Interdisciplinary Studies (BA/BS)
Rossen Ventzislavov, PhD
Chair
Introduction
The Department of Interdisciplinary Studies provides a diversity of educational experiences for students. From its self-designed major, which allows students— with the assistance of a group of faculty members— to create their own educational program, to its courses in interdisciplinary studies, literature, urban studies, and sciences, the department bridges the distance between, and creates unique perspectives on, the applied arts, the fine arts, the humanities, and the natural and social sciences. Through innovative and collaborative educational experiences, programs, and courses, the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies can also enrich discipline- specific majors as courses offered by the department involve in-depth coverage of two or more knowledge- specific areas. They are designed to provide knowledge, skills, and experiences not normally encountered in other courses, and frequently employ team-teaching, experiential strategies, and cutting-edge course design to enhance their interdisciplinary perspectives.
The Interdisciplinary Studies major is intended for students seeking a unique, customized university education. In consultation with the department chair and a team of faculty members chosen from across the University, students co-create self-designed programs combining two or more disciplines, culminating in senior thesis presentations that demonstrate their learning. Built around a core of courses in interdisciplinary theory and research, the major offers opportunities for students to bring together such diverse disciplines as business, marketing, management, film and architecture, communication and politics, art history and interior design, leadership and education, etc. The major suits students who have interests that lie between or outside the scope of our other academic majors, but have strong relationships with those majors. These interests also may be related to a curriculum that supports the majors, such as art history, literature, or writing, but for which we do not currently offer a major program. In the Interdisciplinary Studies Self-Designed Major, students work with four faculty members serving in the role of faculty advisors or mentors to design an in-depth study that requires knowledge of or skills in multiple disciplines. Then, students participate in an educational experience that translates their passions into analyses via a research studio experience across the major. Students then work to convert their analyses into scalable and actionable theses.
Additionally, the department offers a variety of courses and programs in support of both the liberal and integrative learning goals of the University. Such learning experiences are rooted in a strong group of interdisciplinary courses that approach history, literature, philosophy, and politics from social, cultural, as well as thematic perspectives: Journeys, Natures, Conflicts, and Knowledges. From innovative topics courses that combine scuba certification and ocean based interdisciplinary research, to experiential learning that blends traditional in-class and kinetic exploration of horses at a local horse ranch, to initial foreign language study and the examination of the urban environment, the department’s courses prepare students for the globalized world. Similarly, in the study of literary and philosophical works, students are grounded in the humanistic values and questions important to understanding the diverse perspectives and cultures in which they live. In all courses in the department, students practice interpretative, critical, and analytical skills while challenging traditional boundaries and structures.
Mission
Connecting students and faculty in the exploration and analysis of issues and topics that both integrate and transcend differing disciplinary perspectives and methods.
Program Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes express the kinds of abilities, knowledge, and values that students can expect to gain from the Interdisciplinary Studies program and its courses.
- Students will practice textual analysis, placing ideas in context while transcending received meaning(s) in oral presentations and written work.
- Students will explore different possibilities for interpretation and the production of meaning(s) in oral presentations and written work.
- Students will acquire the multiple analytical and interpretive skills that come with experience in different disciplines, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives.
- Students will develop the breadth of knowledge and experience that leads to a sense of social and personal responsibility and civility, as evidenced by their choice and execution of research projects.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to take initiative in crossing boundaries while developing integrative research projects.
- Students will create innovative approaches to multifaceted situations through critical thinking and inquiry.
- Students will solve problems too complex to be understood or addressed with the knowledge and tools of a single discipline.
Curriculum Summary
Program Major Curriculum
| Unit Type (UT) |
Number of Units (U) |
| Major (MA) |
42(BA) 57(BS) |
| General Education (GE) |
49 |
| Unrestricted Electives (UE) |
25(BA) 10(BS) |
| Internship (IN) |
4 |
| Minimum Total Units Required |
120 |
Suggested Sequence of Courses
First Year
Fall Semester
| WRIT 113 | First-Year Academic Writing | 3 |
| INDS 1__ | Interdisciplinary Core Elective | 3 |
| ____ ___ | Art History Elective | 3 |
| ____ ___ | Unrestricted Elective | 3 |
| ____ ___ | Unrestricted Elective | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13 |
Type:
WRIT 113, INDS (Interdisciplinary Core Elective), and Art History Elective: GE.
Unrestricted Elective: UE.
Spring Semester
| MDST 120 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| LSCI 105 | Information Theory and Practice | 1 |
| MATH 2__ | Mathematics Elective | 3 |
| ____ ___ | Social Science Elective | 3 |
| ____ ___ | Humanities Elective | 3 |
| ____ ___ | Unrestricted Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Type:
MDST 120, LSCI 105, MATH (Mathematics Elective), Social Science Elective, and Humanities Elective: GE.
Unrestricted Elective: UE.
Second Year
Fall Semester
| INDS 200 | Introduction Interdisciplinary Studies | 3 |
| ENVT 220 | Environmental Studies | 3 |
| PHIL 210 | Ethical Systems | 3 |
| ____ ___ | General Education Elective | 3 |
| ____ ___ | Unrestricted Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
| WRIT 313 | Advanced Academic Writing | 3 |
| ____ ___ | Natural Science with Lab Elective | 3 |
| ____ ___ | General Education Elective | 3 |
| ____ ___ | Major Area A Course | 3 |
| ____ ___ | Major Area B Course | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Type:
WRIT 313, Natural Science with Lab Elective, and General Education Elective: GE.
Major Area A Course and Major Area B Course: MA.
Third Year
Fall Semester
| INDS 350 | Interdisciplinary Research | 3 |
| ____ ___ | Major Area A Course | 3 |
| ____ ___ | Major Area B Course | 3 |
| ____ 3__ | Upper Division General Education Elective | 3 |
| ____ 3__ | Upper Division General Education Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Type:
INDS 350, Major Area A Course, and Major Area B Course: MA.
Upper Division General Education Elective: GE.
Spring Semester
| ____ ___ | Major Area A Course | 3 |
| ____ ___ | Major Area B Course | 3 |
| ____ 3__ | Upper Division Interdisciplinary Elective | 3 |
| ____ ___ | Unrestricted Elective† | 3 |
| ____ ___ | Unrestricted Elective† | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Type:
Major Area A Course and Major Area B Course: MA.
Upper Division Interdisciplinary Elective: GE.
Unrestricted Elective: UE.
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
| INDS 490_ | Internship | 4 |
| INDS 491 | Senior Thesis: Preparation | 3 |
| ____ ___ | Major Area A Course | 3 |
| ____ ___ | Major Area B Course | 3 |
| ____ ___ | Unrestricted Elective† | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Type:
INDS 490 (Internship): IN.
INDS 491, Major Area A Course, and Major Area B Course: MA.
Unrestricted Elective: UE.
Spring Semester
| INDS 492 | Senior Thesis: Execution | 3 |
| ____ ___ | Major Area A Course | 3 |
| ____ ___ | Major Area B Course | 3 |
| ____ ___ | Unrestricted Elective† | 3 |
| ____ ___ | Unrestricted Elective† | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Type:
INDS 492, Major Area A Course, and Major Area B Course: MA.
Unrestricted Elective: UE.
†These unrestricted electives must be Major Area A or B courses for the BS degree