The new BA in Interdisciplinary Studies is intended to prepare students for a lifetime of professional and intellectual flexibility. By focusing on several of the NACE career-readiness competencies, particularly critical thinking, professionalism, teamwork, and self-development, it will empower students not only to address the many challenges they are likely to face in the workplace throughout their careers, but also in their communities throughout their lives.
This concentration delves into the ethical, cultural, and societal dimensions of human experiences. Students engage with various social and human topics such as justice, ethics, and human rights, preparing for careers in public service, advocacy, prelaw, and community engagement. The interdisciplinary approach encourages a deep understanding of complex human issues, fostering empathy and effective communication.
Unless otherwise noted, 120 credits of coursework is required for a baccalaureate degree with a minimum 2.0 overall GPA, and a minimum 2.0 major GPA.
Degree Requirements Overview
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| New Student Seminar | 1 | |
| SEEDS General Education Requirements | 27-30 | |
| Major Requirements | 39 | |
| Free Electives | 53-50 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students must take at least 12 credits at the 300-400 level. | ||
| Major Core | ||
| CHSC 299 | College to Career: Preparing for the World of Work | 3 |
| INTD 101 | Introduction to Interdisciplinary Thinking | 3 |
| INTD 301 | Interdisciplinary Research Methods | 3 |
| INTD 499 | The Interdisciplinary Workplace | 3 |
| WRIT 206 | Workplace Writing | 3 |
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| INTD 310 | Problem Solving Lab I | 3 |
| INTD 311 | Problem Solving Lab II | 3 |
| Concentration Electives | ||
| Complete one "Problem" Track from the list below. | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 39 | |
Problem #1 How We Interact: Exploring Violence, Peace, and Communication in a Global World
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| HIST 106 | Contemporary Europe | 3 |
| RELG 275 | Inter-religious Encounters | 3 |
| ANTH 135 | Anthropology of Conflict and Violence | 3 |
| PHIL 212 | Social and Political Philosophy | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Complete 2 courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Language, Power and Expressions of Identity | ||
| Contemporary Chinese Cinema and Society | ||
| World Literature: Voices of Tradition and Challenge | ||
| Francophone Film | ||
| Nazi Cinema and Propaganda | ||
| Feminist Theory in Transnational Contexts | ||
| Lies, Conspiracies, and Misinformation | ||
| Revolutions and Movements of Protest in the Modern Middle East | ||
| The Reformation Era, 1500-1650 | ||
| The Holocaust, 1939-1945 | ||
| Troy and the Trojan War | ||
| Digital Transformations in the Humanities | ||
| Logic | ||
| Ethical Reasoning | ||
| Religion and Social Activism | ||
| The Holocaust: Religious Perspectives | ||
| Russian Culture and Civilization | ||
| Writing Women Safe: Writing, Rape Prevention, and Community Activism | ||
| Writing for Social Change | ||
Intermediate I of a World Language course | ||
Problem #2 Who We Are: Cultural Tradition and Diversity in the United States
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ANTH 110 | Anthropology of Multicultural America | 3 |
| ENGL 274 | Contemporary U.S. Literature of Immigration | 3 |
| HIST 118 | Emergence of the Modern United States | 3 |
| RELG 221 | Religion and Culture | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Complete two courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Immigration: An Anthropological Perspective | ||
| Arab Americans: Before and After 9/11 | ||
| The Arab World and Religion | ||
| Black Writers in the United States: A Survey | ||
| Latinx Writers in the United States | ||
| Fairy Tales from Grimm to Disney | ||
| Queer Identities in a Transforming World: The Trouble with Normal | ||
| Transnational Feminisms | ||
| Race and Ethnicity in United States History | ||
| Latinx Histories | ||
| Frontiers and Borderlands of the Americas | ||
| Classicism and American Culture | ||
| The Italian American Experience: On the Margins or in the Mainstream? | ||
| Living in Translation | ||
| Introduction to Native American Studies | ||
| Religions of the World | ||
| Philosophical Issues in Law and Justice | ||
| Reconstructing American Liberty | ||
Intermediate I of a World Language course | ||
New Student Seminar
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students in the Adult Learner program must take GNED 100. | ||
| Complete one course from the following. Some courses may be restricted by major. Consult with an academic advisor. | 1 | |
| Pathways to Success | ||
| Freshman Seminar in Chemistry | ||
| First Year Seminar | ||
| Adult Academic Success Seminar | ||
| New Student Seminar | ||
| Freshman Seminar in Health and Physical Education | ||
| Pathways to Adult Learning | ||
| New Student Seminar | ||
| New Student Experience for Mathematical Sciences | ||
| Freshman Seminar for Music Majors | ||
| Introduction to Nursing | ||
| Freshman Seminar in Political Science and Law | ||
SEEDS General Education Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill the SEEDS requirements.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations | ||
| Effective Writing I | ||
| Complete one Effective Writing I course. | 3 | |
| Effective Writing II | ||
| Workplace Writing (Fulfilled in the major.) | ||
| SEEDS: Interactive Communication | ||
| Complete one Interactive Communication course. | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| Complete one Quantitative Reasoning course. | 3 | |
| Political and Civic Life | ||
| Complete one Political and Civic Life course. | 3 | |
| World Language | ||
| Complete two sequential classes in one World Language when starting at the Beginner I or Beginner II level. Complete one class when starting at the Intermediate/Advanced Level. | 3-6 | |
| Exploration | ||
| Complete one course from four different Exploration categories: | 12 | |
| Analyzing Cultures and Societies | ||
| Creative Expression | ||
| Ethical Inquiry | ||
| Historical Thinking | ||
| Literary and Artistic Analysis | ||
| Scientific Reasoning | ||
| Total Credits | 27-30 | |
Recommended Roadmap to Degree Completion
This recommended degree plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within four years and 120 credits. This plan is a recommendation and MUST be used in consultation with their academic advisor. Important note: Students should be aware this plan assumes no pre-requisite coursework is required. If pre-requisite coursework is needed, students may have additional requirements to fulfill which do not appear on the plan.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| New Student Seminar | 1 | WRIT 206 (Fulfills SEEDS: Effective Writing II) | 3 |
| SEEDS: Effective Writing I | 3 | SEEDS: Interactive Communication | 3 |
| SEEDS: Political and Civic Life | 3 | SEEDS: Exploration 2 | 3 |
| SEEDS: World Language I | 3 | Concentration Elective 1 | 3 |
| SEEDS: Exploration 1 | 3 | SEEDS: World Language II | 3 |
| INTD 101 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SEEDS: Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | SEEDS: Exploration 4 | 3 |
| SEEDS: Exploration 3 | 3 | CHSC 299 | 3 |
| Concentration Elective 2 | 3 | Concentration Elective 4 | 3 |
| Concentration Elective 3 | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| INTD 301 | 3 | INTD 310 | 3 |
| Concentration Elective 5 | 3 | Concentration Elective 6 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| INTD 311 | 3 | INTD 499 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 2 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||