Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies

Southern offers a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies for students whose learning objectives are not met by the University’s established liberal arts majors. The difference between this program and the traditional B.A. in liberal arts is that it does not restrict students to a single major, but rather allows them to broaden their studies by selecting two minors of 18 credits each. The minors may be existing ones, or an approved self-designed 18-credit interdisciplinary minor. Students may not select more than one existing minor from the same discipline. A self-designed interdisciplinary minor must be approved by the Liberal Studies Program Director and the Liberal Studies Academic Advising Coordinator in consultation with the Liberal Studies Committee prior to the completion of more than 9 credits in the proposed minor and the completion of 60 credits overall (75 credits for transfer students). Students who have earned more than 60 credits (75 credits for transfer students) may file a written appeal with the Liberal Studies Committee for waiver of this requirement detailing the reasons which would warrant an exception to the policy. Students in the B.A Interdisciplinary Studies program may take more than the minimum 18 credits required for a minor; in a discipline with an established minor, however, the University will count toward the 120 credits needed to graduate no more than 24 credits, not including those taken as AUR or LEP requirements. Students who want to take more than 24 credits in any single area should major in that area. In the case of interdisciplinary minors, the Liberal Studies Program Director and the Liberal Studies Academic Advising Coordinator will determine what courses will be accepted in consultation with the Liberal Studies Committee. General Education credits used to satisfy AUR or LEP requirements may not also be counted towards an interdisciplinary minor. Students who enter the B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies degree program with more than 60 credits (75 credits for transfer students) are advised that more than 120 credits may be required to complete the degree.

Like all students at the University, B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies degree earners must also satisfy the AUR or LEP requirements for the B.A. degree, depending upon the general education program (AUR or LEP) under which they were admitted to the University. AUR requirements for the B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies degree consist of 41-53 credits. LEP requirements for the B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies degree consist of 48-57 credits. A minimum 2.0 GPA is required for acceptance into the B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies degree program. A minimum 2.0 GPA is required in each minor in order to graduate from the program. In addition, students must also complete at least 36 credits at the 300 level or higher and IDS 401W: Capstone Seminar in Interdisciplinary Studies. With approval of the Liberal Studies Program Director and the Liberal Studies Academic Advising Coordinator in consultation with the Liberal Studies Committee, students may substitute a 300- or 400-level writing intensive (W) or tier 3 LEP capstone course in one of their minor areas for IDS 401W. The approved substitute course would be in addition to the required 18 credits in the minor area. In the case of a non-W tier 3 LEP course approved as a IDS 401W substitution, students must still fulfill all W course requirements for graduation. 

Students majoring in elementary education may choose interdisciplinary studies as a subject matter major. Interested students should contact the Liberal Studies Program Director and Liberal Studies Academic Coordinator to determine their eligibility. Once eligibility for the B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies is determined, students may then seek advisement for the elementary education program through the elementary education department. Elementary education students who choose interdisciplinary studies as their second major are also assigned an adviser from the elementary education department.

Students interested in the B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies degree can obtain further information by contacting the Academic Advisement Center, WT, (203) 392-5367.