MAJORS, MINORS AND OTHER STUDIES

Sustained study in a chosen major complements the common learning in the core curriculum by engaging students in an apprenticeship guided by faculty who share their academic and/or professional interests. Requirements for each major are described in the Academic Departments section in this catalog.

Majors
Interdisciplinary Studies
Declaring a Major
Minors
Pre-Professional Programs
Dual Degree Programs

Majors
Mount St. Mary’s offers majors in the following fields:

• Accounting
• Biochemistry
• Biology
• Business, including concentrations in finance, international business and economics, management, and marketing
• Chemistry
• Communication Studies, including concentrations in journalism and mass communications, public relations, and rhetoric and public address
• Computer Science
• Criminal Justice
• Economics
• Education
• English, including creative writing emphasis and secondary education certification (grades 7-12)
• Environmental Science
• Fine Arts, including concentrations in art, music and theatre and certification in art education (grades pre-K-12)
• French
• German
• History
• Information Systems
• International Studies, including concentrations in international business and economics, international politics, and international cultures
• Mathematics, including secondary education certification (grades 7-12)
• Nursing
• Philosophy
• Political science
• Psychology
• Social Studies Secondary Education (grades 7-12)
• Sociology
• Spanish
• Sports Management
• Theology, including emphases in religious education, pastoral ministry and youth ministry and certification in catechetics and youth ministry
• Student-Designed Interdisciplinary Majors

Student-Designed Interdisciplinary Majors
In addition to the majors listed above, students may choose to complete an interdisciplinary major that they design in consultation with appropriate faculty. Such majors must be approved, using the Declaration of Major form, by the appropriate department chairs and by the dean for academic affairs. A student designing an interdisciplinary major in classical studies, for example, might work with faculty in the foreign languages, history and philosophy departments; a student interested in a biopsychology interdisciplinary major would work with faculty in science and psychology. All such majors should have no less than 33 credits.

Declaring a Major
All students must declare a major at the time of registration in the second semester of their sophomore year. The Declaration of Major form, available in the office of the dean for academic affairs, must be signed by the student’s advisor and major department chair. Preparing the declaration form requires students to plan how they will fulfill all major requirements. Students planning for a second major should consult with their faculty advisor and prepare a second Declaration of Major form. This form must be signed by the advisor and by the chair of the department in which the second major is requested and submitted to the dean for academic affairs at the time of registration in the second semester of the junior year. A grade point average of at least 2.0 in the second major is required. The university does not guarantee that every course needed for a second major will be offered every year. If a course required for a second major conflicts with another course needed to complete the graduation requirements or is not being offered that year, the student may have to forgo the second major or, if possible, secure permission from the appropriate department head to substitute a different course. Only one bachelor’s degree is given for a four-year course of study; students who complete majors in different degree areas may choose to have their degree listed either as Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, but not both.

Minors

Declaring a Minor
A minor is not required, but many students elect to minor in a departmental or interdisciplinary program. A minimum of 18 semester hours is required for a minor; the specific courses required are set out in the discussion of minors associated with each academic department. A Declaration of Minor form must be completed and submitted no later than the end of the second semester of the junior year.

Pre-Professional Studies: Concentrations and Programs
The core curriculum and each major field at the Mount together prepare students well for work or graduate study. Students seeking a particular pre-professional focus may find it in one of the concentrations noted above in the list of majors. Those interested in a military career may want to investigate the program in military science. Students planning to seek careers in law and in the health professions of medicine or nursing can take advantage of special advising and course planning offered at Mount St. Mary’s.

Preparation for a Health Profession (Pre-Med Studies)
Those students interested in attending medical school, dental school, pharmacy school or veterinary school or pursuing other health professions after graduating from the Mount are encouraged to consult with the health professions advisor (HPA) as soon as possible following enrollment. Working with their faculty advisor and the HPA, pre-med students obtain help with appropriate course selection, professional school entrance exam preparation, application materials and guidance, and support for interviews. In addition, the HPA should be consulted for general advising issues regarding professional school selection.

Dual-Degree Program in Nursing and Biology
A cooperative program between Mount St. Mary’s and the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing is available to the student who seeks to pursue a career in nursing and wants a strong liberal arts education. This dual-degree program allows a student to earn undergraduate degrees from both institutions over a five-year period. See the Department of Science section for details.

Dual-Degree Program in Physical Therapy and Biology
A cooperative program between Mount St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart University is available to the student who seeks to pursue a career in physical therapy and wants a strong liberal arts education. This dual-degree program allows a student to earn a bachelor’s degree in biology and a doctoral degree in physical therapy over a six-year period. The student must meet specific course and GPA requirements to qualify for the program. For more details, contact the health professions advisor (HPA).

Dual-Degree Program in Occupational Therapy
A cooperative program between Mount St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart University is available to the student who seeks to pursue a career in occupational therapy and wants a strong liberal arts education. This dual-degree program allows a student to earn a bachelor’s degree in any major and a master’s degree in occupational therapy over a six-year period. The student must meet specific course and GPA requirements to qualify for the program. For more details, contact the health professions advisor (HPA).

Students may elect to complete a minor as well as a major. Mount St. Mary’s offers minors in each of the established major programs listed above, as well as minors in the following interdisciplinary fields:

• Conflict, Peace and Social Justice
• Cross-Cultural Studies
• Environmental Studies
• Gender Studies
• Latin
• Latin American Studies
• Legal Studies

Any student proposing to design an interdisciplinary major must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better and must submit a letter of recommendation from his or her faculty advisor with the Declaration of Major form.