Liberal Arts - Ad Hoc

 The arts and sciences ad hoc major is a student-designed course of study. Students create this major by combining courses from two or more departments into an integrated field of study with a clear liberal arts focus. There is no ad hoc major within the Zicklin School of Business or the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs. To declare an ad hoc major a student must have an overall GPA of at least 3.0. 

The Weissman School of Arts and Sciences ad hoc major consists of 30-33 credits, with at least 24 liberal arts credits. The major must contain courses from at least two different Weissman departments, with a minimum of three courses (9–12 credits) from each of those departments, and may contain no more than two courses from the discipline in which the student intends to complete a minor (those one or two courses cannot be used toward completion of the minor). A maximum of three non–liberal arts courses may be included in an ad hoc major to provide support and/or supplementation to a strong liberal arts concept. No more than three courses from the Zicklin School of Business (3000-level and above) may be used in a Weissman ad hoc major. Students interested in including business courses in their ad hoc major should refer to the following website for the list of courses approved for use: http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/wsas/student_resources/declare_major_ad_hoc.htm

Once drafted, the ad hoc proposal must be reviewed and approved by the ad hoc major coordinator in the Weissman Associate Dean's Office, faculty advisors from two of the Weissman departments in which at least three courses (9–12 credits) will be completed, and the Associate Dean of the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences.

Popular Ad Hoc Categories

The following interdisciplinary concentrations offer specific guidelines. Please make an appointment with the appropriate faculty advisor.

The Arts: Art, Theatre, and Arts Administration

Students interested in a career in the field of management and administration in the arts may consider the interdisciplinary arts administration specialization. In the visual arts or theatre, students complete an appropriate ad hoc major, an internship in an arts organization, and arts administration courses. The recommended program design and course offerings are described in full in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts section of this bulletin. Students may also contact the department at 646-312-4052 for additional information.

Asian and Asian American Studies

Students can combine Asian and Asian American studies courses with other liberal arts disciplines as well as courses in international business to devise a unique ad hoc major in arts and sciences. Students interested in including Asian and Asian American studies courses as part of an arts and sciences ad hoc major should review the Asian and Asian American Program section of this bulletin, and contact Modern Languages and Comparative Literature Professor Shigeru Suzuki (646-312-4235; Shigeru.Suzuki@baruch.cuny.edu).

Modern Languages and Comparative Literature

Students interested in including French, Spanish, or Italian as part of an arts and sciences ad hoc major should contact the Department of Modern Languages and Comparative Literature at 646-312-4210. For more information about department course offerings, students should review the Department of Modern Languages and Comparative Literature section of this bulletin.

Natural Sciences

Students interested in including chemistry, environmental studies, or physics courses as part of an arts and sciences ad hoc major to prepare for graduate study in biology, for professional programs in medicine and health care, and for science teaching should contact the Department of Natural Sciences at 646-660-6200. For more information about course offerings, students should review the Department of Natural Sciences section of this bulletin.

Religion and Culture

Students interested in including courses in religion and culture as part of an arts and sciences ad hoc major should contact Professor Kenneth Guest, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, at 646-312-4477 or by e-mail at ken.guest@baruch.cuny.edu. For more information about religion and culture courses, students should review the Religion and Culture Program of this bulletin.