Interdisciplinary Studies Major (Bachelor of Arts)

Curriculum Requirements - Total Credits Required: 125-127

First Year - Credits: 32

World Language (Cr: 6)
Quantitative Reasoning General Education Requirement (Cr: 3)
General Education Electives (Cr: 6)
Electives (Cr: 6)

ENG 111 - Critical Reading and Writing I (Cr: 3)
Satisfies the Writing Designated Core requirement.
ENG 112 - Critical Reading and Writing II (Cr: 3)
Satisfies the Writing Designated Core requirement.
INT 100 - Internship I (Cr: 2)
IDS 115 - Finding Your Path: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Problem Solving (Cr: 3)

Sophomore - Credits: 32-33

Global Issues General Education Requirement (Cr: 3)
Literary Perspectives General Education Requirement (Cr: 3)
Values & Ethical Reasoning General Education Requirement (Cr: 3)
English Elective (Cr: 3)
Interdisciplinary Studies or Political Science Elective (Cr: 3)
Philosophy or Religion Elective (Cr: 3)
Science or Math Elective (Cr: 3-4)
Electives (Cr: 6)

INT 200 - Internship II (Cr: 2)
IDS 201 - Interdisciplinary Seminar (Cr: 3)
Interdisciplinary Studies majors are required to complete two semesters for six credits.

Junior - Credits: 31-32

Aesthetic Awareness and Creative Expression General Education Requirement (Cr: 3)
Individual and Society General Education Requirement (Cr: 3)
Science and Technology General Education Requirement (Cr: 3-4)
World Cultures General Education Requirement (Cr: 3)
History Elective (Cr: 3)
Political Science Elective (Cr: 3)
Psychology or Sociology Elective (Cr: 3)
Electives (Cr: 6)

IDS 302 - Methods of Inquiry in the Humanities (Cr: 3)
Satisfies the Writing Designated Requirement
IDS 379 - Semester Internship Strategies (Cr: 1)

Senior - Credits: 30

American Studies or Interdisciplinary Studies Elective (Cr: 3)

Elective (Cr: 3)

General Education Electives (Cr: 6)
(must be above the 100 level)

IDS 480 - Semester Internship (Cr: 12)
IDS 489 - Senior Research (Cr: 3)
IDS 490 - Senior Thesis (Cr: 3)
Or
IDS 491 - Senior Capstone (Cr: 3)

Interdisciplinary Studies Discipline-Specific Electives

The eight discipline-designated elective requirements (English; history; international studies; political science; philosophy or religion; psychology or sociology; math or science; American studies or Interdisciplinary Studies) may be met by taking any course with the individual discipline’s prefix. However, at least three of the eight courses must be above the 100-level.

The American studies/Interdisciplinary Studies elective requirement may be met by taking any course with an AMS or IDS designation or one of the following courses:

ART 308 - Art in American Culture (Cr: 3)
ART 320 - Native American Art: Beyond Tradition (Cr: 3)
ENG 224 - Justice and Injustice in American Literature (Cr: 3)
ENG 240 - Boston in Literature and Film (Cr: 3)
ENG 310 - Modern American Poetry (Cr: 3)
ENG 337 - American Indian Literature (Cr: 3)
HST 225 - The Salem Witch Trials (Cr: 3)
HST 227 - Boston History (Cr: 3)
HST 229 - The American West (Cr: 3)
HST 230 - African-American History (Cr: 3)
HST 306 - New England History (Cr: 3)
HST 317 - Civil Rights Movement (Cr: 3)
HST 330 - History of Sexuality in the United States (Cr: 3)
HST 340 - Women in American History and Culture (Cr: 3)
MUS 230 - Jazz Styles (Cr: 3)
MUS 240 - The Rise of Rock and Roll (Cr: 3)
SM 303 - Sport in Society (Cr: 3)
SOC 320 - Racial and Ethnic Diversity in American Society (Cr: 3)

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Interdisciplinary Studies program students will:

Articulate the academic role of disciplinary distinctions and interdisciplinary connections.

Demonstrate critical inquiry and analysis skills across disciplines.

Apply relevant disciplinary methods to complex problems of human interaction.

Communicate the results of inquiry in written form using appropriate academic conventions.

Implement skills learned in coursework in professional contexts through a series of internships.

Interdisciplinary Seminar Requirement

Students must take a minimum of two IDS 201 Interdisciplinary Seminar offerings to complete the program. These seminars are team-taught and examine topics from at least two disciplinary perspectives. The topics will change each semester.