Self-Designed (BA in Interdisciplinary Studies)

Interdisciplinary Program

The Faculty of Arts & Sciences offers the BA & BS degrees in Interdisciplinary Studies. Within the BA in Interdisciplinary Studies degree program, students may select from six majors: Africana Studies; Environment & Sustainability; Film & Media Studies; Gender, Sexuality, & Women’s Studies; Integrative Conservation, and Medieval & Renaissance Studies. Additionally, students may earn a BA or a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Self-Designed major. Within this option, students will work closely with a faculty advisor to formulate a curriculum that is tailored to the student’s interests. 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 Interdisciplinary Studies (CIS). 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.

Applications for Self-Designed majors must adhere to the Registrar’s deadlines for declaring a primary major. In addition, all applications for Self-Designed majors as a change of major or secondary major must be submitted to the Committee on Interdisciplinary Studies before the beginning of preregistration for the first semester of the student’s senior year. All Self-Designed programs must be compatible with the degree requirements for Arts & 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.

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 Interdisciplinary Studies (CIS). 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.

For additional information on Self-Designed majors, please visit the Arts & Sciences web site.