Additionally, student and adviser should consult the current catalog and, if questions remain, ask the department chair. Policies for Construction of Special Majors Students who wish to pursue a course of major study other than one of those regularly provided may submit a proposal to this effect in their pre-major advising session. After consultation with the adviser, the student sends the proposal to the Dean of the College, who forms a committee of faculty members from appropriate disciplines to supervise the major. The major program agreed on by the student and the committee will be submitted for final approval to the Dean. In addition to the course work required in the major field of study, students must complete a senior obligation, which may be a comprehensive examination, thesis, or other culminating or integrating study.
Comprehensive examinations are to be given prior to the first day of final exams.
If the student has completed all major departmental requirements by the end of the first semester of the senior year, he or she may, at the discretion of the department, take comprehensive examinations prior to the first day of final examinations that semester. Students transferring to professional schools at the end of the sixth semester are not required to complete the senior obligation. However, they must successfully complete sufficient credits of work in professional school if they are to be awarded a degree from Washington College. Students who are taking comprehensive examinations are not thereby exempted from taking final examinations in their courses, but the discretion of each professor is allowed in this matter. A senior paper topic should be approved by the senior paper adviser not later than the fourth week of classes of the first semester of the senior year.