The Master's Interdisciplinary Studies
The Interdisciplinary Studies program provides students with an opportunity
to design unique courses of study leading to the MA or MS degree. Students
normally select the program because their individual interests dictate
that core courses be drawn from two or three academic areas rather than
from a single discipline. If academic or professional goals are not adequately
accommodated by university programs in existing disciplines, the Interdisciplinary
Studies program may meet the need by allowing specialization in a particular
field which is not offered as a master’s program by the university.
Accreditation
Accreditation of the Interdisciplinary Studies degree depends on the specific
accreditation of the departments concerned. Students planning to use an
Interdisciplinary Studies MA/MS for purposes of professional accreditation
should check carefully to be sure that the program meets the professional
requirements.
Career Outlook
Since Interdisciplinary Studies programs are uniquely structured to suit
individual needs, the objectives of specific programs vary considerably.
The majority of students who select this program have definite occupational
goals in mind at the outset. However, others pursue areas of interest which
have little or no direct application to their professional lives.
While it is not possible to predict future employment opportunities for
Interdisciplinary Studies graduates, this program provides a vehicle for
meeting the needs of students with unusual, creative, and interdisciplinary
professional or academic goals.
Course Requirements for the Master’s Degree: 30 units
Continuous enrollment is required. A maximum of 9 units of transfer credit
may be applied toward the degree. See “Master’s Degree Requirements” earlier
in this section for complete details on general degree requirements.
The Interdisciplinary Studies degree is designed to accommodate those students
whose specific interests may dictate that they take courses from two or
three academic areas rather than from a single discipline. Students wishing
to discuss and gain approval for a proposed program should consult the
Office of Graduate Programs.
Interdisciplinary Studies Emphases
Special Interdisciplinary Studies emphases have been developed in the following
areas. Consult the Office of Graduate Programs for specific information.
Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies:
Mathematics Education K-8
Science Teaching
Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies:
Mathematics Education
Simulation
Science/Computer Simulation
Prerequisites for Admission to Conditionally Classified Status:
1. An acceptable baccalaureate from an accredited institution, or an equivalent
approved by the Office of Graduate Programs.
2. Satisfactory grade point
average as specified in “Admission to Master’s Degree Programs.”
3. Formation
of the graduate advisory committee.
4. Development of an approved program,
including a Justification Statement and description of the culminating
activity, in consultation with the graduate coordinator and the graduate
advisory committee.
5. Approval of the graduate coordinator or chair of
each participating department. Students must meet the requirements for
admission to classified status, as specified in this catalog, of at least
one of the major departments involved in their Interdisciplinary Studies
program.
Prerequisites for Admission to Classified Status:
In addition to any requirements listed above:
1. The completion of all
prerequisites for courses included in the approved program.
2. A minimum
Miller Analogies Test raw score of 50, or a minimum combined Graduate Record
Examination test score of 1500, or an under-graduate grade point average
of 3.0 for the last 60 units and 3.0 for any postbaccalaureate work.
3.
The completion of the following discipline-specific requirements if pursuing
a degree involving course work in the areas of anthropology, art, business/management,
computer engineering, computer science, economics, engineering, English,
health and community services, or psychology.
Anthropology
Students using 12 or more units of anthropology in their program must:
a)
Complete the Graduate Record Examination prior to admission to classified
status, with a combined score of 900 on the verbal and quantitative portions.
b)
Pass a 1- to 3-part candidacy exam administered by the Department of Anthropology.
This exam, depending on the student’s program plan, will contain at least
one of the anthropology candidacy exams and possibly all three, as is judged
suitable by the student’s advisory committee. Upon successful completion
of the required competency exam(s), the student may be advanced to candidacy.
Art
Students using 6 or more units of art course work in their program, or
including “Art” in the title or content of the thesis, must have the prior
approval of the Department of Art.
Business/Management
Students using 9 units or more of 300-level business course work in their
program must satisfy the same entrance requirements established for MBA
applicants. These include a score no lower than the 50th percentile on
the Graduate Management Admission Test.
Computers/Computing
Students using the term “computers” or “computing” as part of an Interdisciplinary
Studies degree title must:
a) Complete at least 12 units of 200/300-level
computer science and/or computer engineering courses, each with a grade
of B- or better, as part of their graduate work at CSU, Chico.
b) Include
at least one computer science or computer engineering faculty member on
the graduate advisory committee.
c) Have the program approved by the chair
(or designee) of the Department of Computer Science.
Computer Engineering
Students using the term “computer engineering” as part of an Interdisciplinary
Studies degree title must:
a) Include a minimum of 12 units of computer
engineering courses in the program.
b) Have the program approved by the
chair (or designee) of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Computer Science
Students using the term “computer science” as part of an Interdisciplinary
Studies degree title must:
a) Complete the following undergraduate computer
science courses, each with a grade of C or better:
CSCI 151 ALGS AND DATA STR 3.0
Prerequisites: CSCI 015B.
CSCI 152 OPER SYST PROGRAM 3.0
Prerequisites: CSCI 151 and CSCI 171.
CSCI 171 COMPUTER ARCHITEC 3.0
Prerequisites: CSCI 051A; concurrent enrollment
in CSCI 151 recommended.
CSCI 172 SYSTEMS ARCHITECT 3.0
Prerequisites: Successful completion of CSCI
151 and CSCI 171; concurrent enrollment in CSCI 152 recommended.
b) Complete at least one-half of the degree program in computer science
course work.
c) Include at least one computer science faculty member on
the graduate advisory committee.
d) Have the program approved by the chair
(or designee) of the Department of Computer Science.
