Indie Major

Movement Therapy

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:12:31 GMT

In this episode, Marie Lavendier explains how she created an individualized major in "Movement Therapy" by combining courses in Psychology, Dance, and Drama. Marie was part of the first cohort of students to graduate with an individualized major in 1976. She describes the work she has done in family therapy, education, and dance instruction, all informed by the groundbreaking interdisciplinary curriculum she was able to design as an undergraduate at UConn.

More info:

Dr. Kenneth Ring, Psychology

Marcia Heath, Dance

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Sustainability, Cannabis, and Plant Sciences

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 18:50:49 GMT

In this episode, Amira Shatara explains how she created an individualized major in "Sustainability, Cannabis, and Plant Sciences" by combining courses in Sustainable Plant and Soil Systems; Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Natural Resources and the Environment; Sociology; Business Administration; and more. She describes her passion for sustainable agriculture and circular economy as well as her hands-on experience with community-supported agriculture and local floriculture.

More info:

Plant Sciences at UConn

Off Center Farm, Woodbridge, CT

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Reproduction and Youth Health

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 17:50:27 GMT

In this episode, Izzy Rubin explains how she created an individualized major in "Reproduction and Youth Health" by combining courses in Human Development and Family Sciences; Psychology; and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She describes her passion for public health, advocacy, and issues of equity in healthcare.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Religion

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 15:34:06 GMT

Alexis Cordone explains how she created an individualized major in "Religion" by combining courses in English, Anthropology, Sociology, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, and more. She graduated from UConn in 2014 and is now an Emergency Physician at Dartmouth Health. She describes her motivation for studying religion as a way to prepare herself to be a more supportive and compassionate doctor in the face of human suffering.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Disability Studies in Media and Food Culture

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 13:48:01 GMT

Gabby DiSalvo explains how she created an individualized major in "Disability Studies in Media and Food Culture" by combining courses in Journalism, English, Human Rights, Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Sociology, Human Development and Family Sciences, Digital Media and Design, and more. She describes her passion for cooking, media, and disability studies, all of which inform her entrepreneurial project Cooking on Wheels.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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The Science of Sales & Social Capital

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:50:20 GMT

Luca Lloyd explains how he created an individualized major in "The Science of Sales & Social Capital" by combining courses in Communications, Business, Accounting, and more. He describes his longtime entrepreneurial spirit and his involvement the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at UConn.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Krithika Santhanam Revisited!

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 11:25:32 GMT

Krithika Santhanam created an individualized major called "Health Policy and Racial Disparities" as a double major with "Molecular and Cell Biology," She plans to pursue medical school and become a physician. In this episode, Krithika describes her Honors thesis project, which entailed traveling to India and producing a documentary entitled Beyond Society's Labels: A Foundation on Disability Advocacy in South India. This interview was recorded about two weeks before Krithika graduated.

Listen to Krithika's first appearance on Indie Major.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Fashion Business Inclusivity Studies

Fri, 02 May 2025 15:33:49 GMT

Ahmya McCoy created an individualized major in "Fashion Business Inclusivity Studies" by combining courses in Business Administration, History, and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and by participating in a semester-long Experiential Global Learning Program in Florence, Italy to take specific courses in Fashion.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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International Human Resources

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 12:29:08 GMT

Kevin Ly explains how he created an individualized major in "International Human Resources" by combining courses in Sociology, Psychology, Geography, Political Science, Business, and more. He describes his experience studying in France for a semester as well as his plans to teach English and pursue graduate studies in Japan.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Community and Environmental Health

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 19:53:22 GMT

Honor Neal explains how she created an individualized major in "Community and Environmental Health" by combining courses in Anthropology, Sociology, Molecular and Cell Biology, Geography, Natural Resources and the Environment, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and more. She describes her capstone research project on the social and environmental issues around public transportation in Connecticut as well as her passion for community building and her plans to pursue a career in Social Work.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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International Relations

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 16:49:30 GMT

Mariam Vargas explains how she created an individualized major in "International Relations" by combining courses in Political Science; Human Rights; Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; and more. She describes her research interest in Transitional Justice, sparked by her participation in an international studied program in Kosovo. She also describes being awarded a Rangel Graduate Fellowship, which will propel her into a career in diplomacy.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Marine Resources and Indigenous Communities

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 19:51:34 GMT

Alexis Torres completed her individualized major in "Marine Resources and Indigenous Communities" at UConn in 2023. In this episode she explains how she created her major by combining courses in Marine Sciences, Maritime Studies, American Studies, and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. She also describes her experience as an intern at UConn CIRCA as well as her current position as a Sustainability and Resilience Specialist for the Town of Groton, CT.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Sports Promotion & Entrepreneurship

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 13:35:13 GMT

Nick English explains how he created an individualized major in "Sports Promotion & Entrepreneurship" by combining courses in Communications, Business Administration, Management & Entrepreneurship, Economics, and more. He describes his experiences working with Championship Labs on the UConn campus and with Nclusve, a creative agency that he founded and where he serves as Creative Director.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Fashion Engineering and Durability

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 13:05:40 GMT

Rachel Levy explains how she created an individualized major in "Fashion Engineering and Durability" by combining courses in History, Business Administration, and Communications with an Experiential Global Learning Program in Florence, Italy, where she will take specific courses in Fashion. She describes her experiences working in the trades and her passion for starting a business that produces durable, long-lasting clothing.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Developmental Neuroscience

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 11:53:52 GMT

Alexsia Newman explains how she created an individualized major in "Developmental Neuroscience" by combining courses in Physiology & Neurobiology, Human Development & Family Sciences, Psychology, and more. She describes her experiences working as an EMT and as a patient care assistant at CT Children's Hospital as well as her long-term goal to pursue a career in pediatric medicine.

