The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) offers rigorous but flexible curricula that allow students to design their own programs of study and pursue an education that builds on their unique interests, backgrounds, and career goals. The IDS program is appropriate for students who have prior educational credit or for those just beginning their university experience. IDS students complete an interdisciplinary core that emphasizes critical thinking and communication skills, fosters cultural understanding, and engages them in both interdisciplinary theory and practice. In addition to the core requirements, students complete at least 15 hours of course work in a concentration. IDS also offers an IMETA overlay with an emphasis on interactive media, technology and the arts and prepares students for 21st century jobs in the art and technology.
IDS graduates are among the most broadly educated on Middle Georgia State's campuses, and they are attractive to employers as workers who can communicate effectively, adapt well to change, demonstrate intercultural understanding, and apply creative solutions to complicated problems.
This IMETA overlay fits within the parameters of the IDS degree and gives students a strong, interdisciplinary foundation in Integrated Media, Technology, and Arts. Students take prescribed Area F IDS core courses and choose at least one of the following IMETA tracks: Film Production; Integrated Media & Game Design; Music Production; Web Development; and Theatre Production. The IMETA overlay requires prescribed courses in Area F, prescribed courses in the upper level IDS core, and additional required IMETA upper-level core courses. The program also includes 21 hours of open electives.
Students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in Area F and all upper-level coursework.
Up to 8 hours of Area B credit can be applied to the degree.
Note: The Interdisciplinary Studies Program of Study requires a minimum of 39 hours of upper-level course work (3000/4000 level).
Curriculum for the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies
Core Curriculum (Credit: 42 hours)
See listing of requirements
This area F is specific to the selected concentration option. The iMeta overly may be found below in the iMeta course sequence.
Area F: Lower Division Major Requirements (Credit: 18 hours)
| ARTS 2016 | Introduction to Computer Arts | 3 credits |
| | OR | |
| ITEC 2215 | Introduction to Information Technology | 3 credits |
| | OR | |
| NMAC 2145 | Introduction to Media Production | 3 credits |
| | AND | |
| | Any 1000-2000 Electives | 3 hours |
| | Any 1000-2000 Electives | 3 hours |
| | Any 1000-2000 Electives | 3 hours |
| | Any 1000-2000 Electives | 3 hours |
| | Any 1000-2000 Electives | 3 hours |
No courses already applied in Areas A-E may be applied in Area F.
Upper-level courses (Credit: 60 hours)
Upper-level courses in the traditional Interdisciplinary Studies are divided into three areas: Interdisciplinary Studies Core (18 hours), Interdisciplinary Concentration (15 hours), and Interdisciplinary Electives (27 hours). Students must complete at least 39 semester hours of upper level course work.
Interdisciplinary Studies Core (Credit: 18 hours)
Foundations of Writing: Choose One
Note:
NMAC 3108 is required for al iMeta students.
| NMAC 3108 | Writing for Digital Media | 3 credits |
| PFWR 3160 | Introduction to Professional Writing | 3 credits |
| PFWR 3170 | Practical Workplace Writing | 3 credits |
Critical and Cultural Studies (Credit: 6 Hours)
Note: HUMN 4500 Digital Humanities is required for all iMeta students.
HUMN 3999 & any 3000- or 4000-level COMM, ENGL, HIST, HUMN, IDS, or MUSC class.
Note: A 3000- or 4000-level class with a critical and cultural studies focus can be substituted with the approval of the program coordinator.
Theory and Analysis (Credit: 3 Hours)
Note: A 3000- or 4000-level theory and analysis class can be substituted with the approval of the program coordinator.
Interdisciplinary Studies Praxis Course (Credit: 3 Hours)
Students may take HUMN 3999 twice as long as the two courses cover different topics.
