The B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS B.S.) degree program is designed for students who have an interest in meeting societal needs through a unique interdisciplinary perspective. The IDS B.S. cultivates professional skills by preparing students to successfully apply writing, communication, research, and ethics across multiple disciplines toward the betterment of individuals and communities. This program allows students to maximize existing credits toward graduation and to integrate courses from a wide variety of academic areas that may not fit neatly in one specific major. To ensure students have the basic skills required in a professional world, seven (7) core classes are required. Courses will include topics on research, public administration, conflict resolution, program evaluation, communication and cultural sensitivity. Lastly, students will have an ethics and application course which is the capstone requirement; to include experiential learning drawing upon the skills obtained in previous classes. The IDS B.S. degree requires students to pick one focus area and take at least five (5) courses in that area. Students may have two (2) focus areas, but only one (1) is a requirement. This degree allows for flexibility in planning with the belief that many combinations of courses can meet students’ educational needs and contribute to professional development and career preparation.
* 33 Required Upper-Level Credit Hours: Interdisciplinary Core (18 hours), Primary Focus Area (15 hours).
* At least 39 credit hours must come from coursework at the 3000- and/or 4000- levels.
Students will select a minimum of one focus area. Two focus areas may be completed as shown. Credits used in one focus area cannot be used in another area. Students are encouraged to consider completing a minor or certificate program. It may be possible to complete a minor or certificate by completing the necessary coursework as a focus area for your IDS B.S. degree. Please refer elsewhere in this catalog to find out which classes you will need for a certificate or minor.
Curriculum for the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies
Core Curriculum (Credit: 42 hours)
See Core Curriculum requirements.
Area F: Lower Division Major Requirements (Credit: 18 hours)
Statistics (Credit: 0-3 hours)
Take one of the following courses, if not already taken to meet Area A or Area D requirements, earning a “C” or higher:
Major Field (Credit: 15-18 hours)
Take POLS 2601 (Introduction to Public Administration) and 12 to 15 additional hours in any approved collegiate Area C-F core curriculum coursework. POLS 2601 must be completed with a “C” or higher.
| POLS 2601 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 credits |
| | Any approved Area C-F Course Credit: 3 hours | |
Interdisciplinary Studies B.S. Core & Electives (60 hours)
Major Requirements (33-48 hours)
33 Required Credit Hours: Interdisciplinary Core (18 hours), Primary Focus Area (15 hours).
Note: Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all Major Requirements.
Interdisciplinary Studies B.S. Required Core Courses (Credit: 18 hours)
Research Elective (Credit: 3 hours)
Take one of the following courses:
Conflict Resolution and Negotiation (Credit: 3 hours)
Take one of the following courses:
Program Design and Evaluation (Credit: 3 hours)
Take one of the following courses:
Communication Elective (Credit: 3 hours)
Take one of the following courses:
| COMM 3010 | Communication Theory | 3 credits |
| COMM 3030 | Visual Communication | 3 |
| COMM 3050 | Persuasion & Strategic Communication | 3 credits |
| COMM 3205 | Advanced Interpersonal Communications | 3 credits |
| COMM 4000 | Rhetoric and Argumentation | 3 credits |
| ENGL 3106 | Professional Writing and Communication | 3 credits |
| ENGL 4000 | Rhetoric | 3 credits |
| ENGL 4106 | Technical Writing in the Digital Age | 3 credits |
| HLSA 3380 | Health Communications | 3 credits |
| MATH 3207 | Communicating Mathematics | 4 credits |
| NMAC 3108 | Writing for Digital Media | 3 credits |
| PBSV 3015 | Practice and Case Management in Public Service | 3 credits |
| PFWR 3160 | Introduction to Professional Writing | 3 credits |
| PFWR 3170 | Practical Workplace Writing | 3 credits |
| PFWR 4050 | Legal Writing | 3 Credits |
| PSYC 3330 | Interviewing | 3 credits |
Cultural Competency Elective (Credit: 3 hours)
Take one of the following courses:
| AADS 2000 | Introduction to African and African Diaspora Studies | 3 credits |
| COMM 3015 | Intercultural Communication in a Global Society | 3 credits |
| COMM 3016 | Gender Roles and Communication | 3 credits |
| CRJU 4120 | Gender, Ethnicity, and Justice | 3 credits |
| HUMN 3010 | Introduction to Cultural Studies | 3 credits |
| HUMN 3206 | Topics in Gender Studies | 3 credits |
| HUMN 3501 | Topics in Linguistics & Culture | 3 credits |
| HUMN 4471 | Comparative Cultures | 3 credits |
| PBSV 3005 | Culturally Competent and Responsive Practice in Public Service | 3 credits |
| POLS 3085 | Minority Politics | 3 credits |
| POLS 3115 | LGBTQ Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3720 | Women, Gender, and World Politics | 3 |
| PSYC 3201 | Cross-Cultural Psychology | 3 credits |
| SOCI 3225 | Social Stratification | 3 credits |
| SOCI 3540 | Sociology of Religion | 3 |
| SOCI 4120 | Sociology of Gender and Sexuality | 3 |
| SOCI 4130/CRJU 4120 | Gender, Ethnicity, and Justice | 3 credits |
| SOCI 4140 | Race and Ethnicity | 3 |
| SOCW 3000 | Cultural Humility and Responsiveness in Social Work | 3 credits |
Students may also substitute another upper-level course with a documented focus on culture, including special topics courses, with permission from their advisor.
Ethics and Application Seminar (Credit: 3 hours)
Take the following course:
| IDS 4510 | Ethics and Application Capstone | 3 credits |
Interdisciplinary Studies B.S. Focus Area(s) (Credit 15-30 hours)
Students will select at least one focus area. Credits used in one focus area cannot be used in another area. Students are strongly encouraged to complete a minor or certificate program as a secondary focus area.
Primary Focus Area (Credit: 15 hours)
Complete a minimum of 15 upper-level credit hours from a single discipline (for example, biology, criminal justice, English, history, mathematics, media and communications, political science, psychology, sociology, etc.).
Secondary Focus Area (optional) (Credit: 15 hours)
Complete a minimum of 15 credit hours from a single discipline, 9 of which must be upper-level credit hours.
Multidisciplinary Focus Area (optional) (Credit: 18-30 hours)
In lieu of a primary focus area and optional secondary focus area, students may optionally develop a multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary course plan. Subject to advisor guidance and approval, the student will develop a plan including 18 to 30 credit hours of coursework, including at least 18 hours of upper-level coursework, with no more than 15 hours from the same academic discipline.
Many disciplines have prerequisite courses and/or admission requirements for at least some upper-level courses; for example, upper-level nursing courses are only open to students who have been admitted to the nursing program, while most upper-level biology courses require students to have completed BIOL 2108K. Students are encouraged to contact the appropriate department to ensure they will be able to complete enough upper-level courses in their selected focus area(s).
Open Electives (Credit: 12-27 hours)
The Interdisciplinary Studies program of study requires 12 to 27 additional credit hours of elective course work.
NOTE: Including required and elective courses, at least 39 of the 120 required hours for the bachelor’s degree must be upper-level credit earned in courses numbered 3000 or higher.