Economics
Students using 9 units or more of economics course work in the program
must:
a) Complete the Graduate Record Examination with a combined score
of at least 1000 on the verbal and quantitative portions; or
b) Achieve
a score of at least 600 on the
Graduate Record Examination subject test
in economics; or
c) Complete the requirements for entrance into the MBA
program at CSU, Chico.
In addition, students wishing to use the word “economics” in the degree
title must have the specific approval of the Department of Economics. Students
wishing to obtain such approval should petition the economics department
chair before their programs are designed.
Engineering
Students using the term “engineering” as part of the degree title must:
a) Include a minimum of 12 units of engineering course work in the program.
b) Have the program approved by the engineering graduate coordinator and
the chair of the appropriate engineering department.
c) Have a member of
the engineering faculty serve on the graduate advisory committee.
English
Students planning to include 6 or more units of English course work in
an Interdisciplinary Studies degree program must:
a) Submit a formal research
paper, documented according to the latest MLA standards, to the graduate
coordinator in English. This paper must come to the graduate coordinator
via the instructor who assigned it, together with a written statement of
the instructor’s opinion of the paper’s authenticity. This requirement
must be met prior to advancement to classified status.
b) Complete the verbal
portion of the GRE General Test with a minimum score of 500. This requirement
must be met prior to advancement to candidacy.
Health and Gerontology
Students using the term “health” or “wellness” as part of an Interdisciplinary
Studies degree title must have the program approved by the chair of the
Department of Health and Gerontology.
Psychology
Students using 6 or more units of psychology course work, or wishing to
use the terms “psychology” or “counseling” in the title of the thesis or
degree, must have approval of the Department of Psychology.
Advancement to Candidacy:
In addition to the requirements listed above, the student must have classified
graduate standing and must have completed 9 units of the proposed program
at the university.
Requirements for the MA/MS in Interdisciplinary Studies:
Completion of all requirements as established by the graduate advisory
committee and the Office of Graduate Programs, to include:
1. Completion of an approved program consisting of 30 units of 200/300-level
courses:
a) A comprehensive core of units in the chosen disciplines.
b)
At least 18 of the units required for the degree in stand-alone 300-level
courses (those not cross-listed with 200-level courses).
c) Not more than
9 semester units of transfer and/or extension credit (correspondence courses
and University of California extension course work are not acceptable).
d) Not more than 15 units taken before admission to classified status.
e) Not more than a total of 10 units of Independent Study (398) and Master’s
Study (399); not more than 6 units of Master’s Study (399).
2. Completion and final approval of a thesis, project, comprehensive examination,
or other culminating activity as specified by the graduate advisory committee.
3. Satisfactory completion of a comprehensive final examination (written
or oral) in the field of study.
4. Approval by the graduate advisory committee
and the graduate coordinators committee on behalf of the faculty of the
university.
All requirements listed above are to be completed within seven years of
the end of the semester of enrollment in the oldest course applied toward
the degree.
Literacy Requirement:
Writing proficiency is a graduation requirement. Interdisciplinary Studies
students will demonstrate their writing proficiency by submitting an acceptable
justification statement with the application to the program. Consult the
graduate coordinator for further information.
Grading Requirements:
All courses in the primary disciplines (with the exceptions of Independent
Study - 398, and Master’s Study - 399) must be taken for a letter grade,
except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading
only. A maximum of 10 units of Credit/No Credit grades may be used on the
approved program (including 398, 399, and courses outside the major). Performance
expectations of master’s students in 200-level Credit/No Credit courses
are the same as in 300-level Credit/No Credit courses. While grading standards
are determined by individual instructors, it is the policy of the university
that unsatisfactory grades may be given when work fails to reflect achievement
of the high standards, including high writing standards, expected of students
pursuing graduate study.
Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in all course work on
the approved master’s degree program as well as in all course work taken
subsequent to admission to conditionally classified status.
Advising Requirement:
Once the program plan is developed and approved, advising is recommended
but not mandatory each semester for Interdisciplinary Studies students.
For further information, consult the graduate coordinator.
Interdisciplinary Studies Course Offerings
Please see the section on “Course Description Symbols and Terms” in The
University Catalog for an explanation of course description terminology
and symbols, the course numbering system, and course credit units. All
courses employ letter grading unless otherwise stated. Some prerequisites
may be waived with faculty permission.
IDST 389 Internship 1.0-6.0 FS
Prerequisites: faculty permission.
Students may register for an Internship, offered as IDST 389A-F, for 1
to 6 units respectively. Credit/no credit grading only.
IDST 397 Special Topics 1.0-3.0 FS
Prerequisites: faculty permission.
Interdisciplinary graduate courses on current topics offered through a
sponsoring department as IDST 397A-C, for 1 to 3 units respectively.
IDST 398 Independent Study 1.0-6.0 FS
Prerequisites: faculty permission.
Students may register for an Independent Study, offered as IDST 398A-F,
for 1 to 6 units respectively.
IDST 399 Master’s Study 1.0-6.0 FS
Prerequisites: faculty permission.
Students may register for a Master’s Thesis, offered as IDST 399A-F, for
1 to 6 units respectively or for a Master’s Project, IDST 399G-L, for 1
to 6 units respectively. Credit/No Credit grading only.
|
