In the series “Student Voices,” current students write about the reasons they chose Hampshire and how our educational model works from their perspective.
Designing Your Own “Major”
One of my favorite things about Hampshire College is hearing what students are studying and what they’re doing—or planning on doing—for their Division III (senior) projects. Since Hampshire requires us to design our own “majors,” students must find ways to incorporate multiple interests and areas of study into a single endeavor. I am always intrigued and inspired by how my fellow students combine their interests and are able to tie them together in order to craft their Division IIIs.
The Division III is a major independent project, which students complete during their fourth year at Hampshire. Examples include collections of art or writing, performances, or scientific studies. This final project is a way for students to expand upon their studies at Hampshire and create something new and unique. Often, students combine various interests into one body of work, which means they have to be creative thinkers and innovators.
During the past few years, I have seen my peers create many fascinating projects, including plays, films, dance performances, art and photography exhibits, works of fiction, and studies about the human mind. These projects are more than simply interesting or aesthetically pleasing—they also come with powerful messages. Many Division IIIs are used to expose important world issues or to explore questions of identity. Students choose topics that are important to them, and can use their Division III as a platform to address problems that concern them. For example, a student might create art pieces that address racism, or write a collection of poems about gender and sexuality.
Creativity and Innovation in Education
I am always impressed with the level of innovation that I see at Hampshire. It’s an inspiring learning environment where students are constantly creating and coming up with new ideas. I enjoy working with other students who create such passionate and thought-provoking work, and I hope my own Division III project will be able to inspire others the way other students’ projects have inspired me.
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