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Individual Studies (IVSP) students enjoy broad academic freedom and flexibility to pursue their degrees in ways that best suit their intellectual interests and passions. Under the guidance of a faculty mentor and the IVSP staff, students create their own unique, interdisciplinary majors that approach important issues, questions, and problems from a range of disciplines and perspectives. 

Merrill College offers a flexible, hands-on curriculum combining the best journalism traditions with cutting-edge digital storytelling and engagement skills crucial to numerous professions. Students learn to tell fair and accurate stories through writing, audio, video, data visualization, social media and more. They use the latest tools to uncover wrongdoing, amplify marginalized voices and reveal the human reality behind headlines.

The Secondary English Education program is designed for students seeking certification to teach English (English Language Arts) in grades 7-12. The curriculum includes a range of courses that provide students with the content that they need to teach English (English Language Arts) – World, British, American, and Minority literature, communication, rhetoric, and language and linguistics.

As a Maryland Smith marketing major, you’ll learn how to be successful at all levels of an organization by ensuring that quality goods and services are provided at fair prices and in a way that benefits the community and society. And you’ll learn from faculty like Rebecca Ratner, whose research about solitude has made a huge impact in consumer studies.

The Portuguese program spans language, culture, cinema and literature courses, fostering linguistic and critical thinking skills. Emphasizing faculty support and interaction, it offers a rigorous education in language and culture for academic and professional excellence. The Portuguese minor enhances language proficiency through immersive language and cultural coursework. This interdisciplinary approach enhances cross-cultural communication abilities and encourages individual exploration.

The Black Women's Studies minor explores women's lives from Africa and the African Diaspora. Merging Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and African American Studies, it explores the intersectionality of race, gender, class, sexuality and ethnicity in the experiences of Black women. An interdisciplinary minor, it enhances students' career paths, including nonprofit management, social justice advocacy, law, healthcare, education and government.

The LGBTQ minor provides students an opportunity for interdisciplinary study of the lives, experiences, identities and representations of LGBTQ people. This program provides solid grounding in the concepts and methods that define studies of sex, gender and gender identity today. Students gain familiarity with vocabulary and knowledge in critiquing key developments, along with critical reasoning and research skills.

Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies covers feminist scholarship, the history of women, and gender as a social construct. The program offers concentrations in social justice, transnational politics, race, ethnicity, bodies, genders, sexualities, arts and LGBTQ studies. These concentrations explore diverse aspects of gender, race and queer studies, fostering critical understanding and activism. Students can also design their own concentration.

Our award-winning program provides hands-on experience in acting, directing, voice, movement and design with a curriculum focused on student engagement and professional development. The faculty represent various dramatic disciplines. Alumni have achieved success on Broadway, in film and television, and working with established artists like Beyoncé. Located near D.C., we offer unique networking opportunities and partnerships with prestigious institutions.

The Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art offers five concentrations for students to pick from: painting and drawing, printmaking, sculpture, digital media, and graphic design. Studio Art majors begin with foundational training and then explore various media. They develop their artistic voice, combining contemporary art-critical practices with technical skills. Opportunities for internships, gallery work and organizing exhibitions are available.

A minor in Spanish offers opportunities in international fields, education, public service, law and more. It includes three tracks: Literature, Linguistics, and Culture; Language, Culture, and Professional Contexts; and Heritage Language and Latina/o Culture.

A minor in Spanish offers opportunities in international fields, education, public service, law and more. It includes three tracks: Literature, Linguistics, and Culture; Language, Culture, and Professional Contexts; and Heritage Language and Latina/o Culture.

A minor in Spanish offers opportunities in international fields, education, public service, law and more. It includes three tracks: Literature, Linguistics, and Culture; Language, Culture, and Professional Contexts; and Heritage Language and Latina/o Culture.

A B.A. in Spanish develops language and cultural skills with applications in diverse fields such as education, business and law. Three tracks are available: Spanish and Latin American Literature, Culture, and Media; Spanish Linguistics, Culture, and Education; and Spanish Language, Culture, and Professional Contexts. Each track focuses on different aspects of Spanish language and culture.

