Discovery

Student leans against a tree and writes in a notebook on Gaebe Common.

It’s Your Journey

Degrees You Can Make All Your Own

Are you interested in exploring more than one major in college? Do you find yourself wondering if you can combine your passions into one great career? Are you looking for a program that allows you to design your future? Then, you’ll want to learn all about how Johnson & Wales’ diverse curriculum can help you feel inspired by what comes next. We’re excited to see what you discover along your journey because no matter what, we know you’ll end up finding something you truly love.

At JWU, you can dig into your interests by choosing from two Undeclared options:

Undeclared: Business Explorations
Undeclared: University Explorations

Or if you’re interested in different areas at once, you can tailor your own path with one of these Interdisciplinary Study programs:

Design Your Own Major
Liberal Studies

Choosing a major is a big choice, but it doesn’t have to be a hasty decision. PROFESSOR WENDY WAGNER, PH.D.

Discover Your Degree Options

Undeclared: University Explorations

In this program you’ll be able to take introductory classes that interest you, as well as general studies during your first year.

Undeclared: University Explorations

Undeclared: Business Explorations

In this track, you’ll take intro business classes as well as general study courses during your first year at JWU.

Undeclared: Business Explorations

Student and professor discuss work on laptop

Design Your Own Major

Work with a team of faculty advisers to design a program that combines courses across a variety of majors. Ultimately, you’ll complete 33 to 39 semester credits in two or three distinct academic disciplines. In addition, you’ll take research and applied/experiential learning courses.

Design Your Own Major

Liberal Studies

Through this program you’ll take classes in the arts, cultural studies, history, philosophy, behavioral sciences, math and science. You’ll also complete a minor as well as an experiential learning component which may include an internship, lab and field research work or a directed experiential education option.

Liberal Studies

SELECTING A MAJOR

Whether you know exactly what you are looking for, or want to explore different areas of interest, the JWU academic search tool will help you do both. With over 80 program options there are infinite outcomes.

Majors & Programs

Featured Faculty

Carlos Diaz

An experienced tax practitioner and financial planning professional, Diaz has been teaching for 14 years. Before joining JWU, he taught accounting at the University of Puerto Rico. He is actively involved with JWU’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, and serves as a speaker at JWU’s ESL Transition workshops.

Read Diaz’ Faculty Bio

Kathleen Drohan

Before coming to JWU, Drohan worked 15 years in the recreation, travel & tourism, and event planning industries. She began her JWU career as director of the travel practicum. Today she teaches in the International Travel & Tourism Studies department, where she also shares her expertise in creating university-community partnerships which provide students experiential learning and leadership-development opportunities.

Read Drohan’s Faculty Bio

Wendy Wagner

Wagner has been at JWU since 2003 and teaches classes in both the English department and the Media & Communication Studies program. She is also the program advisor for the Interdisciplinary Studies: Design Your Own Major program and serves as the Honors director.

Read Wagner’s Faculty Bio

Thomas Gaines

Gaines has a background in radio and television reporting. His experience includes working as a reporter and the host of a public affairs radio show at an ABC affiliate. While at JWU, in addition to teaching in the English department, he’s served as the first director of the Multicultural Center and later director of diversity. In 2020, Gaines became the first JWU Faculty Fellow.

Read Gaines’ Faculty Bio

“I felt like there was something missing.”

Student Success

Before coming to JWU, Leah Ward '23 felt like her major restricted the kind of academic experiences she was looking for in college. Once here, she enrolled in the Media & Communication Studies program, but still felt like she wanted to learn other things the program didn’t offer. That’s when she learned about JWU’s Interdisciplinary Studies: Design Your Own Major program.

Read Leah’s Story