GUIDE TO THE PLAN OF STUDY MAJOR
 
 
 

 

 

 
 
Introduction
The Plan of Study major has been open to all Liberal Arts students since 1968, offering them an opportunity to tailor their own multidisciplinary areas of concentration to pursue courses with greater freedom of choice than in the listed majors. At the same time, it requires a high degree of both independent initiative and self-discipline from the student.
A major in the Plan of Study program involves a selection of courses from the social sciences, arts, humanities, natural sciences, quantitative and engineering areas, with at least two of these six being represented, plus a senior-year thesis project chosen to integrate the student’s program. The thesis topic should therefore not be one, which could be done within a regular departmental program. Rather, it represents a separate field of study with an identifiable methodology appropriate to the topic.
 
 
When and Where to Apply
The Plan of Study proposal must be submitted no later than the spring semester of the sophomore year. Direct the completed proposal to the chair of the Curricula Committee. Remember that the application approval process requires some time, so you should plan accordingly: it would be best to submit the proposal early in your fourth semester.
 
 
Application Procedure
The application procedure will require you to create an advisory committee, develop a proposal for a major, and obtain approval for this proposal.
  1. Advisory Committee. You are responsible for selecting a principal advisor and two other advisors who will support your proposal. At least two of these advisors must be full-time members of the Arts and Sciences faculty with the rank of lecturer or above, at least one of them a tenure track member of the A&S Faculty, and they must represent at least two of the previously listed six areas. Should one of your advisors be from outside the Tufts community, a brief indication of his or her professional affiliation should be included. It is important to choose advisors who will not be leaving Tufts while your Plan of Study is in progress. We suggest that you make sure that each of your advisors is familiar with the information presented in this guide.
     
  2. Proposal. This site includes forms for your program proposal. The proposal includes a description of your Plan of Study, the methodology you will use and a bibliography, a list of the courses you have taken, are taking, or plan to take as part of this major, and a preliminary title of your proposed senior thesis project. In addition, a copy of your most recent transcript should be included. You will find it useful to consult your advisory committee members several times while drawing up your proposal. Writing professionals at the Academic Resource Center can also help you refine, clarify, and polish your proposal. Note that the application form requires a statement of support for your proposed program from each of the three advisors. We suggest that you keep a copy of your proposal for your own records.
     
  3. Curricula Committee. After your application has been completed, give it to the chair of Curricula Committee. Its faculty members are responsible for reviewing your application, possibly suggesting changes, and ultimately approving or rejecting your proposal. The committee will contact you and arrange a time to meet with you to discuss your proposal. If changes are suggested, more than one such meeting may be required.
 
 
Requirements of the Major
A Plan of Study program consists of:
  1. Eight to twelve courses from various departments and programs, at least five of which should be taken at Tufts or as part of a Tufts Study Abroad Program. One Experimental College course may be included, as long as it is consistent with your program description.
     
  2. Regular meetings of you and your advisory committee.
     
  3. A Plan of Study thesis project that counts as two additional credits. As noted in the Tufts Bulletin, All College courses ACL 91/92 are reserved for the Plan of Study Thesis:

    ACL 91/92 Plan of Study Thesis. Guided research on a topic, which has been approved as part of your Plan of Study (for the PoS Honors Thesis, see next paragraph).

    The thesis topic is chosen to integrate the various courses in your program. The thesis original plus two copies should be submitted in final form to the advisory committee several weeks before the end of classes in your final semester at Tufts, or at an earlier date, if required by the advisors. Students pursuing a Plan of Study major may opt for a PoS Honors Thesis if you were placed on the Dean’s list at least one semester before your senior year. The PoS Honors Thesis is ACL 191 for the fall and ACL 192 for spring.
     
  4. An oral defense of your thesis, carried out with your advisory committee.
 
 
Role of the Faculty Advisors
Members of the faculty who agree to serve as advisors for a Plan of Study should realize that it will involve significant time both in the initial planning with the student and in continuing to advise him or her once the Plan has been approved. Thus, the following suggestions are made to all potential Plan of Study advisors:
  1. The advisor should take the time to know both the student and his or her program. No student proposals will be considered by the committee that do not carry a written statement of support from each member of the advisory committee.
     
  2. In this connection, advisors must meet with the student to evaluate both the objectives of the student’s program and the courses and thesis chosen to achieve those objectives before the proposed Plan is submitted to the committee for approval.
     
  3. Further, as the student’s program develops, the advisors as a committee should meet with the student at least once a semester, (unless the student is away from campus). Progress toward the stated objective should be evaluated and alterations in the originally suggested curriculum or thesis made when necessary. These joint meetings become particularly important when the student enters the thesis phase of his or her program. Responsibility for arranging these meetings should be shared by the student and principal advisor.
     
  4. Faculty members who are going on temporary or permanent leave should not sign proposals as advisors. If unforeseen circumstances arise that make it necessary for an advisor to leave Tufts, it is his or her responsibility to arrange a suitable temporary or permanent substitute.
     
  5. Advisors are responsible for the final evaluation of the student’s work, including an oral defense of the thesis.
     
  6. All Plan of Study students may be considered for honors through the Thesis Honors program, provided that they have been on the Dean’s List at least once prior to their senior year. A written assessment of the student’s work and recommendations for the honors to be awarded, signed by the members of the advisory committee, must be in the hands of Carol Downing in Dowling Hall by early May for May graduates and by late December for February graduates.
     
  7. It is the responsibility of the student to deliver a copy of the student’s Plan of Study thesis to the Tisch Archives to remain on permanent file.
 
Examples of Successful Plan of Study Proposals with Thesis Topics
The committee suggests that, if you are interested in this program, you pay a visit to the Archives in our Tisch Library to look at several Plan of Study theses.
  • The Influence of Brain Physiology on Traditional Concepts of the Psyche. A study of how biological knowledge can shape ideas in human psychology.
  • The Historical and Artistic Context of Videodance: A New Art Medium. An integration of material from dance, film, and fine arts, along with a discussion of selected video works.
  • Chinese Cultural Studies. Chinese philosophies, religions, and their influence on the arts.
  • Classical Heritage in English Literature. Myth-making in the contemporary novel.
  • Comparative Studies in Asian Literatures and Cultures. Indian pictorial and literary traditions within the Asian context.
  • African and Gender Studies. Women and the law in Zimbabwe.
  • Choreographic Approaches to Filmmaking in Theory and Practice. Close analyses of the work of Bob Fosse, Yvonne Rainer, and Dziga Vertov.
  • Novels into Film. Theory applied to the novel, Heart of Darkness, made into Apocalypse Now.
  • Social Change Education. Pedagogies of peace.
  • Ethnic Conflict and Cooperation. International human rights law and the UN.
  • African-American Studies. The Black Panther Party in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Creative Entrepreneurship and Multimedia Communication. Concentration on Asia in the 20th century.
  • Women’s Studies. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual contemporary issues.
  • Western Cultural Theory. Rereading Paul de Man.
  • Ethnomusicology. Women in Jamaican music.
  • African Studies. Rastafari at home and abroad.
  • Art, Religion, and Culture. Artistic depictions of King David.
  • Government, Enterprise, and International Politics. Comparative business perspectives.
  • Urban Studies. Inequalities in public transportation resource.
  • Cinema and Cultural Studies. Close analysis of Sally Potter’s film, Orlando.
  • Computer Science and Entrepreneurship. Economic effects of changing communications technology on global corporations.
  • Public Relations and Communications of Leadership. US public relations regarding the Persian Gulf War and Kosovo.
  • Photography. History, theory, practice, impact.
  • From Africa to America. Blacks in art, literature, and history.