Click here for more information on the BAND Lab.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Japanese Studies

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 22:13:25 GMT

Krista Rogers completed her individualized major in "Japanese Studies" at UConn in 2011. In this episode she explains how she created her major by combining Japanese language courses with courses in History, Linguistics, and Anthropology as well as studying abroad in Tokyo. She describes her experiences teaching English in Japan after college in addition to her current career in pre-professional advising at UConn. She also talks about her ongoing involvement with teaching elementary Japanese at UConn and doing her own translation work.

Click here for more information on Asian and Asian American Studies at UConn.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Criminal Behavior

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 18:52:34 GMT

Justin Guinta explains how he created an individualized major in "Criminal Behavior" by combining courses in Psychology, Sociology, Molecular and Cell Biology, Public Policy, and more. He describes his aspirations to work in Management of Law Enforcement, and he describes some exciting internships and research work he has done in the area of criminal justice.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Sustainable Communities

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 13:57:40 GMT

Sydney Seldon explains how she created an individualized major in "Sustainable Communities" by combining courses in Anthropology, Urban Studies, Geography, Communication, and more. She describes the important connections she sees among her individualized major, her Environmental Science major, and her Sustainable Community Food Systems minor.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Social Determinants of Reproductive Healthcare

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 15:10:17 GMT

Suheera Haq explains how she created an individualized major in "Social Determinants of Reproductive Healthcare" by combining courses in Allied Health, Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Nursing, Sociology, and more. She compares her experiences conducting research in Molecular and Cell Biology (her other major) and in Allied Health, two very different but complementary fields of study.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Multimedia Production

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 15:56:22 GMT

Kekoa Krautkramer explains how she created an individualized major in "Multimedia Production" by combining courses in Communication, Journalism, and English. She describes her experiences covering UConn sports as a camera operator and editor, writing for the Daily Campus, and spearheading social media strategies for a local business as part of her capstone research project.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Crime, Law, and Justice

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 21:00:10 GMT

Rehana Konate explains how she created an individualized major in "Crime, Law, and Justice" as a complement to her second major in Political Science. She plans to pursue a career in law and to follow her passion to help others and advocate for those whose voices aren’t heard.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Visual Storytelling for Children

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 14:59:38 GMT

Emily Jajliardo explains how she created an individualized major in "Visual Storytelling for Children" by combining courses from departments like Sociology, Communication, Human Development & Family Sciences, and more!

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Integrative Exercise Physiology and Nutrition

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 19:22:35 GMT

Garrett Sasseville explains how he created an individualized major in "Integrative Exercise and Physiology" by combining courses from the Kinesiology, Nutritional Sciences, and Physiology and Neurobiology departments. He plans to pursue a graduate degree in physical therapy and hopes to continue working in both clinical and research settings.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Creative Writing and Film

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 16:10:00 GMT

Renee Haddad explains how she created an individualized major in "Creative Writing and Film" after realizing she would be finished with her Math major by the end of her junior year. While these two majors might seem polar opposites at first glance, Renee discusses the ways in which they both appeal to her creative side.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Global Business in Health Innovation

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 12:22:09 GMT

Sophie Takmopoulos explains how her individualized major in "Global Business in Health Innovation" combines her interests in science, health, entrepreneurship, and the creative arts.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Global Health and Social Inequalities

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 16:28:11 GMT

Joseph Annan-Kingsley explains how his individualized major in "Global Health and Social Inequalities" is helping him to realize his vision for a career in medicine and public health.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Government, Policymaking, and Law

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 14:17:50 GMT

Christian Chlebowski explains how double majoring in "Government, Policymaking, and Law (Individualized)" and "Accounting" has allowed him to explore and understand the ways that accounting practices play a crucial role in governmental decision making. It has also inspired him to explore the US Space Program!

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Visual Media

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 16:29:57 GMT

Erin O'Neill explains how creating an individualized major in "Visual Media" has helped her to explore her passions for art, photography, and punk rock.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Health Policy and Racial Disparities

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 14:19:50 GMT

Krithika Santhanam explains how double majoring in "Health Policy and Racial Disparities (Individualized)" and "Molecular and Cell Biology" has expanded her vision for how a physician can effectively serve patients from marginalized communities.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Paleontology as Outreach and Education

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 13:42:46 GMT

Patrick Murphy explains how he created an individualized major called "Paleontology as Outreach and Education."

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Health Disparities among Marginalized Groups

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 14:32:31 GMT

Kelly Ruesta Cayetano explains how she became an individualized major in the area of Health Disparities among Marginalized Groups.

Episode transcript available at our website: iisp.uconn.edu/indie-major/

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Coming soon!

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 16:25:21 GMT

Episodes will begin dropping in Spring 2024.

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