ARTS 3460 or ITEC 3236 is required for all iMeta students. ITEC 3236 is required for all Integrated Media & Game Design students.
| ARTS 3460 | Interactive Design | 3 |
| HUMN 3501 | Topics in Linguistics & Culture | 3 credits |
| HUMN 3999 | Special Topics | 3 credits |
| IDS 4010 | Gender, Media, and Culture | 3 credits |
| IDS 4020 | Science, Politics, and Culture | 3 credits |
| IDS 4030 | Special Topics in Culture | 3 credits |
| IDS 4040 | Fashion, Literature, and Culture | 3 credits |
| IDS 4050 | Performance, Literature, and Culture | 3 credits |
| IDS 4060 | Madness, Literature, and Culture | 3 credits |
| IDS 4070 | Organizations, Technology, and Culture | 3 credits |
| IDS 4080 | Sports, Media, and Culture | 3 |
| IDS 4999 | Special Topics in Culture | 3 credits |
| ITEC 3236 | Interactive Digital Media | 3 credits |
Required: Interdisciplinary Studies Methods (Credit: 3 Hours)
| IDS 3800 | Methods in Interdisciplinary Studies | 3 |
Selected Discipline Concentration (Credit: 15 hours)
The Interdisciplinary Studies Degree requires students to complete a concentration of five (5) 3000-4000 level electives in an area to be selected with the guidance of an advisor.
Choose between the following concentration options:
A. A Single Discipline Concentration: 15 hours of courses from any one discipline at the 3000- or 4000- level.
B. A Liberal Arts Concentration: 15 hours of 3000- or 4000-level courses with the following prefixes: CRWR, ENGL, FREN, HIST, HUMN, IDS, PHIL, SPAN
C. A Media and Communication Concentration: 15 hours of 3000- or 4000-level courses with the following prefixes: COMM, CRWR, GFA, FILM, MCOM, NMAC, PFWR.
D. An Education Concentration: 15 hours of 3000- or 4000-level courses with the following prefixes: EDUC, ESE, ISCI, SCIE, SPED.
* Note: Only Education majors can take 3000- and 4000-level education courses at Middle Georgia State University.
E. A Business Concentration: 15 hours of 3000- or 4000-level courses with the following prefixes: ACCT, BUSA, BMGT, BMKT, ECON, FINA, FTA, LEAD, LENB, MGMT, MKTG, SCM, SMGT.
F. A Health & Human Services Concentration: 15 hours of 3000- or 4000-level courses with the following prefixes: HLSA, HS, HLTH, PBSV, NURS, OCTA, RHAB, RESP, SOCW.
* Note: Only Nursing majors can take 3000- and 4000-level Nursing courses at Middle Georgia State University.
* Note: Only Respiratory Therapy majors can take 3000- and 4000-level Respiratory Therapy courses at Middle Georgia State University.
* Note: Only Rehabilitation Science majors can take 3000- and 4000-level Rehabilitation Science courses at Middle Georgia State University.
* Note: Only Occupational Therapy majors can take 3000- and 4000-level Occupational Therapy courses at Middle Georgia State University.
G. An Arts Concentration: 15 hours of 3000- or 4000-level courses with the following prefixes: ARTS, CRWR, FILM, GFA, MUSA, MUSC, THEA.
H. A Social Sciences Concentration: 15 hours of 3000- or 4000-level courses with the following prefixes: ABA, ANTH, CRJU, EURO, PBSV, POLS, PSYC, SOCI, SOCW, SSCI.
I. A STEM Concentration: 15 hours of 3000- or 4000-level courses with the following prefixes: ASTR, ACES, AERO, AMGT, AMKT, AMTP, ASPC, ASTP, ATCM, AVIA, AVNC, BIOL, CHEM, CSCI, ENGR, ENVS, GEOL, ITEC, MATH, PHYS.
Note: Additional classes may be added to a concentration with approval of the program coordinator.
Integrated Media, Technology, and Arts (IMETA) Pathway
This pathway is an overlay on the Interdisciplinary Studies BA that gives students the opportunity to study integrated media technology and arts. Students must choose at least one of the following IMETA tracks: Film Production; Integrated Media & Game Design; Music Production; Web Development; and Theatre Production. The IMETA overlay requires prescribed courses in Area F, prescribed courses in the upper level IDS core, and additional required IMETA upper-level core courses. The program also includes 21 hours of open electives.
