Interdisciplinary Studies (BA)

The Interdisciplinary Studies program empowers students to design a personalized academic pathway that combines two to three distinct fields of study into a cohesive, purpose-driven degree. This student-centered major is ideal for those whose intellectual interests and career aspirations extend beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries.

Students in the Interdisciplinary Studies program work closely with faculty supervisors to develop an integrated curriculum that aligns with their unique academic interests, professional ambitions, and personal values. Emphasis is placed on making clear, intentional connections between chosen disciplines, resulting in a flexible and goal-oriented degree plan.

Students will articulate how their interdisciplinary, integrative focus supports their long-term objectives, demonstrating how their degree provides a foundation for graduate study, career advancement, or personal fulfillment. Whether returning to complete a degree, pivoting to a new career path, or pursuing personal goals, Interdisciplinary Studies students achieve a well-rounded education that reflects their individual aspirations.

Interdisciplinary Studies Program-Level Outcomes

  • Integrate Knowledge Across Disciplines
    Students will synthesize concepts, methods, and perspectives from distinct disciplines to address complex questions or problems.
  • Apply Interdisciplinary Learning to Real-World and Personal Contexts
    Students will critically connect interdisciplinary learning to experiential, professional, or personal experiences, demonstrating practical understanding and real-world problem-solving.
  • Communicate the Value and Purpose of Interdisciplinary Learning
    Students will clearly articulate how interdisciplinary learning supports their long-term goals, including graduate education, career advancement, or personal development.

Supervisory Structure

  • The program is available to all students across all SAU colleges and locations. The administrative home of the program is the College of Arts and Sciences.
  • The Program Coordinator is appointed by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and is responsible for facilitating the operation and development of the program. With input from appropriate parties (such as disciplinary supervisors and the Registrar’s Office), the Program Coordinator is responsible for providing approvals to advance students through the program, from the initial application through the evaluation and exit process.
  • Faculty supervisors from each of the two focal (300+ level) disciplines are required at the time of application, such that they have helped develop the applicant’s individual Student Learning Outcomes. While it is recommended that one of the supervisors serve as the student’s academic advisor, this is not a requirement. Students may recruit faculty supervisors from any SAU location.
  • Student Learning Outcomes are submitted for review by the Program Coordinator to the University Assessment Coordinator.

Application Process and Timeline

  • Students must have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours to be eligible for application. Students who have completed more than 90 credit hours at the time of application are required to complete a minimum of 6 hours in their approved program of study following the time of application.
  • Application deadline: apply by November 1 for May/August graduation, or April 1 for December graduation.
  • Pre-application, students may be classified as Pre-Interdisciplinary Studies.
  • The student will work with their academic advisor, Advising Office, and Program Coordinator to identify faculty supervisors in each of their focal disciplines.
  • Under the supervision of their faculty supervisors, the student will develop a complete application, including:
    • A personal statement of purpose.
    • A proposed degree plan that meets the program requirements listed above, including a description of the experiential learning component.
    • A set of four proposed Student Learning Outcomes developed together with the faculty supervisors in each of the two focal disciplines.
  • The completed application is to be submitted by email to the Program Coordinator in the semester prior to the student’s intended graduation date (by November 1 for May/August graduation and April 1 for December graduation).
  • The application may be approved by the Program Coordinator or returned to the student and faculty supervisors for editing and resubmission. The Program Coordinator will evaluate the application following a variety of criteria, including:
    • Does the Degree Plan meet the program requirements?
    • Is the Statement of Purpose clearly articulated, with reasonable and achievable goals?
    • Is the Degree Plan consistent with the Statement of Purpose and the mission of the University?
    • Are the Student Learning Outcomes feasible and consistent with the Degree Plan? The Assessment Coordinator will also evaluate these outcomes.

Program Amendment Process

Requested amendments/alterations to approved programs of study may be submitted for consideration by the Program Coordinator using a form provided in the program handbook.

Evaluation and Exit Process

  • With the assistance of the faculty supervisors in their two focal fields of study, the student will prepare a completed Exit Portfolio. This is to be submitted by email to the Program Coordinator in the semester of the student’s intended graduation date (by November 1 for December graduation and April 1 for May/August graduation). The Exit Portfolio will be rubric-scored by the faculty supervisors from each focal discipline as well as the Program Coordinator.
  • The Exit Portfolio template is provided in the program handbook and includes:
    • A Reflective Essay, designed to assess Program-Level Outcomes.
    • A collection of artifacts accompanied by narratives demonstrating achievement of Student Learning Outcomes.
  • Upon review, Exit Portfolio approval or additional required revisions will be communicated by the Program Coordinator.

Note: To be awarded the BA in Interdisciplinary Studies degree, the student must also fulfill all other graduation requirements as noted in the Catalog, including total credit hours, Core requirements, etc.

Interdisciplinary Studies Program Requirements

30-321 total credits.

  • 18 credits from two or three disciplines2 at the 200+ level.
  • 12 additional credits from two disciplines at the 300+ level. These “focal” disciplines must be carried forward from the 200+ level requirement. Of the minimum 30 total credits [excluding the Career-Readiness course], students must complete a minimum of 12 credits in each of their two focal disciplines.
  • 1-2 credit Career-Readiness course; may be waived by Program Coordinator for students currently working full-time or with significant relevant full-time work experience.
  • Experiential learning component: EXPL-201 Experiential Learning Notation or an alternative experience ( e.g., clinical, internship, full-time work, study abroad, service learning, student research) approved by Program Coordinator.
  • Application, evaluation and exit packages submitted by required deadlines and approved by Program Coordinator.
1

1-2 credit Career-Readiness course; may be waived by Program Coordinator for students currently working full-time or with significant relevant full-time work experience.

2

Disciplines will typically share a catalog prefix (e.g., BIOL). At the Program Coordinator’s discretion, a coherent set of courses with different prefixes but that are otherwise formally unified in the Catalog (e.g., Business Core) may be defined as a discipline.

Notes:

  • Students may not double-major.
  • No credits used in the major may be applied to a minor.
  • No more than 6 credits may be completed through General Education / Core courses.