As second semester quickly passes by, the sophomore class counts the days until the major declaration deadline. Everyone's asking. Your parents, your friends, everyone wants to know: what's your major? Although Tufts offers approximately 40 majors, these possibilities fail to satisfy some students. For them, Tufts offers a custom-made alternative.
The plan of study (PoS) major, an often-underutilized option in the course bulletin, gives students the option of designing an interdisciplinary major that is personally suited to their academic interests.
"I think college is all about taking classes that you love, and the set of majors offered doesn't always fulfill that need for everyone here," senior Beth Thompson said. Thompson will be earning degrees in biochemistry and archeology when she graduates this spring.
According to Associate Dean Kristine Dillon, plan of study is one of the University's hidden jewels. "Undergrads come to it after realizing that they do, in fact, know what they want to study and know how to put it all together," she said.
Much of the program is based upon a self-designed courseload that students must formulate and abide by once approved. Like other majors, the application and approval process should be completed during sophomore year. But PoS requires students to do a little more legwork before declaring a major.
For some students, deciding to begin the application process is the greatest challenge in the PoS program.
"It took me an entire semester to decide what to do," junior Christopher Just said. "I came out of two years of engineering and hated it. I didn't quite belong in Engineering or Liberal Arts, so this is perfect." Just is currently applying for a Public Relations and Communications plan of study.
Unlike student-planned academic track programs such as Boston University's University Professor program, to which students apply as part of their application to the University, Tufts' program is open to all Liberal Arts undergraduate students who wish to take a greater control of their academic plan. But the University does not promote the program as much as some students would like.
"I would have to say that I do not think the program is well advertised," said Thompson, a senior who had attempted to get a program approved for plan of study.
Thompson added that she was discouraged to undertake the application process, and was told that completing participating in the PoS program would be a major hassle.
"I think if the plan of study was pushed more, there might be a better rate of happy students," she said. "We need the structure, but for those who choose it, it should be easier to break out of the mold and create something special to their personality."
Though most students who go to the trouble of declaring a PoS major feel rewarded at the completion of their set requirements, many wonder how the rest of the world will view their choices when they apply for jobs. Dillon keeps up with PoS students after they graduate to determine how effective their programs were.
"They are set apart and must explain that they made up their own major with three advisors," Dillon said.
The most popular majors formed under the umbrella of Plan of Study include African and African-American studies, Communications and Film Studies, Journalism, Urban Studies, and Sustainable Development. In addition to these popular programs, there are majors such as Women Studies, a program that originated as a Plan of Study, and eventually found its way into Tufts' mainstream academic offerings.
