Interdisciplinary Studies

Programs and Course Descriptions

Faculty

View the Interdisciplinary Studies Faculty.

Interdisciplinary Program

The curriculum of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences provides for interdisciplinary majors that fall into two categories. First, a student, working in consultation with a faculty advisor, may formulate an interdisciplinary major that is uniquely tailored to his or her interest. The responsibility for formulating a sound academic program of interdisciplinary study lies with the individual student and the advisor, and the proposed major must be approved by the Committee on Honors and Interdisciplinary Studies (CHIS). Normally, students pursuing an interdisciplinary major base their program upon a solid understanding of an established discipline, and must include courses from at least three departments, with no more than half of the credit hours from any one department. More than two courses at the introductory level are seldom approved.

Second, requirements have been established for interdisciplinary majors in the following areas: Africana Studies, Environmental Science/Studies, Linguistics, Literary and Cultural Studies, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Neuroscience, and Women’s Studies.

Applications for interdisciplinary majors must adhere to the Registrar’s deadlines for declaring a primary major. In addition, all applications for interdisciplinary majors as a change of major or secondary major must be submitted to the Committee on Honors and Interdisciplinary Studies before the beginning of preregistration for the first semester of the student’s senior year. All interdisciplinary programs must be compatible with the degree requirements for Arts and Sciences. Each major must fulfill the Major Writing Requirement by earning a grade of C- or better in the course designated as the writing course within the program submitted to CHIS. Each major must also fulfill the Computer Proficiency Requirement by earning a grade of C- or better in the course designated as the computer proficiency course within the program submitted. CHIS, or the appropriate advisory committee, must approve the designation of courses that fulfill the writing and computer proficiency requirements.

Programs and Course Descriptions

Majors

Africana Studies
Environmental Science/Policy
Linguistics
Literary and Cultural Studies
Medieval and Renaissance Studies
Neuroscience
Women’s Studies

Minors

Interdisciplinary minors are offered in:

Africana Studies
Biochemistry
Community Studies
Environmental Science and Policy
Film Studies
Italian Studies
Judaic Studies
Linguistics
Literary and Cultural Studies
Marine Science
Medieval and Renaissance Studies
Public Health
Women’s Studies

Students may not create other interdisciplinary minors.

Description of Courses

The following interdisciplinary courses are taught by individual instructors or by a group of instructors who wish to explore a subject outside the present departmental programs. They are coordinated by the Charles Center.

Courses

Interdisciplinary Studies