Dean, and the IDM committee.

This is not a series of Independent Study courses, wherein a faculty member takes the lead in developing a reading and writing program for students.  Rather, faculty members and the established programs and departments within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (henceforth, LAS), function as collaborative resources for students to pursue a defined course of study.  This is only allowable if no established majors are able to provide a pathway for students to achieve their stated goals.

The IDM provides an interdisciplinary mechanism for students to design a major that will integrate different methodologies, topics, disciplinary cultures, and learning styles.

Program Notes:

  • The total credits for the IDM major is dependent on the design of the major. The minimum is 33 credits.

Core Curriculum Requirements (44 credits)

Course
Title
Credits
Mathematics or Statistics (1 course)  +
3
Natural Science (2 courses with laboratory)  +
8
Literature and Writing Seminar (1 course)  +
3
History (1 course)   +
3
Social Sciences (2 courses)  +
6
Fine Arts (1 course)  +
3
Upper-Level Theology (1 course)  +
3
Language Requirement (Proficiency)  +
Diversity Requirement (2 courses)  +
Sub-Total Credits
44

Free Elective Requirement (45 credits)

Students with an Individually Designed primary major have forty-five (45) required free elective credits. 

Degree Credit Summary

  • Major Credits: 33 credits
  • Core Credits: 44 credits
  • Free Electives Credits: 45 credits
  • Total Required Credits: 122 Credits

Note: The above credit totals are based on the minimum number of required credits in each degree area. The minimum number of required credits in each area listed above must be met. Credits taken beyond the required minimum for one area may not be applied to another area. 

SECONDARY MAJOR

Students who declare IDM as a secondary major must complete the Required Major Courses to achieve this major. Students are able to count any eligible course taken in their primary major, the core curriculum, minors, concentrations, or free electives toward these requirements. 

Total Credits:
44

 

Disclaimer:
The above program requirements are applicable to students entering Fall 2023 and beyond. Please consult the appropriate archived handbook available on the homepage for years prior to these requirements. In order that programs offered by Villanova University reflect current advances and additions to knowledge and upgraded professional requirements, Villanova University reserves the right to change programs and requirements without prior notice. Students generally are bound to the requirements in effect and published online for the year in which their class begins its first year of study. Special requirements may be in effect for students who have left the University and are being readmitted. Students are advised to check with the web catalog or with their college offices regarding changes that may affect them. Additional academic information may be obtained from the various college offices and the web sites listed for the particular policies, programs and services found in this catalog. 

Overview

Program

Type

B.A. OR B.S.

Curriculum Guide

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