The Religions of the Ancient Middle East major delves into the roots of biblical Israel, ancient Judaism, Christianity and early Islam. The program offers the opportunity to tackle key religious questions and explore. A capstone seminar completes the interdisciplinary journey. The Language track offers language-enhanced options, encouraging students to learn Arabic, Hebrew or Greek and apply it to research.

The Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) major explores complex social and political questions, merging philosophy, political science and economics. PPE equips students with a diverse set of analytical tools, enabling them to tackle pressing global issues that require multi-dimensional perspectives. It prepares future leaders with knowledge in ethics, reasoning, institutional politics and economics to provide solutions to intricate problems.

The Philosophy major aims to unravel the concepts of scientific disciplines such as biology, physics and psychology and to train students on developing the skills required to clarify and critically analyze ideas and arguments, both orally and in writing. Areas of specialty are philosophy of science, cognitive studies and value theory. Graduates are well-prepared for a variety of careers.

Persian Studies offers students a comprehensive understanding of Persian language, literature and culture, and equips them for diverse career opportunities. This includes Iran, Afghanistan, Persian-speaking Central Asia and the Persian diaspora. Students develop language skills and insight into contemporary life. The Persian Flagship Program offers a pathway to professional-level proficiency.

The Music Performance minor gives students the opportunity to receive high-level training in instrumental or vocal performance. Ensemble participation and academic courses in music allow students pursuing this minor to achieve expertise in the art, history and theory of music. Beyond the minor, the School of Music offers a Bachelor of Arts in music for those interested in double majoring.

The Music and Culture minor explores how human cultural diversity is represented through music. You’ll develop skills in hearing, thinking, analyzing, discussing and writing about music while relating it to other aspects of human life. Students take ethnomusicology courses to explore diverse musical cultures and genres, as well as have the chance to participate in cultural music ensembles.

The School of Music offers conservatory-style training with an emphasis on developing well-rounded musicians. Located near the nation's capital, students have opportunities to perform with prestigious cultural institutions. The Bachelor of Music is for students who desire a career-focused music education and innovative curriculum. This professional program allows students to study with renowned faculty experts and play in top ensembles.

The School of Music offers conservatory-style training with an emphasis on developing well-rounded musicians. Located near the nation's capital, students have opportunities to perform with prestigious cultural institutions. The Bachelor of Arts program offers a balanced liberal arts curriculum for those interested in music alongside other fields, allowing flexibility and broad engagement in musical performance.

The Linguistics program offers an interdisciplinary education with research labs and a focus on critical thinking. The program explores language structure, native speaker knowledge and scientific analysis. Graduates can apply their skills in fields like speech therapy, psychology, education, cognitive science and computer science or pursue graduate school. The curriculum offers the Grammars and Cognition track and the Language track.

The Hebrew minor is jointly offered by the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and Jewish Studies. It provides language and cultural skills for Hebrew-speaking contexts. It consists of advanced language classes and electives covering Israeli literature, Israel studies, Zionism, Israeli cinema and Hebrew Bible. Students gain proficiency in reading, writing, listening, speaking and cultural understanding.

The Jewish Studies major and minor introduce students to Jewish history, culture and literature while fostering critical reading and persuasive communication skills. Students attain proficiency in Hebrew. The Meyerhoff Center for Jewish Studies offers merit scholarships and support for students studying abroad. Graduates work in various fields, including business, education, government, law, medicine, journalism and social work.

The Japanese major and minor programs offer training in language, literature, linguistics and culture, preparing students for careers in East Asia-related fields like higher education, the arts, business, government, international relations and media. Combining Japanese with other majors, such as business, computer science, engineering, government and politics, economics and journalism, is also an option for students.

The German Studies major develops intercultural skills and language proficiency. Students customize degrees for global competence, including the German in Engineering program. Students develop enhanced skills and cultural understanding, as well as participate in regular career development programming sponsored by the department. The German Studies minor provides students with an in-depth understanding of German language, literature and culture.

The French Studies minor provides a comprehensive exploration of the French language, culture and literature. Courses in French include topics from history and philosophy to linguistics and contemporary issues, spanning different time periods and locations. Encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration, the program offers pedagogical training, fostering a diverse community of scholars in French and Francophone studies.

