Completion Initiative: Meta Majors
Meta-majors by any other name...
The term "meta-majors" has not yet made its way into the professional literature. The following related terms appear more frequently and refer to all or many aspects of the definition of meta-majors as it is presented by Complete College America:
A set of broad content areas that students choose upon enrollment at a postsecondary
institution. A meta-major includes a set of courses that meet academic requirements that are common across
several disciplines and specific programs of study. Enrollment and completion of meta-major courses guide
students through initial academic requirements and into programs of study
- student cohort enrollment
- academic pathways/guided pathways/degree maps/academic map
- academy-based education/career academy
- GPS - "guided pathways to success"
- community(ies) of interest
Another related concept has been around for decades but has recently been updated and is being applied around the country: learning communities. This differs from Carroll's "academic communities" in that it is a strategy involving first-year student cohorts who take a cluster of classes together. Maryland's own CCBC is part of MDRC/NCPR's Learning Communities Demonstration project.
Articles and Files
NOTE: Descriptions of links below are available as pop-ups when you hover over the title with your cursor.
- Connections 2013 - Meta-Majors - powerpointA powerpoint from the Florida Dept. of Education and the Florida College System regarding state legislation requiring implementation of meta-major system by Dec. 2013; meta-majors information and examples begin on slide 11.
- How to Graduate High-Risk StudentsMeta-major-like information in the section titled "Structure"
- Designing New Academic PathwaysOverview of several initiatives around the country, including academic pathways and "lifemaps."
Meta-majors in Practice
- Austin Peay State University PathwaysAPSU requires all undeclared students to select one of nine pathways during their initial semester at the school.
- Arizona Western CollegeAWC uses a voluntary GPS program for first-year students.
- GPS LifePlanMinnesota State Colleges and Universities' GPS system The five main areas of the GPS LifePlan are Career, Education, Finance, Leadership, and Personal.
- Miami-Dade College - Community of InterestMDC has a set of Student Achievement Initiatives, including "communities of interest."
- CCBC - Learning CommunitiesLearning communities at CCBC focus on first-year student cohorts.
- Spokane Community College - learning communitiesSCC's learning communities model differs in that course content from 2-3 different disciplines is combined into a single 10-15 credit course: "a group of students and faculty members...meet together to explore a class theme."
Online Artcles and Web Sites
- Core Principles for Transforming Remedial EducationFrom Charles A. Dana Center, Complete College America, Inc., Education Commission of the States, and Jobs for the Future; meta-majors is core principle #7 discussed in depth on pg.11
- The Blueprint for College Success - Meta MajorsProduced by The Education Commission for the States; also check the A-Z index for other overviews of related topics, such as "Degree Maps" and "Individual Career and Academic Plans"
- MDRC/NCPR Learning Communities DemonstrationA report on the project that included 6 community colleges around the country, including CCBC.