Written by Abby Kellett
Though Harding offers more than 100 different majors and just as many minors, sometimes there just is not a single forte that fits a student. This was Calea Bakke’s case. She is a junior this year majoring in something that has never been done before on campus.
Bakke knew what she wanted to do with her life, but until now Harding had failed to offer her a route to take to get there with a degree in hand.
“I would like to work with a non-profit or mission organization doing either management or communication,” Bakke said. “I knew I always wanted to do that, but I didn’t really have a major to get there.”
After hearing about a capstone (a specific project done by seniors at Harding) which involved something about combining multiple majors to make a concentration that is entirely new to the university, Bakke decided to pursue a degree in what is now being called “Interdisciplinary Studies.”
“I started taking some communication classes and some social science classes, and then I talked to Dr. Hopper because I’m on Honors Counsel,” Bakke said. “He had exactly what I needed.”
Bakke met with many different deans and faculty members continuously for more than a month in order to plan and construct a new major that would allow her to take a smorgasborg of classes from different departments, enabling her to graduate and enter the workforce fully prepared.
While the amount of time Bakke spent fine-tuning the details of the major was lengthy and perhaps a bit tedious, she said she has high hopes for those who wish to do the same in years to come.
“It took me about a month, but I think for other people it’ll be a lot shorter because we have all the paperwork and everything,” Bakke said. “So as long as you kind of have an idea of what you want to do, now you can basically get there.”
Bakke does not have to worry about taking any more classes that will fail to benefit her future. This fact is not only enriching her college experience, but it also gives her the excitement and anticipation that comes with doing something one loves.
“I really enjoy it because I’m actually now excited about all my classes because I get to pick them, and it’s exactly what I want to do,” Bakke said.
While the thought of going through the catalog with a panel of deans may seem overwhelming and a bit ominous, the process actually comes highly recommended for those in search of their dream, nonexistent major.
“It was a little stressful going through it, but I think like I had a lot of grace,” Bakke said. “All the teachers were all really supportive, and I was really impressed by how all the departments worked together on it to try and help me achieve my goal. They were all very accommodating and generous with their time. I felt really honored.”
In order to create a new major at Harding, a certain GPA must be maintained along with several other requirements. However, Interdisciplinary Studies is now offered in Harding’s catalog, and the opportunity to add another major to the book is readily available.
For more information about combining and pursuing a new major, contact Dr. Hopper in the Honors College.
