Interdisciplinary Studies, B.A. (IDST)
The major in interdisciplinary studies enables students to tailor their educational pathway to their unique academic and professional interests. In close collaboration with their interdisciplinary faculty advisor, students create a self-designed pathway that focuses on a thematic area of interest, on a range of interconnected issues in society, or on a combination of academic disciplines. Examples of self-designed concentrations include, but are not limited to: Global South Studies; European Studies; Business & Communication; Arts & Psychology; Science & Communication; and many more.
Future educators can combine a major in interdisciplinary studies with an education licensure program at the early childhood, elementary, and middle school level. The interdisciplinary program offers middle school concentrations in general science; math and science; as well as humanities.
In addition to lower and upper-level courses in students’ areas of concentration, all students enrolled in the interdisciplinary studies program complete a component of interconnected interdisciplinary courses that equip them with the ability to research, analyze, and find solutions to complex issues that cannot be understood through a single lens. Students graduating with a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies will be well prepared not only for professional and advanced academic work in their areas of concentration, but also for an ever-changing labor world.
Students graduating with a major in Interdisciplinary Studies will be able to:
- Demonstrate advanced critical thinking, academic research, writing, and oral presentation skills;
- Understand how knowledge is created across different fields of inquiry;
- Study important issues in societies past and present in local and global contexts from the vantage point of different disciplines and through interdisciplinary frameworks;
- Study complex issues in society from ethical perspectives;
- Analyze texts in cultural, social, and historical contexts;
- Apply methods, approaches, and insights from different disciplines and interdisciplinary frameworks to the analysis of a given theme or issue and to the development of creative solutions to complex problems;
- Develop skills for lifelong learning;
- Acquire extensive knowledge of human societies and cultures and develop intercultural competence and awareness of global cultural diversity;
- Assume an informed, critical, and responsible position as citizens of our increasingly interconnected world.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| IDST 150 | Introduction to Cross-Cultural & Social Justice Studies | 3 |
| or IDST 150H | Honors: Introduction to Cross-Cultural and Social Justice | |
| Select one Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies course within the IDST 250-259 range | 3 | |
| IDST 280 | Introduction to the Interdisciplinary Studies Major and Degree Plan | 1 |
| IDST 320 | Methods in Interdisciplinary Studies | 3 |
| Select two upper level electives within the IDST 350-369 range 1 | 6 | |
| IDST 401 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Lower level courses from at least 2 disciplines other than IDST | 12 | |
| Upper level courses from at least 2 disciplines other than IDST | 18 | |
| Total Hours | 49 | |
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Note: With the approval of the student’s IDST advisor, one of the upper level required courses (IDST 350-369) may be replaced by IDST 500 Directed Independent Study, IDST 540 Interdisciplinary Studies Internship, or an elective in the student’s area(s) of study, provided the course is interdisciplinary in content and approach.