Chart Your Own Course
Individualized Studies majors develop their own plan of study under the guidance of advisers. You’ll take a core set of classes while examining complex issues that interest you in courses across the university. This degree culminates in a self-designed project that positions you for entry into graduate school or the workplace.
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The major is designed for flexibility so you can develop your own course of study. In your first year, you will begin with an introductory writing-intensive course and another on interdisciplinary inquiry. You will also concentrate on the Miami Plan, a well-rounded course of study that provides you with an excellent liberal arts education. Through the Miami Plan, you will get a solid base in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, fine arts, and formal reasoning. You will be able to explore many of your academic interests, and begin to think about how you want to integrate them.
- WST 251 Individualized Studies Seminar
- WST 301 Interdisciplinary Problems
- WST 421 Proposal Workshop
Career Options
Your degree will give you a strong background in analysis, critical thinking, and problem-solving, setting you up for success regardless of the direction you decide to take. Upon graduation, you might head off to a graduate program, seek work in a non-profit organization or a corporate setting, spend several years working for Teach for America, Americorps, or the Peace Corps, or start your own enterprise as a marketer or an entrepreneur. Recent graduates have secured positions in environmental education, journalism, cybersecurity, the craft beer industry, sustainable business development, and social services. Others have pursued graduate degrees in business, law, health professions, creative writing, and higher education.
Additional Opportunities
Overview for optional section to feature opportunities or additional content – to be added by miamioh. Delete if unneeded.
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Western Center for Social Impact and Innovation
Additional Opportunity #1 Description: The Western Center for Social Impact and Innovation is Miami’s interdisciplinary hub for student engagement with issues of social justice within the context of global change. Programming through the Western Center encourages students and faculty from every subject area to explore complex questions.
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Facts and Stats
Your college experience here will be one of the most exciting times of your life. To make sure of this, we’ll provide you with a powerful support system.
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90%
First-to-second year retention
Miami University Data
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21st
Among Public Universities in the United States for Four-Year Graduation Rate
The Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac
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96%
of 2018-2019 graduates who were employed or furthering their education by fall 2019
Miami University Data
Testimonials

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Through this program, Jack created a customized curriculum, allowing him to focus on the forefronts of neuroscience and natural resources. He’s building out new ideas and strategies to solve tough problems.
Jack Ackerman ’18
Individualized Studies, Entrepreneurship
This is Where Your Journey to Miami University Begins.
Explore what it means to be a college student at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where students prepare to go anywhere and everywhere. We’ll be here to help every step of the way as you prepare for college admission, enrollment, and success.
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Miami students are an eclectic mix of thinkers, doers, leaders and followers, introverts and extroverts, authors, painters, climbers, coders, pianists, philanthropists, and gamers. Just to name a few.