Click on the link to download a printable PDF version of the SDM Proposal Guidelines, or the bookmarks to the right to locate specific sections of interest.

For the latest information, see our Website at: http://usm.maine.edu/cas/sdm/sdmajor

• You should plan to meet with the SDMP coordinator at least twice; once prior to beginning the proposal process after having read the SDM Newsletter, and again when you submit your proposal. You should set up each appointment allowing approximately one hour for each meeting.
• Plan to give yourself enough time to prepare a SDM proposal of which you will be proud. Do not rush through the process. TIP: neatness counts, be thorough, do spell check, and grammar check.
• At your first meeting with the coordinator you should bring a list of your questions and any research of comparable programs you have gathered so far. At this meeting you will receive complete instructions for proposing your SDM, which are also available on our website:
• Your SDM proposal must be typed or word processed.
• Proficiencies must first be met in mathematics and writing.
• To apply, you must have first completed 30 credits of College of Arts and Sciences (C.A.S.) course work (must include at least 15 C.A.S. credits at USM).
• Cover letter/introduction to SDMC addressing content as indicated in section B.
• Copies of at least two programs comparable to the one you are submitting as your SDM proposal. Include a graduate program if you have plans of pursuing graduate study. These comparable programs should be from other regionally accredited institutions and should currently be in use at these institutions.
• List of courses already taken, currently being taken, and to be taken separated by CAS and non-CAS courses. Total the 200-level course credits in each category. Use recommended format, and include course descriptions when not available in the current USM catalog. YOU MAY USE ONLY ONE COURSE IN YOUR SDM TO ALSO SATISFY A CORE CURRICULUM REQUIREMENT (Please asterisk (*) this course).
• Check with department chairs to be sure "Courses To Be Taken" are expected to be offered when you have planned to take them.
• Include a provision for a senior Thesis/Project. You do not have to indicate the topic at this time.
• Letters of recommendation from at least two faculty advisors who met the required criteria. Your primary advisor must be from C.A.S., be full-time, and expect to be at USM (not on sabbatical) for the next academic year. Recommendations may be sent directly to the SDM coordinator, or be included with your proposal.
• USM transcript (unofficial is acceptable). This is available from the Advising Services Center in Portland, or the Registrar’s Office in Gorham for no charge to currently registered students.
• Have all faculty advisors date and sign their name on the Proposal Agreement as listed in the instructions, indicating their approval of your SDM proposal.
• Ask one or more SDM faculty advisors to attend your SDM proposal meeting.
• Submit the Proposal Agreement signed by you with your SDM proposal.
• Contact the SDM Coordinator to determine the date and time of your SDM proposal before the SDMC.

Your Self-Designed Major Proposal should include all of the following:

1. A cover letter/introduction completed by you, the student, addressing:

~ the title of your proposed self-designed major (SDM),

~ how your interest in this major developed,

~ your goals and objectives,

~ how the SDM will help you achieve those goals and objectives,

~ the rationale for the organization of the particular courses in the major,

~ a statement indicating why, considering your goals, none of the related programs USM offers is appropriate,

~ a statement indicating whether you plan to pursue graduate study and if so, how the proposed Self-Designed Major will assist you in the goal of admission and successful graduate study. We understand this may be tentative.

2. A USM transcript (unofficial is acceptable) showing grades of all college level work you have done to date,

3. All appropriate SDM forms completed,

4. Provision for a Senior Thesis/Project (this is required--see Thesis Guidelines),

5. A letter of recommendation and endorsement from all participating faculty advisors,

6. Documentation for two or more similar programs currently in use at other regionally accredited institutions that may serve as relevant points of reference for the program you are proposing (this must include course descriptions for those courses required for the major as well as foundation courses).

7. Your SDM proposal must be reflective of those programs submitted in content and total number of credits.

8. If you plan to pursue graduate study, documentation is required for at least one program you would be interested in attending. This could serve as an indicator of prerequisites for admission to that program.

Note: presentations take place during finals week of the semester you plan to graduate (fall and spring only) at the "Drop-In and Show Off."

C. FACULTY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Faculty Advisors (at least one advisor must be from C.A.S.) must be full-time and expect to be at USM for the next academic year.

2. Faculty advisors must write a letter of recommendation and submit it to the coordinator of the SDMP at least two weeks prior to the date the student expects to propose the major to the SDMC. The letter of recommendation must address the following:

~ familiarity with the student’s work and objectives,

~ familiarity with, and approval of, the student’s SDM proposal,

~ familiarity with comparable majors at other universities or at USM,

~ willingness, ability and commitment to provide ongoing advising and guidance to the student making the SDM proposal.

3. At least one of the students’ two (or more) faculty advisors must accompany the student to the proposal meeting to offer support and answer questions regarding the academic integrity of the proposed SDM.

4. All of the student’s faculty advisors signatures are required on the proposal change submitted to the SDMC indicating approval of any subsequent changes, additions, substitutions, deletions to the SDM before a proposal change is submitted to the SDMC.

5. One or both of the student’s faculty advisors is responsible for grading of the Senior Thesis/Project at least one week prior to the date of the presentation to the Self-Designed Major Committee and other interested members of the University Community. The faculty advisor responsible for submitting the grade will be determined as part of the Senior Thesis/Project Proposal process, and is subject to the approval of the SDMC. The grade should be submitted to the SDMP Coordinator, Pam Edwards, in writing.

