The Journal

Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: Lifestyle

Kothe said the wide variety of courses she is taking provides her with what she views as a "necessary knowledge" of the world.

But even though CIS students study diverse ranges of subject matter, they aren't without their commonalities, Sandler said.

"The students who take these classes - and even more the ones who major or minor in them - tend to be the kind of people who like to make connections, who aren't satisfied with simple answers and like to see things from different angles," Sandler said.

Lori Diefenbacher, an adjunct faculty member, said this is especially true of the students who choose to design their own majors. Diefenbacher is on the subcommittee that hears students' proposals for these self-designed interdisciplinary majors (SIMs).

"These are usually people who are pretty driven, who know what they want to do,"
said Diefenbacher.

Junior Anthony Hagan, who is pursuing a fashion journalism major of his own design, hopes to one day write critiques for a fashion magazine. Hagan originally started at WU as a pre-med major and said when he decided the major was not for him, the SIM program allowed him to continue his studies at WU.

"I opted to stay at Webster because I knew they would be flexible in allowing me to take lots of different courses from different categories of study," Hagan said.

Hagan is currently finalizing his SIM proposal, which includes choosing the courses he plans to take before graduation and rationalizing how those courses will contribute to his understanding of fashion journalism. SIM students also have to define the parameters of their senior project and choose a sponsor who will oversee their progress in the major before Diefenbacher's committee will approve the application.

Currently, the CIS has two students pursuing approved SIMs and another three who are in the process of drafting their proposals. Among CIS's other programs, eight students are enrolled as international human rights majors, and 33 are majors in international studies with various emphases. The general studies program, which includes freshman seminars, also falls under the umbrella of the CIS.

Majors, minors,
certificates offered by CIS

Majors
•International Human Rights
•International Studies
•Self-Designed Interdisciplinary Major

Minors
•Ancient Studies
•Environmental Studies
•Fine Arts
•International Humanitarian Rights
•Latin American Studies
•Liberal Arts
•Multicultural Studies
•Women's Studies

Certificates
•International Human Rights
•International Studies
•Practical and Interdisciplinary Ethics
•Women's Studies

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