Student Initiated Minor

Student Initiated Minors (SIMR) are disciplinary or interdisciplinary minors, which are not directly related to an existing minor course of study. These minors are designed by a student and their major faculty advisor and in consultation with a minor advisor from the discipline(s) involved, which reflect their own educational objectives and/or career interest. The purpose of the Student Initiated Minor is to develop a program of study to match a student's interest when pre-approved minors are unable to meet those needs.

Requirements for a Student Initiated Minor:

A Student Initiated Minor should consist of a minimum of 18 hours of coursework, of which at least 1/3 should be at the 300 or 400 level. The course work is established by the Student Initiated Minor Committee and approved by the Curriculum Committee.

Policies for Student Initiated Minors:

• All Student Initiated Minors must meet the standard criteria for a minor.
• The candidate may begin the Student Initiated Minor process no earlier than the beginning of the second semester of the freshman year, and no later than the first semester of the senior year. 
• The candidate shall contact their major advisor to discuss plans for the Student Initiated Minor. The student will contact an instructor with faculty status in a discipline included in the Student Initiated Minor who will serve as the minor advisor, and assist with establishing the program of study. Any changes in advisors should be reported to the Registrar's Office through a Change of Academic Program form.
• The candidate must prepare a proposal for the Student Initiated Minor in coordination with their major and minor advisors. This proposal shall include the rationale behind the Student Initiated Minor and a list of courses included in the minor. This proposal shall be forwarded to the Curriculum Committee, which is responsible for approving or not approving the proposal. Once the Student Initiated Minor is approved, it is filed with the Registrar's Office and is built into the degree audit for the student.
• Once the Student Initiated Minor has been approved by the Curriculum Committee and filed with the Registrar's Office, changes in the list of courses required for the Student Initiated Minor can be made only in exceptional circumstances. All changes must be approved by the major and minor advisors through a Course Substitution/Waiver form. If there are more than two changes in a Student Initiated Minor, the approval of the Curriculum Committee is required. All changes must be submitted to the Registrar's Office.