Independent Major

Offered by the Independent Major Committee

Contact: Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs, 167 Olin Hall, (607) 255-8240

The independent major is designed for students whose educational objectives cannot be met by one of the regular majors. This major consists of an engineering primary area (32 credits) and an educationally related secondary area (16 credits). The primary area may be in any subject area offered by schools or departments of the college; the secondary area may be in a second engineering subject area or in a logically connected non-engineering area. The combination must form an engineering education in scope and substance and should include engineering design and synthesis as well as engineering sciences. Each program includes the normally required common-curriculum requirements and approved electives.

Students should apply to the independent major during the sophomore year. A student should seek assistance in developing a coherent program from professors in the proposed primary and secondary areas (an advisor in each area is required). The program must also be approved by the Independent Major Committee. If approved, the program is the curricular contract to which the student must adhere.

Because no single standardized curriculum exists, the independent major is not accredited by ABET. Independent major students who intend to seek legal licensing as a Professional Engineer should be aware that this nonaccredited degree program will require additional education, work, and/or experience to qualify for eligibility to take the Fundamentals of Engineering examination and may affect acceptance into some engineering graduate programs.