The French major enhances intercultural skills, language proficiency and the exploration of French-speaking cultures worldwide. Students customize degrees for global competence. Expert faculty teach French literature, linguistics and cinema. Students develop skills like business French and diplomacy for careers in law, journalism, international relations, teaching and more. The program offers diverse courses encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and pedagogical training in French studies.

The Rhetoric minor analyzes the history, theory and criticism of civic discourse and cultural practices. The minor empowers graduates to engage with important social issues and take on active leadership roles. The minor may be especially valuable for those who plan careers in the fields of business, education, government, law and others where persuasive writing and speaking skills are prized.

The Professional Writing minor offers students opportunities to engage deeply with the theory and practice of writing, editing and designing print and digital documents for professional workplaces, civic organizations and community deliberations. The minor is a good fit for any student wishing to enhance their marketable skills and broaden their post-graduate employment opportunities.

The interdisciplinary Humanities, Health, and Medicine minor integrates arts, humanities and the social sciences with health and medical education. Students gain skills which showcase health’s historical, cultural, ethical and spiritual dimensions. The minor fosters an exploration of medical challenges and the analysis of complex texts on the social and cultural aspects of medicine, which emphasize real-world applications, research and communication.

The Digital Storytelling and Poetics minor prepares students to interpret, and to create, imaginative writing in digital and new media spaces. Students build the skills necessary to critically analyze digital culture, narrative, poetics and rhetoric, and learn how to craft creative expression in digital platforms. Students will develop digital portfolios as a means to showcase their career-facing knowledge and skills.

The minor in Creative Writing offers students the opportunity to engage deeply with their own writing and that of their peers in a graduated series of workshops led by professional writers of poetry and prose. Participants in the program take four workshops sequentially during their undergraduate careers, plus one upper-level English course of their choice focused on literary studies.

The English major equips students with essential skills in literature, rhetoric, language and writing, offering flexibility for experiential learning and research. This program prepares students for careers in law, journalism, writing, project management, film and information science. It features four defined tracks within the English discipline, enabling specialization and interdisciplinary exploration, allowing students to tailor their education to their goals.

The Communication major embraces the mission of delivering high quality education through the study of communication for the public good. The curriculum covers various aspects of human communication, preparing students for careers in numerous diverse fields. Students can study organizational communication, public relations, digital media, intercultural communication, political communication, conflict management, persuasion, rhetoric, health communication and public discourse criticism.

This Latin minor introduces students to the language, enabling them to read significant works of Latin literature. It holds value not only for its intrinsic appeal but also for the skills it imparts, potentially leading to higher GRE exam scores. Students who have a passion for Latin from their high school experience are encouraged to further their studies.

The Classical Mythology minor introduces students to classical mythology, its uses within ancient Greek and Roman culture, and its subsequent influence on art and literature.

The Cinema and Media Studies major offers an interdisciplinary approach to cinema and audio-visual media, emphasizing the study of history, theory and comparative analysis through scholarly analysis. Undergraduates explore aesthetics, culture, history and technology through cultures and societies, as well as courses in global film, all of which promote a comprehensive understanding of this influential medium's evolution and its global impact.

Deemed a "critical language," the Chinese major prepares students for careers in East Asia-related fields like education, arts, business, government, international relations, agriculture and media. Combining it with majors in business, government, economics or journalism is possible. Chinese students can join Language House and study abroad. A 15-credit Chinese language minor offers courses in speaking and modern Chinese fiction.

The Arabic department takes a multidisciplinary approach to the study of Arabic language and culture. Students participate in discussions surrounding cultural patterns, social issues and historical contexts in addition to taking classes in colloquial and formal Arabic. Students are eligible to participate in the Flagship Program and many students double major, providing increased access to a variety of careers.

At its core, the department’s focus is social justice, exploring the social construction of difference and the culture of everyday life in American society, past and present. The field combines critical, contextual understanding with personal awareness. An American Studies degree offers tremendous versatility, applicable to numerous and diverse fields. Graduates have entered industries like arts, law, government, academia and technology.