The purpose of the Self-Designed Thematic Sequence (SDTS) is to provide students with the opportunity to design a specialized course of study beyond those that are currently offered. Providing this opportunity, the university invites students, in direct collaboration with a faculty advisor, to create a Thematic Sequence reflective of requirements and goals represented by the Global Miami Plan and relevant to students' specific academic, professional, and social concerns.
The Self-Designed Thematic Sequence must be completed outside of the department of your major, only one 100-level course may be included, and courses in the SDTS can only be used for 3 hours of GMP Foundation credit, including IC and ADVW. (Should the Thematic Sequence contain more than one Foundation course, including IC and ADVW, only one of those courses can be counted for both requirements). Courses fulfilling the Senior Capstone cannot be included in the SDTS.
Requirements
You must address the following components to be uploaded as part of any Self-Designed Thematic Sequence proposal:
Statement of Support from your Self-Designed Thematic Sequence Faculty Advisor: You must select a faculty advisor for your SDTS. The faculty advisor is often a member of the department that houses the majority of the coursework for your sequence. It is expected that the faculty member will work closely with you to develop your proposal and think about connections between courses and topics. If you are proposing an interdisciplinary sequence, select an advisor who is familiar with the overarching theme. Your faculty advisor must write a brief statement indicating their support for your Self-Designed Thematic Sequence. You will need to obtain that statement directly from them and upload it as part of the petition process.
Statement of Explanation—Upload a brief proposal outlining the proposed SDTS. This proposal must answer each of the following questions:
How will this broaden your knowledge in the topic area chosen?
How are you initially connecting the courses in relation to the topic area chosen?
If you have already taken one or more of these courses, what are specific points and concepts that carry across the courses? How did you engage in critical thinking and communication in them?
How would you explain to a potential employer, graduate school committee, or other relevant future audience the meaningfulness of this group of courses to your overall liberal education experience at Miami.
Degree Audit Report—Upload a newly generated DAR in PDF with your proposal. Please be sure to upload the “Printer Friendly” version of your DAR found by clicking the “Printer Friendly” link in your DAR.
All components of the proposal must be turned in before it will be reviewed by the Director of Liberal Education.
