Design Your Degree
Students in the Individually Designed (IDS) program design their own degree.
This degree, as a BA or BS, is effective for students interested in emerging fields or who want to remain open to changing career plans.
Many students pursue this major because they are interested in an academic program that is not currently offered at Appalachian or is not fully represented by any single discipline.
IDS majors work with faculty to individually design a degree and to select courses from across campus to achieve their academic goals.
We seek students who are
- Self-motivated
- Passionate about a subject that crosses disciplines
- Interested in a major that is not offered at Appalachian State University
If this sounds like you, contact us.
Dr. Maria Pramaggiore, Department Chair
pramaggioremt@appstate.edu
Example Individually Designed Degrees
- Documentary Film
- Ethnobotany
- Deaf Studies
- Digital Cultures
- Environmental History
- Sports Leadership
- Non-profit Management
- Pre-medical Sciences
Honors Program
IDS has a departmental honors program to provide students in the major with opportunities for advanced research and to recognize academic excellence.
Application to the IDS departmental honors program requires a recommendation from a faculty member in IDS, emailed to the IDS Department Honors Director, Dr. Jessica Martell (martelljl@appstate.edu).
To graduate with honors in IDS, a student must achieve the following:
- 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA.
- .3 (B+) or higher GPA in the major.
- 6 credits in honors courses in the major, including at least 3 credits at the 3000-level or 4000-level; these can be honors sections or honors contracts.
- 3 credits in an honors thesis (IDS 4510).
- An average of B+ (3.3) or better across honors courses in the major.
- A grade of B or higher in all honors courses in the major.
IDS Majors Share Their Experiences:
I don't think any other major at Appalachian could've given me a skill set as tailored to my career goals as the one I was able to build through my self-designed program.
—Alexa, '25
I'm grateful that IDS was an option for me. I had a vision and a desire to learn, but the degree I wanted was simply not available. It has given me the tools to grow into my better self and pursue my unconventional dreams.
—Chloe, '15