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Self-Designed Studies

At Knox, you can build a major as unique as your interests.

Major, Minor

Color outside the lines—in a major way.

Some questions are too big for a single academic program. A self‑designed major lets you build a course of study around those questions you’re curious about… a major that introduces you to the field and leads to advanced research or creative work. 

With guidance from two or more faculty mentors, you’ll design a major that spans departments and supports your long‑term academic or career goals. You’ll also have a faculty liaison who works with you during the design stage, helping you shape a strong proposal and boosting your chances of success. Most students develop their proposal during their sophomore year and submit it to the Curriculum Committee—a faculty group that reviews and approves academic programs—for final approval.

Major or Minor in Self-Designed Studies

Career Outcomes
A professor smiles as he leans in to examine what a student presents to him; two other students look on.

Where faculty help you think bigger.

At Knox, you’ll work with a team of faculty whose interests are wide‑ranging, flexible, and often far more dynamic than their titles suggest. Our professors are curious, creative thinkers who can help you pull together the disciplines that make the most sense for your goals. With their guidance, you can mix and match fields to design a major that reflects the questions you want to explore.

Faculty at Knox
Professor Emily Anderson stands in front of a screen and speaks.

Examples of Student‑Designed Majors

These examples show what past students have created. Every student must design and apply for their own major—even if a similar one has been approved before.

  • Arts Administration
  • Business Anthropology
  • Conservation Ecology
  • Dance Science
  • Educational Neuroscience
  • Entertainment Business
  • Finance
  • Graphic and Interactive Design in Art and Business
  • Holistic Health and Wellness
Religious Studies Professor Robert Geraci stands in front of a screen with text and speaks.
  • International Development
  • Management & Policy
  • Religion and Culture
  • Sex Education
  • Sports Marketing
  • Sports Management
  • Sustainable Agriculture
  • Sustainable Entrepreneurship
  • Visual Culture Theory
A student holds the sleeve of an ornate antique costume, looking down at it.

What Our Self-Designed Studies Alumni Are Doing

Self‑designed studies alumni chart their own paths, and those paths lead everywhere. Knox gives you the freedom to pursue what motivates you and turn that momentum into meaningful work.

  • Dr. Emily Hastings ’16 (pictured here with a costume she designed at Knox as a Self Designed Minor in Renaissance and Medieval Studies) | Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
  • Stephanie Cordero‑Gonzalez ’17 | Bilingual First Grade Teacher, Chicago Public Schools

Self-Designed Studies FAQs

Each student must design and make the case for their self-designed major. A faculty liaison will guide you through the design stage to help you develop a strong, well‑supported proposal.

Most students find that the biggest tasks are confirming that their selected courses will be available in upcoming years and developing a meaningful capstone. The faculty liaison and your two faculty advisors guide you through these steps.

Students appreciate the opportunity to design a major that aligns closely with their interests. Many describe a strong sense of ownership and satisfaction in creating a program that is uniquely their own.

Is Knox for you?

Contact us to find out more about our comprehensive majors, minors, and programs.

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