6. Presentations are generally 15 - 20 minutes in length and present an overview of the student’s Senior Thesis/Project and should reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the SDM. The presentation is to take place prior to graduation (usually during final’s week) during the student’s last semester of attendance. Students will not be awarded their degree until the thesis/project and the presentation are satisfactorily completed.

***Note to faculty advisors: Your signature of approval should not be given to the student until you are satisfied with the quality of work to be presented to the SDMC.

Please see the following page titled: Self-Designed Major Format Guidelines, for a detailed format example.

1. Your name, student ID #, title of your SDM, and current local phone number and address must appear as a header on pages produced by you for your SDM proposal.

2. Courses pertaining to your SDM should be categorized as follows (see pages 5-6):

~ major courses already completed

~ major courses currently being taken

~ major courses to be taken (no courses numbered -99 may be listed in this category)

3. Each category should list the course number, title, credits, semester taken (or planned to be taken). College of Arts & Sciences (C.A.S.) courses should be separated from non-C.A.S. course work, and the number of credits for each category should be calculated separately. In addition, the number of credits of 200-level and above course work should be totaled for each category (see Format Guidelines on pages 5 - 6).

The proposed SDM must include:

The proposed SDM should be reflective in content and number of credits required to the comparable programs submitted supporting the academic integrity of the proposed SDM.

If your cumulative grade point average (CGPA) drops below 2.50, you will be put on probation for one semester. If at the end of the probationary semester your CGPA is not at least 2.50, you will be dismissed from the program.

SELF-DESIGNED MAJOR

Please make a header in the upper left corner of each page marked with an ‘*’ (those produced by you, see below) and include: your name, student ID # (usually your social security number), your SDM title and your current local phone number and address.

Order of SDM Proposal information:

College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) courses:

ABC 1XXJ                sample title      Fall 2001           A           3.0

Non-CAS courses:

XYZ 1XX                  sample title      Spring 2002      B+         3.0

CAS credits: _____

Non-CAS credits: _____

Total # of SDM credits already taken: _____

200-level and above credits: _____

Section II. SELF-DESIGNED MAJOR COURSES CURRENTLY BEING TAKEN FOR _____ 200_:

College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) courses:

ABC 1XXJ                sample title      Fall 2002           B           3.0

Non-CAS courses:

XYZ 1XX                  sample title      Fall 2002           A        3.0

CAS credits: _____

Non-CAScredits: _____

Total # of SDM credits being taken: _____

200-level and above credits: _____

College of Arts & Sciences (CAS ) courses:

ABC 1XXJ                sample title      Fall 2003             ___           3.0

Non-CAS courses:

XYZ 1XX                  sample title      Spring 2004             ___           3.0

CAS credits: _____

Non-CAS credits: _____

Total # of SDM credits to be taken: _____

200-level and above credits: _____

Section I. _____ Total credits 200-level and above: _____

Section II. _____ (must be 30 credits or more)

Section III. _____ Total CAS credits: _____

Total Non-CAS credits: _____

TOTAL # OF SDM CREDITS: _______

Students requesting proposal changes should list the proposed changes in the same format as the original proposal. In addition, the SDMC expects students to give a rationale for how these changes affect your SDM in both content and in credit distribution. Be sure to maintain at least 50% College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) courses, and a minimum of 30 credits of upper division course work. Changes must be typed or word processed.

Name: ______________________________________________
Student ID #: _________________

Address (local): _____________________________________
Projected Graduation Date: ______

__________________________________________________
Phone (local): ________________

Self-Designed Major Title: ________________________________________________________________

1) Learning Objectives: What will you learn to do, to know or understand as on outcome of this project?

2) Activities: What well you do during the project? Be specific, indicating what you will observe, measure, perform or study, etc.

3) Resources: What will you need for the project? Include bibliography, people, agencies, equipment and budget.

4) Evaluation: What will you produce or perform which your faculty advisor will evaluate for a final grade? How frequently will you confer with your faculty advisors?

5) Preparedness: What has prepared you to carry out this project? Include courses or other types of instruction, work or other types of experience and sense of commitment.

• may be based on any approved internship, research project, or other activity;
• must relate to the self-designed major, and to your goals and objectives;
• must reflect the interdisciplinary nature of your major;
• must be previously approved by your advisors and subject to ratification by the SDMC;
• must be supervised by your advisors on a regular basis;
• must indicate the regularity with which you will meet with your advisors;
• must allow enough time for you to make changes suggested by your advisors, and allow them BOTH time enough to assess your work.
• must be graded by your advisors at least 1 week prior to your scheduled presentation
• must be presented to an appropriate audience by the last semester of your attendance, prior to graduation (usually during finals week - see the SDM Coordinator for more information);
• must reflect an appropriate ratio of hours of work to hours of credit sought, as evaluated by your advisors and the SDM Committee.

Your typed proposal (3 - 5 pages) should have space for the dated signatures of all faculty advisors who signed on to supervise you in your major signifying their approval of your proposed project.

Name:________________________________________
Student ID #:_____________________

Address (local): ________________________________
Projected Graduation Date: _________ ______________________________________________
Phone (local): ____________________

Address (home): ________________________________
Phone (home): ___________________

______________________________________________
Cumulative GPA: _________________

Self-Designed Major Title: __________________________________________________________

Faculty Advisors: 1)_______________________________________________________________
               name              department

2)_______________________________________________________________
              name              department

Student signature: _________________________________________________ Date: ________

Approval of the Self-Designed Major Committee:__________________________ Date: ________

Approval of the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office: _________________ Date: ________