The Interdisciplinary Studies degree is designed for current 国产探花 students or students who previously attended 国产探花 and have not yet completed their degree.
Are you a former student interested in being readmitted to complete this program? Fill out 国产探花’s Readmission Application to begin the enrollment process.
What is Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS)?
国产探花’s Interdisciplinary Studies major allows students to combine coursework from different disciplines to create a focus tailored to their particular goals. If you鈥檙e a person who is interested in many different fields of study, IDS might be a good fit.
So I can Take Whatever Classes I Want?
Not exactly. IDS majors must fulfill the Core, Distribution, and Competency requirements, just like all 国产探花 students. They must also complete a total of 124 credit hours in order to earn a degree, just like all students. However, IDS majors choose 33 hours of upper-division coursework (meaning courses numbered 300 and above) in at least two academic areas鈥攆or instance, Math and Chemistry鈥攁nd complete a 3-credit Senior Thesis course designated for IDS majors. While most degree programs stipulate the upper-division courses you must take, IDS offers a little more flexibility in creating your own degree plan. You must complete at least 12 hours of upper-division coursework in one academic area and at least 9 hours in a second area.
Courses & Careers
As soon as you decide to pursue the IDS major, you鈥檒l complete a Degree Program Outline. The purpose of this form is to help you identify your goals and the specific upper-division courses that will help you reach them.
You鈥檒l need to enlist the help of a faculty member from each of your major areas as you complete this form; they will know which classes are best aligned with your goals and when those courses are likely to be offered, allowing you to create a degree plan that can be completed within your remaining time at 国产探花.
You鈥檒l submit this completed form to the IDS program director for approval. Then your formal degree plan鈥攚hich lists all courses you鈥檝e taken at 国产探花鈥攚ill be submitted to the registrar鈥檚 office.
You will enroll for IDST 431 as an independent study, working with the program director or another faculty member who agrees to supervise your thesis project.
Your thesis project must focus on a project that illustrates an intersection between/among your major fields of study and fulfill the learning outcomes for IDS majors. Your completed project must be submitted to the IDS program director as well as your faculty supervisor.
The answer to this question will be different for every IDS major, since each student will have different goals (as stated on the Degree Program Outline.) It鈥檚 a good idea to talk with faculty members in your major areas about potential career paths.