Special Major, B.A.

Program of Study

The Special Major allows highly motivated students the opportunity to develop an individualized program of study that cannot be realized within a single academic discipline or available major. The special major consists of a closely monitored program of study in two or more disciplines. The program is developed in consultation with a Faculty Guidance Committee specifically formed of members of respective academic areas in the student’s program and is supervised by a faculty advisor, who serves as chair of the committee. The program must be approved by the Dean of a College in coordination with the student’s Faculty Guidance Committee.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Students will use methods appropriate to their individualized courses of study to demonstrate the ability to integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines.

Special Conditions for the Bachelor of Arts in Special Major

1. The student must have completed the equivalent of one full-time semester of academic work at Cal State San Marcos and have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher in all work completed at this University.
2. At least thirty (30) semester units must remain to be completed to meet the minimum degree requirements for a bachelor’s degree.
3. The Special Major Program consists of forty (40) semester units. A minimum of twenty-four (24) units must be completed at the upper-division level [with nine to twelve (9-12) upper-division units in each area of study selected].
4. Courses taken for lower-division or upper-division General Education credit may not be counted toward the special major.
5. Up to six (6) units may be satisfied in field-based coursework such as independent study, internships, community work, and supervised work experience.
6. Each student must complete a capstone project.
7. The Special Major Program must be coherent sequence of courses developed in consultation with the student’s Faculty Guidance Committee.
8. The Faculty Guidance Committee and the Dean will review all proposals.

Restrictions in the Special Major

1. The Special Major cannot duplicate any existing majors offered at Cal State San Marcos.
2. The Special Major is not designed for students who have been unsuccessful in other programs.
3. A Special Major may be declared as a second major (i.e., a double major) within one B.A. degree. However, two Special Majors may not be combined to form a double major.

Application to the Major

Students interested in the Special Major must initially contact the Office of Academic Advising for more information about applying for the Special Major. Once a Special Major topic has been approved and with the aid of the Special Major Program Director, students must select a Faculty Guidance Committee formed of two or more faculty members. The student’s individualized program plan is then developed in consultation with the Faculty Guidance Committee and is submitted to the appropriate college Dean for approval. The Dean, in consultation with the student’s Faculty Guidance Committee, reviews and decides on the student’s program plan.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Total (120 Units)

Students must take a sufficient number of elective units to bring the total number of units to a minimum of 120