Interdisciplinary Studies, BA

An Interdisciplinary Studies degree is best suited for:

1) Students who have a specific personal or professional interest that cannot be met within the traditional degree structure or

2) Students with disparate credit hours trying to find a way to complete their degree.

Features

• Students and faculty can design majors around interdisciplinary topics of professional and personal interest.
• Students, guided by advisors, take initiative in directing their own education.
• Students learn how to analyze and apply knowledge gained from multiple disciplines.

There are two approaches to an Interdisciplinary Studies degree:

1) A traditional UCCS campus-based Individually Structured, Interdisciplinary Studies program or

2) An online-only Intercampus Interdisciplinary Studies program.

Individually Structured Interdisciplinary Studies (Campus-based)

Students can develop and submit an Interdisciplinary Studies plan (INDS course plan) for approval.  The plan must include all of the elements listed below:

1. Present a clear and persuasive case for the interdisciplinary nature of the problem or question.
2. Draw from at least two departments in LAS or from at least one department in LAS and one department in another college.
3. Incorporate at least 36 credits, 27 of which must be from courses at the 3000 level or higher.
4. Require a creative project, community outreach, social action project, internship, or education abroad or nationally. 
5. Require a summit experience that demonstrates the fusion and integration of these fields studied.

The courses you choose to include should reflect your career goals and interests as well as the marketability of your skill set. We want to make sure there are employment opportunities that involve the unique combination of knowledge and skills you will gain from this customized degree. 

Current degree plans include:

• Cognitive Archaeology (major)
• Linguistics (minor)

If you have any questions, please contact: Janice Thorpe, 719-255-4564, jthorpe@uccs.edu  

Intercampus Interdisciplinary Studies (Online only)

The University of Colorado’s Intercampus Interdisciplinary Studies Degree is designed to offer maximum flexibility for students whose interests and professional aspirations span many disciplines. While requiring a high level of self-direction on the part of students, this program also offers students active guidance by faculty and academic advisors. Key features of this program include:

• Students design majors around interdisciplinary topics of professional and personal interest.
• Students, guided by advisors, take initiative in directing their own education not just through the choice of interdisciplinary topics but also through required experiential learning opportunities.
• Students learn how to analyze and apply knowledge gained from multiple disciplines.
• Students choose from among a large set of courses offered across the CU Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Denver campuses.
• The degree focuses on fostering graduates who are able to write, problem solve, and communicate verbally.
• Students have the option to complete the full degree in three years.