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The Educational Policies Committee (EPC) has approved the following definitions for dual majors and composite majors. Effective Fall Semester 2005, all dual majors and composite majors must be advertised and offered in accordance with the following definitions:
Dual Majors
Students can earn multiple degrees and majors either within the same college or from two different colleges. They will then receive a diploma for each major. In order to complete a dual major, students must complete all requirements for both of the two previously approved majors. These true dual majors do not require any additional approval. A hybrid of two majors (in which students complete only part of the requirements for one or both of the majors) can no longer be considered a dual major but must be redefined as a composite major (see definition of composite major below). In a dual major, any combination of two majors is possible and may be described in the General Catalog. Exceptions to this policy include the Interdisciplinary Studies degree, which may not be combined with another major in a dual major, and any combination of majors specifically prohibited by a departmental or college policy. They will be listed as first and second majors. No formal statement or advertisement of potential combinations is necessary. Students work with advisors to ensure they meet all major requirements for both majors. students should declare both majors by meeting with the academic advisor of each major. The first major chosen will be called primary in the university’s data tracking system, and the second one chosen will be called secondary. Students may need to accumulate credits beyond the 120-credit minimum in order to complete all requirements for both majors. While each major must remain under the 126-credit limit, the combined credit total for a dual major may exceed the 126-credit limit.
Composite Majors
Composite majors are single majors that consist of part of the requirements for each of two previously approved stand-alone majors. The two stand-alone majors (from which a composite major is created) may be within the same college or from different colleges; they may even be within the same department. A single degree and major will appear on the transcript and diploma.
Under this definition, students declare a single major (e.g., Composite Elementary Education and Special Education). Each of the composite majors could have a complement, if the two majors being combined are in different departments. For example, Composite Special Education and Elementary Education could be a complement to the example above. This allows students the choice of which department they desire to identify with and receive advising from. In the case of complementary versions, the requirements must be identical, must be jointly agreed upon by both departments, and must be clearly stated in the General Catalog. A student having a composite major will graduate from the department administering the first major (e.g., a student with a Composite Elementary Education and Special Education major would graduate from the Elementary Education Department).
Institutional Reporting Issues
Although the current institutional reports to the Department of Education and the Board of Regents only count the primary major, data has been collected and reported regarding the secondary majors (number and type). Therefore, a department wanting to be recognized for their contribution to true dual majors (when they are listed as secondary for a particular student) can access and report that data. In the case of composite majors, the existence of a complementary listing (composite A and B, as well as Composite Band A) would probably result in either equal credit for the participating departments, or reflect a conscious preference by the student for priority in the listing.
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