Interdisciplinary Concentration: Law, Diversity & Justice Emphasis, BA

Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies

Introduction

Interdisciplinary Concentration – the Individually Designed Major. The Fairhaven College Interdisciplinary Concentration: Law, Diversity & Justice Emphasis provides an opportunity for developing an individually designed major for the Bachelor of Arts degree. It allows maximal flexibility in formulating a program to meet personal and career goals, bringing together each student’s vital interests from more than one discipline into a cohesive whole.

The self-designed concentration process allows students to work with a faculty committee to articulate a sound rationale for their area of study and to develop a plan including courses, independent study projects, senior projects and, where applicable, internships and apprenticeships. Students are assisted in completing the concentration by faculty and other advisors and by the FAIR 303a, Concentration Seminar course. The Concentration Proposal rationale statement and accompanying Concentration course list form the plan of study for the Interdisciplinary Concentration major, after approval by the student’s Concentration Committee and filed in the Fairhaven College Records Office. As part of this plan of study, a minimum of three quarters of coursework, completing a minimum of 36 credits is required after the concentration filing quarter.

At the conclusion of the degree program, a senior project and a concentration summary and evaluation help each graduate to evaluate their own work and to look toward the future.

Concentrations have been developed in a wide range of areas not available through traditional majors. The Fairhaven College office can provide further information pertaining to the concentration, its possibilities and prospects, may be found in the Student Guide to Fairhaven College.

Why Consider an Interdisciplinary Concentration with a Law, Diversity & Justice Emphasis at Fairhaven College?

The Law, Diversity & Justice (LDJ) Concentration is designed for students with a strong interest in law, diversity and access to the legal system for under-served communities. The Law, Diversity and Justice Concentration is open to all Fairhaven students with a passion for social justice.  The concentration welcomes students who desire to effect change and who have the potential to act as leaders and role models in their communities using legal knowledge and processes. The curriculum also emphasizes a critical examination of how issues such as race, class, gender, sexual orientation and disability intersect with the legal system.

Contact Information

Fairhaven College Admissions Coordinator Kasandra Seda 360-650-2123 sedak@wwu.edu

Fairhaven College Advising Coordinator Anna Blick 360-650-3683 talvia@wwu.edu

Sample Careers

With an interdisciplinary degree with this emphasis, the options are wide-ranging. Examples of careers of Fairhaven alumni with this degree include: attorney, domestic violence legal advocate, writer, tribal government leader, social entrepreneur, human resource professional, non-profit leader, social worker and community activist.

Major/Career Resources

www.wwu.edu/careers/students_choosingamajor.shtml

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies has selective admission and enrolls first-year students, transfer students, and students from other WWU programs fall, winter, spring and summer quarters. New applicants to Fairhaven and to the University complete the WWU Undergraduate Application (available online or in print form). Indicate interest in Fairhaven College in your application. Send the standard application, transcripts, and required test scores to: Office of Admissions, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9009.

In addition to the WWU application, Fairhaven requests a personal statement, two letters of recommendation and an interview (in person or by telephone). For more information or to make an appointment, please call 360-650-6680.

Students currently enrolled in other University programs may apply to transfer to Fairhaven’s program by the quarterly application deadlines. Current WWU students applying to Fairhaven do not need to submit transcript test scores or the WWU Undergraduate Application.

Visitors are welcome and with advance notice, appointments can be arranged with Fairhaven advising and admissions staff, students or other WWU staff.

The Interdisciplinary Concentration: Law, Diversity and Justice Emphasis is officially declared when this concentration developed by the student under faculty supervision is accepted for filing.

Grade Requirements

A grade of ‘S’ in Fairhaven courses or C- or better in courses in other departments is required for this degree.