Individual Program of Studies

Some students find that concentration in one of the majors offered at HMC does not meet their educational goals. As an alternative, any student may devise an individual program of study (IPS) designed to serve his/her academic interests. An IPS program is initiated by the student; it must be consistent with the nature and strengths of the College, but it may cross departmental and even college lines.

An individual program of study must have the following characteristics:

(1) The program must be constructed predominantly from the disciplines of science and engineering and be consistent with the purposes of Harvey Mudd College. It must differ from the other majors in a significant way and must have the approval of a faculty member and the dean of faculty. Each student in the program must have two faculty advisors, one from the Department of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts and one from one of the technical departments.

(2) The program should contain at least 14 courses (42 credit hours) that make up a coherent set. Flexibility to choose among a large number of courses should not be at the expense of depth of concentration. Thus, at least two of the courses of this requirement should be taken in each of the last four semesters, and at least three of the courses should constitute a sequence.

(3) At least seven of the courses submitted under requirement (2) above must be taken at Harvey Mudd College.

(4) A student may not enter IPS after the sixth semester without prior approval by the Scholarly Standing Committee.
Many individual programs of study are interdisciplinary in nature. For example, a program may center on a field combining two of the traditional majors or on a field in science or engineering that is only partially covered by one of the majors. Alternatively, a program may seek to relate mathematics, physical science or engineering to an area of the social sciences or humanities. As illustrations of these possibilities, students have designed programs in architecture, environmental studies, geology, and politics and technology.

Off-Campus Major

Students may also choose to complete an off-campus major at one of the other Claremont Colleges in order to satisfy the “major” component of the curriculum. In this case, the student must also complete a minor in one of the Harvey Mudd College major-granting departments, along with all other graduation requirements, including the Common Core and the program in Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts.

An off-campus major (OCM) is overseen by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. A student contemplating an OCM in lieu of a regular HMC major should consult with the Associate Dean about the application process. Since the requirements of the other college may be less than the HMC requirements for an OCM (10 courses), it is important that the student begin this consultation early. All students taking off-campus majors will be required to write a senior thesis or engage in some approved capstone experience (e.g., research, Clinic, internship) as well as completing a technical minor with one of the HMC major departments. In cases where courses in the off-campus major overlap with either or both of the HMC humanities, social sciences, and the arts concentration or the HMC minor, up to four overlapping courses may be allowed to satisfy more than one of these departmental graduation requirements. Students are not allowed to seek off-campus majors that are offered as on-campus HMC majors.

Minors

A minor is available only to students electing an OCM in lieu of a regular HMC major.

Biology: Biology 52 (required in Core), Biology 54, four additional biology courses, at least one of which must be a laboratory course. These courses are chosen with the approval of the student's biology advisor and are normally taken at HMC.

Chemistry: A minor in chemistry shall consist of a coherent group of at least four non-laboratory courses beyond the required Core in two or more areas of chemistry, i.e. analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic and physical. In addition, the minor must include laboratories in at least two different areas beyond Core chemistry and Carbon Compounds laboratories (Chemistry 24 and Chemistry 58, respectively). The minor must be approved by the minor advisor.

Computer Science: Mathematics 55, Computer Science 60 or Computer Science 42, Computer Science 140; one of the following: Computer Science 105, Computer Science 121, Computer Science 131, Computer Science 142; and any other upper division Computer Science course chosen with the consultation and approval of the minor advisor.

Engineering: The Engineering minor follows the same three-part model as the major. Students must complete seven engineering courses, as follows:

• Engineering Sciences (2): One of Engineering 82, 83, 84, 85, or 106 and one follow-on course in the same discipline as the first; and
• Engineering Systems (2): Engineering 59 (taken as part of the college’s Common Core); and E101 and Design and Professional Practice (3); One of Enginering 4 or 111; and Engineering 8 and 80.

Mathematics: The student will propose a program designed in consultation with his/her mathematics advisor. Proposals must be approved by the Department of Mathematics Curriculum Committee and should consist of any five upper division Mathematics courses (to include Mathematics 55) that form a coherent concentration or survey program. At least four must be HMC or HMC cooperative courses. Mathematics Clinic and Senior Thesis are normally excluded.

Physics: Physics 52, Quantum Physics (3 units), and at least nine additional units of physics or astronomy chosen with the help of a physics advisor.

Dual Degree Programs

Harvey Mudd College is currently participating in four dual degree programs with other members of The Claremont Colleges:

3-2 Program in Economics and Engineering with Claremont McKenna College
HMC offers a 3-2 Program in Economics and Engineering in cooperation with Claremont McKenna College. The program is designed for students who want a liberal arts background, with emphasis on economics and management, and an engineering major. The students spend their first three years at Claremont McKenna College studying mathematics, science, economics, management and general education courses. At the end of the junior year, they may apply as transfer students. Accepted students must complete HMC’s requirements for general education and for the engineering major. Because curricular expectations for the 3-2 transfer program are specific, potential applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with the Harvey Mudd College Office of Admission as well as the chairperson of the Department of Engineering.

