General Studies

Overview

The Interdisciplinary Studies program provides students with an opportunity to design unique courses of study leading to the MA/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 that is not offered as a master's program by the University.

Mission

The mission of the Interdisciplinary Studies (IDST) program is to provide graduate students with a unique opportunity to create their own MA/MS degree by drawing from at least two distinct disciplines rather than one single discipline to fit their academic, professional, and personal goals that otherwise were not offered by the University.

Goals and Objectives

The goal of the Interdisciplinary Studies graduate degree is to offer graduate students a tailored experience that strengthens their professional advantage by creating a purposeful learning opportunity by allowing them to deepen their chosen academic or professional disciplines to align with their career goals. Interdisciplinary Studies create a powerful learning experience for students that emphasizes collaboration, integrative learning, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving skills.

• Encourage IDST graduate students to create unique and significant interconnections between existing disciplinary perspectives.
• Prepare IDST graduate students through coursework and meaningful research projects to acquire extensive knowledge of their chosen disciplines and fields.
• Assist IDST graduate students to gain expertise of scholarly research, theoretical application, critical analysis, and academic writing.
• IDST graduates will acquire advanced skills in writing and speaking.
• Develop programs for IDST graduate students that prepares them for a wide range of professional careers.

Learning Outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the meaningful interconnections between their program disciplines.
2. Students will demonstrate the ability to produce scholarly research relevant to their disciplinary fields, utilizing appropriate methods and engaging in theoretical application to practice, advanced data analysis, and sound academic writing.
3. Students will demonstrate advanced skills in oral presentation and communication commensurate with their disciplinary expectations.
4. Students will demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and expertise from at least two disciplines to fulfill their academic and professional goals.