Custom-Designed Major FAQs

The Custom-Designed Major (CSDN) has partnered with First-Year Exploratory Studies (FYES) to support incoming, first year Drexel students interested in creating their own interdisciplinary academic plan. FYES provides students with the opportunity to explore Drexel's academic options and interests before selecting a major. For students who are looking to combine several disciplines into an individualized major, FYES is where Drexel students begin exploring. Students who enroll in FYES complete a one-year, full-time plan of study in their first year and then transfer to a full-time major at Drexel at the end of that year. For the students entering FYES with CSDN already in mind as their major, part of their time in FYES will be spent formulating their formal application to CSDN. First-year applicants interested in learning more about CSDN and FYES should reach out to their Admissions counselor or send an email to enroll@drexel.edu.

No, you do not. While some Custom-Designed Major students are members of the Honors Program, others are not. Keep in mind that there are other fantastic opportunities non-Honors students can participate in within Pennoni Honors College, including interdisciplinary courses, undergraduate research, fellowship applications, and other enrichment programs.

The CSDN core curriculum required for all CSDN students takes a minimum of two full academic years to complete. Because of this, any prospective student must complete the application process and be switched into the major with a minimum of eight full terms left in their academic tenure with Drexel.

The application timeline takes on average 4-6 weeks from start to finish for most students. Many factors can expedite or lengthen this process: complexity of the student's proposed courses, collecting letters of support from recommenders, and the extent of revision required on the student's application materials (i.e. the vision statement and plan of study). Upon initial submission of the vision statement and plan of study to the CSDN staff, we will provide extensive feedback — which on average takes 2-3 drafts — before forwarding the completed application to faculty for final feedback and review.

Upon final feedback and should the student be accepted into the major, the student attends a mandatory academic advising appointment to discuss any pressing deadlines or news regarding CSDN. Moving forward, students meet at minimum once a term with a CSDN advisor to ensure they are making appropriate academic progress towards degree completion.

Certainly! We are here to assist students from inquiry of the major through the application process. We strongly suggest prospective students set personal timelines for drafts of materials and to periodically check in with CSDN staff throughout the application process.

No. Students in the Custom-Designed Major have secured a variety of co-op positions. Many feel that their interdisciplinary background set them apart in the interview process and that the CSDN curriculum helped prepare them to discuss their individualized academic path with a variety of audiences. Whether it's an elevator pitch or a presentation about their studies, students pursuing CSDN have not felt hindered by their departure from a traditional academic path. Please see CSDN and Co-op for more information.

Both! Some Custom-Designed Majors prefer the four-year plan while other students find the five-year plan better suited for their individualized plan of study. Please review Drexel's co-op program site for more detailed information.

If you are switching into the CSDN major, your co-op cycle will not change. However, if a student is interested in facilitating a change due to personal reasons, that is possible.

Yes! Studying abroad requires intentional academic planning with an Academic Advisor, as well as Drexel's Education Abroad office. Many prospective CSDN students build study abroad into their plan of study when applying to the Custom-Designed Major. If you are a current student newly interested in studying abroad, inform your Academic Advisor as soon as possible so that you both can begin building out tasks, deadlines, and a timeline to ensure the process is as smooth as possible.

All CSDN seniors complete the capstone sequence (CSDN 304, CSDN 305, and CSDN 306) and work closely with a faculty mentor on a three-term research project. Students present their research in a capstone presentation prior to graduation. Many students have gone on to publish their work after graduation.

Some CSDN students work closely with faculty to develop upper-division independent study courses. These nuanced courses allow students to develop deeper expertise and additional skills with an expert in their field.

As students delve into higher-level coursework within their chosen academic disciplines, it is inevitable that they begin developing relationships with faculty from each area. This is typically a very natural process, where students will have a feeling about whom they wish to work during their research project. Should students need guidance on finding a mentor, the CSDN advisors are here to provide assistance.

Please see the breakdown of acceptable general education courses in the CSDN Curriculum page.

Upon moving into the Custom-Designed Major, CSDN staff will audit the student's coursework and update their account, including DegreeWorks, so that the student is aware of how past and current coursework applies to their new academic plan. Any courses that do not satisfy an individual requirement (general education requirement, CSDN upper-level core course, etc.) will filter under elective coursework for the student. There is no limit to how many elective credits a student can carry, and if a student is interested in taking courses for leisure/elective coursework, they are encouraged to consult their assigned Academic Advisor.

Yes, Custom-Designed students must complete all listed pre-requisite courses. Pre-requisite courses are determined by departments with the understanding that these courses instruct on skills and information required to be successful in the subsequent courses. We defer to their expertise.

Yes! It is very common for CSDN students to add on a minor. The University allows up to 9 credits of overlap between a student's major and minor. Because of this, we encourage any student interested in declaring a minor to first consult their assigned Academic Advisor to ensure enough courses are available for a minor to be completed. At that point, students will need to consult the department in which the minor is housed to formally declare the minor. In addition, understand that adding on a minor may mean going above the 180-credit minimum needed to graduate.

180 credits is the minimum number of credits a student pursuing the Custom-Designed Major is required to take. When a student switches majors late in their academic career, brings in a high volume of AP or transfer credits, or adds on a minor, it is common to exceed 180 credits. If receiving federal financial aid, it is important to ensure that the majority of coursework taken is applicable towards the student's academic plan, as there are federal guidelines for funding as it relates to a student's past and anticipated coursework. When in doubt, consult the Office of Financial Aid, as every student's situation is different.

Diplomas for graduates in the Custom-Designed Major say Bachelor of Science.