3-2 Program in Engineering with Scripps College
HMC also has a 3-2 program in Engineering with Scripps College. The 3-2 Program with Scripps College does not include the emphasis on economics. The students reside at Scripps College for their first three years and cover a broad range of courses with emphasis in mathematics and science. Students accepted into the 3-2 program must complete HMC’s requirements for general education and for the engineering major. Because curricular expectations for the 3-2 transfer program are specific, potential applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with the HMC Office of Admission as well as the chairperson of the Department of Engineering.

4+1 B.S. + M.B.A. Program
Harvey Mudd College has an arrangement with the Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management at the Claremont Graduate University whereby qualified students can earn an M.B.A. within 15 months of graduation from HMC. Participation in this program will require early planning so that courses appropriate to both the HMC and Drucker requirements will be taken. Interested students should consult with Professor Gary Evans before the middle of their sophomore year.

4+1 B.S. + M.S.I.S. Program
Harvey Mudd College has an arrangement with the School of Information Science at the Claremont Graduate University whereby qualified students can earn an M.S.I.S. in the year after their graduation from HMC. Interested students should discuss this option with their faculty advisor during their sophomore year. The advisor and the student should then consult with the dean of the School of Information Science.

Graduate Courses for Undergraduates

Most graduate courses are open to qualified undergraduates with the permission of the instructor.

The following course is open to all undergraduates at The Claremont Colleges.

Education 170G CG. Introduction to Public School Teaching (3)
Staff. Students interested in pre-college teaching should contact the Teacher Education Program at CGU to arrange for courses that will meet the requirements for a teaching credential in California.

AEROSPACE STUDIES/AFROTC (AS)

The following courses are offered on the Harvey Mudd College campus by instructors from the Air Force ROTC under an agreement with the University of Southern California. A total of six credit units from Aerospace Studies 400-401 can be used toward the credit hour requirements for HMC graduation, but the credits received by those units are not computed as part of the HMC grade point average. All courses are recorded with a letter grade, except Leadership Laboratory courses which are on a pass/fail basis. See the Air Force ROTC site for more information on the program and available scholarships or contact the Detachment 060 Unit Admissions Officer at 213.740.2670.

100-101. The Air Force Today (1; 0 for HMC students)
Staff. A survey course which explores major topics relating to the Air Force and defense. It focuses on the organizational structure and missions of Air Force organizations; officership and professionalism; and includes an introduction to communicative skills. A weekly Leadership Laboratory affords students an opportunity to practice Air Force customs and courtesies, including physical fitness and drill and ceremonies.

200-201. USAF Air and Space Power (1; 0 for HMC students)
Staff. This course focuses on factors contributing to the development of air power from its earliest beginnings through two world wars, the evolution of air power concepts and doctrine, and an assessment of communicative skills. An additional Leadership Laboratory consisting of Air Force customs and courtesies, Air Force environment, drill and ceremonies, and field training orientation is mandatory.

300-301. Air Force Leadership and Management (3; 0 for HMC students)
Staff. A study of leadership and quality management fundamentals, professional knowledge, leadership ethics and communicative skills required of an Air Force junior officer. Case studies are used to examine Air Force leadership and management situations as a means of demonstrating and exercising practical applications of the concepts being studied. A mandatory Leadership Laboratory complements this course by providing advanced leadership experiences in officer-type activities, giving students the opportunity to apply leadership and management principles of this course.

400-401. National Security Forces in Contemporary American Society (3)
Staff. This course examines the need for national security, analyzes the evolution and formulation of the American defense policy, strategy and joint doctrine; investigates the methods for managing conflict; overviews regional security, arms control and terrorism. Special topics of interest focus on the military professionalism. Within this structure, continued emphasis is given to the refinement of communicative skills. An additional Leadership Laboratory consisting primarily of advanced leadership experience in officer-type activities is mandatory.

While no credit is given, students in Air Force ROTC must also pass the following courses.

110-111. Leadership Laboratory I (0)
Staff. Introduction to the military experience focusing on customs and courtesies, physical fitness and competitive sports, drill and ceremonies, and the environment of an Air Force officer.

210-211. Leadership Laboratory II (0)
Staff. Introduction to the military experience focusing on customs and courtesies, physical fitness and competitive sports, drill and ceremonies, and the environment of an Air Force officer.

310-311. Leadership Laboratory III (0)
Staff. Practical introduction to Air Force leadership. Course focuses on military communicative skills, group dynamics, and applications of theories of leadership and management and physical fitness and competitive sports.

410-411. Leadership Laboratory IV (0)
Staff. Advanced Air Force leadership experiences. Course focuses on the practical development of the Air Force officer through command and staff positions with the Cadet Corps. Curriculum includes continuing emphasis on physical fitness and competitive sports.

510-511. Leadership Laboratory V (0)
610-611. Leadership Laboratory VI (0)
710-711. Leadership Laboratory VII (0)
810-811. Leadership Laboratory VIII (0)