Interdisciplinary Studies Major (IDST)

What is the Interdisciplinary Studies (IDST) Major?

The IDST Major is available to Honors College students who desire rigorous academic and creative discovery through the development of a personalized academic course of study unavailable through traditional majors. This purpose-driven degree is formed by creating core concentration areas from the undergraduate catalog that prepares a student to reach a defined academic goal as expressed in their rationale statement. A faculty committee approves all core concentration course selections. The type of degree (BA/BS) is determined by the areas of concentration in the degree plan as approved by the dean of the Honors College. The office of the Provost provides final approval at the catalog level.  No minor is required.

Requirements for Interdisciplinary Studies Major

• IDST is a primary major.  A second major may not include courses within the IDST major.
• Participation in this major requires a minimum GPA of 3.25.
• This major must be declared prior to completion of 75 credits. Exceptions to this guideline may be granted with approval of the dean of the Honors College.
• In accordance with the University catalog, this broad area major must include a minimum of 48 credits from a combination of the core concentration areas-3 areas maximum, 2 preferred.
• In accordance with the University catalog, this major must include a minimum of 24 upper level credits from the combined core concentration areas.
• The major should include a minimum of nine 400-level credits from the combined core concentration areas.  Exceptions to this guideline may be granted with approval of the faculty committee and dean of the Honors College.
• The student must complete a minimum of 10 honors credits (from H, HNRS, or Honors Contract classes).
• A capstone project is  presented in the final semester of study, integrating core concentration areas outlined in the Interdisciplinary degree major.  The faculty adviser will be from the project core concentration area or approved by the dean of the Honors College.  Students may choose from any senior seminar capstone course or project with approval of the seminar adviser. HNRS 360  or similar preparatory course is required.   Should no capstone course exist in the concentration areas, the student may select  HNRS 460 - Honors Senior Capstone Project .