Interdisciplinary Studies

Student Learning Outcomes
Interdisciplinary Studies
Bachelor in Interdisciplinary Studies

1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of integrative learning as it relates to the attainment of educational and professional opportunities.
2. Students will identify knowledge they have acquired from two or three disciplines.
3. Interdisciplinary Studies majors learn how to integrate ideas across disciplines and incorporate distinct perspectives in their learning processes.

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Degree Program

The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies is a unique and rigorous degree program administered by the Office of Academic Affairs at The University of New Orleans. The program provides versatility for students seeking to design a coherent academic plan through the process of integrative learning. Integrative Learning refers to the process of combining and coordinating academic elements into a whole or aggregate.  IDS students develop an Integrative Learning Plan (ILP) with the guidance and assistance of professional staff. The ILP will incorporate a minimum of two subject areas that clearly represent a focus for studies. Students develop a learning experience that helps meet individual and professional goals while balancing work and life responsibilities with educational opportunities.

Specific requirements for the degree are:

1. 1. General Education Requirements:

      1. English Composition - 6 hours. English 1157 and 1158/1159 or their equivalent. Completion of 1158 or 1159 with a grade of C or better.


      2. Mathematics/Analytical Reasoning - 6 hours. 


      3. Natural/Life/Physical Sciences - 9 hours, including a six hour sequence in one science and an additional three hour course in another. One of the sciences must be Biological Sciences and the other one must be Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Sciences, or Physics.


      4. Humanities - 9 hours to include:


         • 3 hours in Literature.

         • 6 additional hours to be taken from the Departments of Film and Theater; English; Foreign Languages; History; Philosophy; Women’s and Gender Studies.

      5. Social/Behavioral Sciences - 6 hours from Anthropology, Economics, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and/or Urban Studies. 

      6. Fine Arts - 3 hours to be taken from the Fine Arts, Music, or theatre/dance/film-related courses in Film and Theater.
   2. IDS 3001 Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies.
   3. Integrative Learning Plan: Completion of an interdisciplinary component, representing a clearly defined focus of studies, with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00. The component will consist of at least two disciplines for a combined total of 36 hours. A minimum of 21 of the 36 hours must be completed with course work at the 3000-4999 level. At least half of the ILP (18-credit hours) to be com­pleted after enrolling in the IDS program.
   4. IDS 4091 Interdisciplinary Studies Capstone Seminar must complete with C or better.
   5. Single-Subject Limitation: A maximum of 30 hours of course work in any one subject can be counted toward credit for the degree. For this purpose, all course work offered in business, education, and engineering will be regarded as a single subject.
   6. Completion of a minimum of 45 hours of courses numbered 3000 or above, with a minimum of 21 hours applied to the ILP.
   7. Completion of a minimum of 120 hours of course work in courses numbered 1000 and above, with a grade point average of 2.0 (C) or better.
   8. No more than one-half the semester hours required for the completion of the IDS degree may be transferred from a community college.
   9.  The last 30 hours of coursework must be completed in degree residency while enrolled with Interdisciplinary Studies. All hours must apply toward the major.

Curriculum in Interdisciplinary Studies
General Education Course Requirements

1. English Composition - 6 hours. English 1157 and 1158/1159 or their equivalent. Completion of 1158 or 1159 with a grade of C or better.
2. Check General Education Courses to confirm what courses fulfill this requirement.
3. ILP is unique integrated learning plan of personal and professional interest to student. ILP developed with advising and choice of electives and requisites.
4. Unique 36 hour ILP of personal and professional interest to student containing a minimum of two disciplines with minimum of 21 hours in coursework numbered 3000 or above within the ILP.

Recommended Four-Year Plan of Study
Division of Interdisciplinary Studies
Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies

Unique Integrative Learning Plan (ILP) is developed through advising with IDS staff. Electives and ILP requisites are selected to support the student's ILP, as well as their personal and professional interests.

Honors in Interdisciplinary Studies

Students wishing to earn departmental honors in any Major should contact the Director of the University Honors Program for guidance. Interdisciplinary Studies students should ordinarily declare their intent to complete the IDS degree with honors when they initially submit their integrative learning plan (ILP) for departmental approval.

IDS majors who wish to graduate with honors must meet the following requirements:

1. Earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 within the ILP, and an cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25;
2. Successfully complete a Senior Honors thesis (directly related to the ILP title) which includes earning six hours of Arts and Sciences 3999 and an oral defense. Students must arrange for a faculty member from the ILP component, with approval of the IDS Director or their representative, to direct the thesis. The thesis is to be defended orally before a committee composed of the thesis director, a representative of the IDS department, and a representative of the honors program.