Program Requirements
General Education - 41 credit hours
The Interdisciplinary Studies degree includes a broad base of courses in four general
areas of study (41 credit hours):
- Area I: Written Composition (2 courses, 6 Hours)
- Area II: Humanities, Fine Arts, Literature, and Oral Communication (4 courses, 12 Hours)
- Area III: Laboratory Sciences and Mathematics (3 courses, 11 Hours)
- Area IV: History, Social, and Behavioral Sciences (4 courses, 12 Hours)
Concentration - 30 credit hours
Each student collaborates with an Interdisciplinary Studies academic advisor to design
an individualized program of study in one of the following concentrations (30 credit
hours):
▼ Administrative Sciences
Composed primarily of coursework from business and related fields, such as communication
and information technology.
▼ Applied Arts
Composed primarily of coursework from the fine arts and humanities, but may include
scientific or technical coursework as well.
▼ Applied Sciences
Composed primarily of coursework from the sciences and technical fields.
▼ Community Services
Composed primarily of coursework from the social sciences (especially political science
and criminal justice), education, or health.
▼ Human Services
Composed primarily of coursework from the social sciences (especially psychology and
sociology), education, or health.
▼ Liberal Studies
Composed primarily of coursework from the humanities and social sciences.
General Competency Classes – 15 credit hours
The Interdisciplinary Studies program requirements ensure that graduates develop the
following skills: critical thinking, cultural competency, information literacy, communication,
leadership, and teamwork. This translates to success in our modern workforce which
is increasingly technologically advanced, globally-oriented, and culturally diverse.
The following required courses prepare students for today's workforce:
▼ IST 302 Interdisciplinary Critical Thinking
Provides students an introduction to the field of interdisciplinary studies and an
opportunity to critically reflect on the experience of self, education, and career
and the relationship among these three phenomena.
▼ IST 320 Cultural Competency
An interdisciplinary exploration of issues related to interactions between diverse
groups in teams, communities, and organizations. Reviews research from a variety of
disciplines, introduces the history and law of equal opportunity in the U.S., and
examines the costs and benefits of diversity. Topics include prejudice, stereotyping,
affirmative action, barriers to mobility, discrimination, marginalization, mentoring,
cooperative teamwork, and international issues.
▼ IST 330 Analytical and Information Literacy
This course examines principles of qualitative and quantitative research methods and
their application to interdisciplinary studies in the social sciences. Emphasis is
on the development of functional literacy for information expressed quantitatively
and thoughtful integration of such information into academic and practical research.
▼ IST 495 Professional Leadership and Teamwork
Students will examine their skills, abilities, personality, attitudes, values, interests,
and behaviors within the context of current scholarship on leadership to increase
awareness of their leadership competencies.
Capstone Class – 3 credit hours
Each student chooses an internship experience or senior research project to fulfill
their Interdisciplinary Studies capstone requirement:
▼ IST 498 Internship
This internship course provides the student an opportunity to have an internship filed
experience and to reflect on and critically evaluate that internship experience, particularly
as it relates to the interdisciplinary course of study. Students will prepare reports,
write papers, make presentations, and engage in group discussion that critically considers
their internship experience.
▼ IST 430 Senior Research
An in-depth research project in the student's concentration. Provides an opportunity
for the student to design a comprehensive research project, analyze and synthesize
research data, and develop expertise in a particular subject.
Electives – 31 credit hours
A minimum of 31 credit hours of elective courses are required. IST students may also
elect a minor as part of their degree (fulfilling the minor requirement via the electives
area).