Area F: IMETA Track Lower Division Major Requirements (Credit: 18 Hours)
Required (Credit: 6 hours)
Note: ITEC 2215 is required for all Integrated Media and Game Design and Web Development tracks.
| ITEC 2215 | Introduction to Information Technology | 3 credits |
| | OR | |
| NMAC 2145 | Introduction to Media Production | 3 credits |
| | AND | |
| ARTS 2016 | Introduction to Computer Arts | 3 credits |
Electives (Credit: 9 hours)
Notes: THEA 2305 & THEA 2400 are both required for IMETA Theater Production track.
MUSC 1500 is required for IMETA Music Production track.
| CRWR 2105 | Introduction to Creative Writing | 3 credits |
| ITEC 2215 | Introduction to Information Technology | 3 credits |
| NMAC 2145 | Introduction to Media Production | 3 credits |
| MUSC 1500 | Foundations in Music Technology | 3 credits |
| THEA 2305 | Elements of Theatrical Design | 3 |
| THEA 2400 | Beginning Acting | 3 credits |
Open Elective (3 Hours)
Choose any 1000 or 2000 level course to complete Area F
Integrated Media, Technology, and Arts (IMETA) Upper Level Core (18 hours)
Foundations of Writing (Credit: 6 Hours)
Critical and Cultural Studies (Credit: 6 Hours)
Theory and Methods (Credits: 3 Hours)
ITEC 3405 is required for students in the Web Development Track. NMAC 4481 is required for students in the Film Production Track. MUSC 4110 is required for students in the Music Production Track.
Interdisciplinary Studies Praxis Courses (3 credits)
Choose one of the following:
ITEC 3460 is required for Integrated Media and Game Design track
Interdisciplinary Studies Methods Required
| IDS 3800 | Methods in Interdisciplinary Research | 3 credits |
IMETA Upper Level: Additional Required Core Courses (Credit: 9 hours)
IMETA Required Elective (Credit: 3 Hours)
MUSC 2500 is required for Music Production track.
THEA 2401 is required for Theater Production track.
ARTS 3245 is recommended for Integrated Media & Game Design track.
Students must choose from one of the following IMETA tracks. Students can choose two tracks if they desire.
Film production (Credit: 12 Hours)
NMAC 4481 is part of Film Production track and it is fulfilled in the Theory and Analysis requirement.
Integrated Media & Game Design (Credit: 12 Hours)
ITEC 3236 is part of the Integrated Media & Game Design track and is fulfilled in the IDS Praxis requirement.
Music Production (Credit: 14 Hours)
MUSC 4110 is part of the Music Production track and is fulfilled in the Theory and Analysis requirement.
Web Development (Credit: 12 Hours)
ITEC 3405 is also part of the Web Development track and is fulfilled in the Theory and Analysis requirement.
Theater Production (Credit: 12 Hours)
THEA 3223 is also part of the Theater Production track and is fulfilled in the Theory and Analysis requirement.
Required (Credit: 3 Hours)
Elective 1 (Credit: 3 hours)
Electives 2 (Credit: 6 hours)
Open Electives (Credit: 18)
The Interdisciplinary Studies for IMETA requires 21 credit hours of elective course work (18 at the upper level, 3 in Area F). Students can receive no more than twenty-one (21) credit hours of lower division (1000/2000) credit outside of Areas A-F.
Students are strongly encouraged to choose one of the minors offered at MGA to complete their curriculum or a second IMETA track. Check the catalog for a complete listing of minors but some available minors are: Professional Writing, Creative Writing, Spanish, U.S. History, World History, Global Studies, Film Production, Cinema Studies, Public Relations, Graphic Design. Students can also earn the 18 hour certificate from the Georgia Film Academy.
Note: A student cannot do a concentration and a minor in the same discipline.