This is a proposal for an interdisciplinary undergraduate specialization, open to all students with a major in the College of Arts and Letters.

Inspired by the Bailey Scholars Program in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, M(A)SP will enable students with a primary interest in the liberal arts and a commitment to democratic community and public service to work cooperatively with faculty, staff, alumni/ae, and members of the wider community in a learning-centered environment where the study of the humanities and the Land Grant Mission of the University are explicitly joined.

The curriculum will consist of 18-21 credits, including four sequenced courses starting with a proseminar and culminating in a senior capstone experience.  With their faculty advisors, students will construct an individualized learning plan based upon a personal and professional mission statement, to include overseas study, service-learning course work, and/or a community internship. Course-related projects may include, for example, working with local government to establish an historic preservation district, working with a community organization on the renaming of a public school or thoroughfare, working with at-risk teens in an after-school dance or theatre program, or designing public information material for an agency involved in the management of natural resources.

The proposal will be implemented in four phases:

 Phase 1: the presentation of a preliminary proposal to the Dean of the College of Arts and Letters; completed in December 1998;

 Phase 2: the formation of a design team of 10-20 faculty, students, advising staff, and alumni/ae to clarify the mission and structure of M(A)SP and to seek external funding; to be completed by the end of summer 1999; estimated budget of $10,000 from the College of Arts and Letters for graduate assistant, travel, supplies and services;

 Phase 3: the convening of seminars and workshops within the College of Arts and Letters for a broad range of interested parties not on the design team and to ensure that M(A)SP complements the departments and programs in the College; to be completed by the end of summer 2000; estimated budget of $10,000 to match a $10,000 external grant for graduate assistant, honoraria, travel, supplies and services, and seminars and workshops;

 Phase 4: the offering of pilot courses and sections in existing courses to generate the first cohort of first-year M(A)SP students; to be completed by the end of spring 2001; budget and funding sources to be developed and identified during Phase 3 (possible sources include College, Provost's office, external grants or gifts; for comparison, the current Bailey Scholars budget is approximately $350,000).