Major and Minor Programs in the College of Arts and Sciences
- Major Programs: Overview
- Disciplinary and Interdisciplinary Majors
- Individualized Majors and Minors
- Minor Programs
- Electives
- Interdisciplinary and Supporting Courses
Major Programs: Overview
Trinity’s interdisciplinary approach to all major curricula enhances educational experiences and outcomes by integrating the knowledge, skills and values of the liberal arts into each program of study. This approach creates a meaningful link between the liberal arts, the major, and a selected professional focus.
When choosing their major, students are encouraged to select a focus area in their area of interest. For example, a sociology or psychology major may choose to focus in health care or corporate management, and select related internship experiences; a global affairs major may focus in policy, diplomacy, or graduate school preparation. Students access a range of professional options in an enriched academic environment that fosters community engagement and strong learning outcomes.
There are three approaches to the major program: the traditional major in one discipline, the interdisciplinary major, and the individualized major. The specific requirements for receiving a degree in each discipline will appear with program descriptions. Students should declare their major during their second academic year.
List of Traditional and Interdisciplinary Majors
Traditional and interdisciplinary majors in the College of Arts and Sciences provide students with in-depth knowledge and skills in a focused area of study. The following majors are offered:
* Offered in conjunction with the School of Education
** Offered in conjunction with the School of Nursing and Health Professions
*** Offered in conjunction with the School of Professional Studies
Individualized Majors and Minors
The Individualized Major or Minor
Individualized concentrations are unique; they develop from an individual student’s unique interest in a particular topic or professional outcome, and are often either interdisciplinary or in-depth explorations of an existing discipline. Individualized majors and minors must be designed with the support of a faculty member who teaches in the area of the student’s interest (supervising faculty member). The majors must display purpose and coherence, and should include introductory, intermediate, and advanced coursework including a course in research methods, scholarship, or comparable professional skill and a senior seminar, capstone, or thesis. Courses in the major should scaffold from the 100 to 400 course number level, just as with other majors.
Proposals for individualized majors and minors must include:
- A description of the proposed major or minor, including goals, objectives, and learning outcomes.
- An explanation of interest in the proposed major or minor.
- A description of how the proposed major or minor differs from existing majors.
- An illustration of how programs at Trinity contribute to the formation of the unique major or minor.
- A list of courses (program of study) the student plans to follow that explains how the courses fit the goals and learning outcomes for the unique major or minor.
- A letter(s) of support and approval of the major or minor from the faculty member who will supervise the proposed individualized major or minor. The letter from the supervising faculty member must indicate his or her commitment to the supervision of the major or minor in its entirety, and must accompany the proposal.
- Proposals for individualized majors must be approved by the College of Arts and Sciences Curriculum and Academic Policy (CAS-CAP) Committee.
Students considering individualized majors or minors must consult with their academic advisors and program chairs, who can provide detailed information about the application, development, and evaluation of such a program. Proposals are usually submitted during the sophomore year or early junior year. Proposals that extend a student’s degree program beyond the 120 credit requirement for a Trinity undergraduate degree will generally not be approved.
Minor Programs
Students may be interested in pursuing a focused area of study outside of their major program of study. The academic programs in the College of Arts and Sciences provide for this interest by offering program minors in the following areas:
Africana Studies
Art History
Biology
Bioinformatics
Business Administration
Chemistry/Biochemistry
Communication
Community Education*
Criminal Justice
Data Analytics
Economics
Early Childhood Education*
Education*
English
Environmental Justice
Fine Arts
Global Affairs
Forensic Psychology
Health Services
History
Language & Cultural Studies
Latin American Development Studies
Mathematics
Medical Sociology
Philosophy
Politics & Policy
Psychology
Public Health
Religious Studies
Sociology
Women’s Studies[/columnize]
* Offered in conjunction with the School of Education
In addition, students have the opportunity to develop and design individualized minors that reflect their personal or professional interests. Students who wish to take advantage of this option should work with Program Chairs in order to be sure that requirements are met. Individualized minors may be new configurations of courses or programs of study that have been previously approved, such as Applied Statistics, Bioethics, or Children, Family, and Public Policy.
Electives
Students choose electives from programs complementary to their major. In consultation with their advisor, students can choose electives that reflect personal interests or career goals. Professional studies courses may be taken in a variety of fields; internships also offer job-related field experience and learning.
Interdisciplinary and Supporting Courses
The College of Arts and Sciences offers a wide array of courses that are interdisciplinary in nature, as well as supporting courses that may fulfill General Education Curriculum requirements. For descriptions of courses that are not listed as part of a major or minor program, see the Interdisciplinary and Supporting Courses page in this catalog.