Sophomore Demi Marks plans on majoring in children's entertainment — and she will be the first to do so at Tufts. Marks is one of a small number of students on campus who have decided to design their own interdisciplinary studies major through the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies (CIS).
When she arrived at Tufts as a freshman, Marks already knew that she wanted to minor in Communications and Media Studies (CMS). CMS Program Director Julie Dobrow suggested that Marks consider the interdisciplinary studies major as an option.
Marks is still waiting for approval from the CIS Faculty Committee, which makes its decision in the spring of an applicant's sophomore year. Her unique major would combine child development and sociology with communications and mass media studies.
"[Dobrow] has linked me with the right people … [and] encouraged me to forge relationships with certain people," Marks said. "It's important to figure out who has done research in your field, who understands the nature of the [CIS] board, who is willing to help you and who will work well together."
Only a small number of students apply to design their own interdisciplinary majors, according to Kristina Aikens, assistant director of writing resources at the Academic Resource Center.
"Generally speaking, there are one or two interdisciplinary studies majors per year," Aikens, who helps applicants prepare their proposals, said. "Some years there are no proposals, and very occasionally, we'll see as many as six. However, usually the number is one or two."
In the Class of 2012, there are three students pursuing interdisciplinary studies majors, Aikens said.
While some stigmatize interdisciplinary majors as what students choose to study when they have no clear academic direction, CIS Director Gregory Carleton explained that interdisciplinary majors actually require an immense amount of work and planning. Usually, only students who can identify exactly what they are interested in studying are accepted into the program.
"They are intellectually driven, highly self−disciplined and motivated ... [and have] completed some solid preliminary or preparatory coursework pursuant to the topic," he said.
Before being permitted to declare an interdisciplinary major, applicants must develop a program proposal that describes his or her individual major, plan for each semester's coursework through his or her senior year and find three faculty members to serve as major advisors. Additionally, the proposal must include a proposed topic and title for a requisite senior thesis.
"Each of these three professors must write a letter of support, agreeing to advise the student and supervise the student's senior thesis," Aikens said.
Students designing interdisciplinary majors must also plan a curriculum that encompasses disciplines from at least three academic departments, including at least two traditional fields of study, such as arts, humanities, natural sciences, mathematical sciences, social sciences and engineering.
For students who are passionate about an area of study that is not covered by Tufts' curriculum, an interdisciplinary studies major can provide a student with just what they were hoping to get out of their degree, Aikens said.
Topics of past interdisciplinary studies majors have included urban design and development, psychology design, human−computer interaction and photojournalism, she said. One junior is currently pursuing a major focusing on the intersection of medicine and culture in China, according to Carleton.
"The interdisciplinary study major provides a wonderful opportunity for combining fields in dynamic, exciting ways and for exploring connections across traditional boundaries," Aikens said. "For the student who sees interesting combinations among fields and who has a specific research focus that does not fit into traditional majors, this can be a very exciting and fulfilling path."
But interdisciplinary studies majors are not for every student, she said.
"One of the important things to keep in mind about these topics is that they are liberal arts topics," Aikens said. "The interdisciplinary major is meant for exploration of the liberal arts, not for preprofessional or business−related endeavors."
Additionally, a major as individualistic as interdisciplinary studies comes with some obstacles, according to Aiken.
"It can be isolating and confusing not to have a specific departmental affiliation," she said. "In addition to passion for the topic, this major requires the ability to work independently, a strong capacity for self−discipline in unstructured situations and a great deal of initiative."
Marks agreed, saying that when she was deciding whether to pursue an interdisciplinary studies major, she took into account the likelihood that she would have no one with whom to discuss her curriculum, unlike students pursuing majors in more conventional departments.
"It's difficult sometimes for people to take you seriously … and it's hard to relate to others because you're the only one on your specific path and therefore don't have those friends to fall on if you're struggling," Marks said.
But Marks explained that attending Tufts, even though it does not offer a major in her field of interest, is as important to her as her course of study.
"Could I transfer to a communications school? Sure, but I think being at Tufts has given me the unique experience of being one in 1,000 instead of just another face," she said. "I also think that I will graduate a more rounded person than if I had gone to a specialty program, and I think that will only help me."
After graduation, Marks hopes to develop and market major motion pictures or television programs for children and teenagers. Her passion for the career path she is pursuing is ultimately what will allow her to buckle down and complete the major she took on, she said.
"I arrived at this through multiple internships, class experiences and my gut just telling me that this is what I would be totally thrilled to be doing for the rest of my life," she said. "You really have to want it for it to become a reality. Certainly, people at Tufts are more than willing to help, but it's up to you to figure out what you want from your education because you are designing everything from what is required of you to graduate, who is going to help you get there and how you are going to go about doing it."
