Overview

The Individually Designed Major at Villanova University offers a unique opportunity for students to construct a personalised academic pathway that transcends traditional departmental boundaries. This programme is specifically intended for highly motivated individuals whose intellectual interests and career goals are not fully met by existing majors or minors within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. By working closely with faculty mentors and an advisory committee, students develop a rigorous curriculum that integrates different methodologies, topics, and learning styles.

Why Individually Designed Major at Villanova University?

Choosing this programme allows students to take primary responsibility for their education by identifying specific goals and defining periodic assessment benchmarks. Unlike independent study, the curriculum functions as a collaborative interdisciplinary mechanism, utilising the extensive resources of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. This structure fosters an explicit pursuit of interdisciplinary study, allowing learners to intentionally bridge disciplinary cultures and create a cohesive, long-term plan of study that is entirely unique to their ambitions.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 69846 per year
National fee: USD 69846 per year
Local fee: USD 69846 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum requires a minimum of 33 credits for the major, alongside core university requirements. Modules may include:

Ancients
Moderns
Faith, Reason, and Culture
Knowledge, Reality, Self
The Good Life: Ethics and Contemporary Problems
Mathematics
Statistics
Literature and Writing
Fine Arts

Careers with Individually Designed Major

Graduates of this programme are prepared for diverse professional environments that value independent thinking, interdisciplinary problem-solving, and self-directed project management. Because the major is tailored to the individual, career outcomes vary widely depending on the student's chosen focus. The programme equips students with the ability to articulate complex ideas across different fields, making them strong candidates for roles in research, consultancy, and various industries requiring a multifaceted analytical approach.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

An Individually Designed Major (IDM) is motivated by students’ own learning goals, and guided by a curriculum map that you will develop in consultation with faculty mentors, the Associate Dean, and the IDM committee.
This is not a series of Independent Study courses, wherein a faculty member takes the lead in developing a reading and writing program for students. Rather, faculty members and the established programs and departments within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (henceforth, LAS), function as collaborative resources for students to pursue a defined course of study. This is only allowable if no established majors are able to provide a pathway for students to achieve their stated goals.
The IDM provides an interdisciplinary mechanism for students to design a major that will integrate different methodologies, topics, disciplinary cultures, and learning styles.

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-08-23 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-01-15 00:00:00

Language

English

Credits

120 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Philadelphia, United States

Disciplines

Design General Studies Liberal Arts View 846 other Bachelors in Design in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

We are not aware of any English requirements for this programme.

Other requirements

General requirements

Application for Admission with Essays
$80 application fee
Secondary School Report and Transcript(s): All documents submitted must be official and in the original language. Documents not in English must be accompanied by an official translation in order to be reviewed.
English Language Proficiency
Financial Documentation

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

69846 USD / year

≈ 69846 USD / year
Out-of-State

69846 USD / year

≈ 69846 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

69846 USD / year

≈ 69846 USD / year

Living costs

Philadelphia

United States

800 - 1300 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Individually Designed Major.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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