Students taking Interdisciplinary courses may look at a period, an idea, or a set of problems. Study the Renaissance through courses in English, history, art, and music. Or, explore human freedom through courses in philosophy, psychology, sociology, and political science.
How the Interdisciplinary Major Works
Students can construct from two or more disciplines a course of study not available through one department. They work out their program of study with advisors from two different departments and present it to the chair for approval.
An interdisciplinary studies major consists of at least eight courses, including a course in research methods from one of the disciplines. The major also requires one internship related to the area of interest.
Interdisciplinary Course requirements:
- No more than two 100-level courses will count toward the major
- No more than two independent studies may count toward the major
- You must include at least four 300-level courses in the major.
Senior Portfolio
By the end of senior year, interdisciplinary majors will submit a capstone portfolio to the program chair for evaluation.
Requirements
- A cover page with:
- Student’s name
- Class year
- Major title
- Major description
- Names of advisors
- Description of career goals and plans
- Resume and cover letter
- List of the courses taken for the major, including:
- Each course number and title
- Description of how each course supports the interdisciplinary major
- Graded research paper from the 300-level independent study (or other 300-level course in the major)
- Description of the internship required for the major
- Evaluation form from the supervisor of the required internship related to the major program of study
- The academic work required by the faculty sponsor of the internship
- Personal essay evaluating the internship related to the major program of study with respect to the student’s future career or education goals
Graduating senior majors will meet with the chair of the interdisciplinary program to review their portfolios in the last full week of classes prior to graduation.
Recent interdisciplinary majors include:
- Culture, Art, and Society
- Narrative Art of the Screen and Page
- Hispanic Studies
- Web Design and Programming
- Social Change and Community Development
An Example Program: Hispanic Studies
A course of study to profoundly analyze the cultures, writing, and politics of Spain and Latin America. Courses completed in fulfillment of the interdisciplinary major requirements:
- POLS 103: Modern Comparative Politics
- COMM 270: Intercultural Communication
- SPAN 236: Spanish Culture and Civilization
- SPAN 238: Latin American Culture and Civilization
- POLS 304: Geopolitics
- POLS 337: Seminar in U.S. Foreign Policy
- SPAN 348: Twentieth-Century Latin American Literature
- SPAN 375: Advanced Spanish Grammar
- SPAN 390: I.S. – Hispanic Studies