BA with Special Major (Interdisciplinary) in San Bernardino United States | California State University, San Bernardino

At times, learners with specific academic or career goals might discover that the university's current degree options don't fully align with their aspirations, making a tailored, cross-disciplinary curriculum more suitable. The B.A. with Special Major serves as an interdisciplinary pathway designed for motivated students with unique interests who wish to craft their own academic focus in collaboration with faculty mentors. These customized majors aim to offer qualified students—under faculty supervision—the chance to develop a flexible, interdisciplinary study plan leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree. Typically, admission is restricted to students capable of formulating (with guidance from a faculty committee) personalized programs centered around a unifying theme or multidisciplinary subject spanning multiple departments. In some cases, temporary interdisciplinary interests may be accommodated through more structured degree plans created by faculty for student cohorts. The B.A. with Special Major isn't meant to circumvent standard graduation criteria or bypass requirements of established majors at CSUSB or neighboring institutions. The self-designed program shouldn't closely mirror any existing CSUSB degree. Additionally, Special Majors aren't available in fields like architecture, agriculture, or engineering where the university lacks sufficient faculty expertise to properly advise students and oversee final projects. Applicants must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA across all institutions attended and sustain a 3.0 average in courses counting toward their customized major.