BS in Interdisciplinary Science

Degree Requirements

The Interdisciplinary Science program has been established in recognition of the fact that existing majors may not satisfy the needs of all students desiring a scientific education. Interdisciplinary Science is a program that allows students to select an area of individualized concentration and related course work not offered in traditional majors. Students should declare this major before they have completed 90 hours. Students seeking admission to this program will be interviewed by an adviser in the NSM Advising Office and must have sound reasons for their choice. Once accepted into the program, students must have their programs approved by the Interdisciplinary Science advisor.

Under this program, the University and college general education requirements specified in the Degree Requirements section of this catalog must be fulfilled, and an individualized concentration in the natural sciences or mathematics must be identified for the purpose of determining education requirements. Students must take at least 64 hours of courses at the 2000 level or higher and at least 32 hours of courses at the 3000/4000 level and have earned a minimum of 120 hours to be eligible for graduation.

Students must take at least 15 but not more than 34 hours of course work in a single department to serve as the core area and 16-35 hours of course work to serve as the cognate for a total of 50 hours. Students must meet a minimum GPA average of 2.0 in a GPA calculation of the core area as well as a secondary GPA calculation of the core area and the cognate.

Courses used for the core concentration and cognate must be courses that would count in the major in those departments. 

Plan of Study Grid
First TermHours
NSM 1000 Foundations of Academic Success for Science and Math Majors 2
ENGL 1110 College Composition I 3
Natural Science Core 3
Social Science Core 3
Natural Sciences Core (Lab) 1
Mathematics Core course 1 3
 Hours15
Second Term
ENGL 1130
College Composition II: Academic Disciplines And Discourse
or Technical Writing
3
Mathematics course 1 3
Core Natural Science 3
Core Social Science 3
Arts/Humanities Core 3
 Hours15
Third Term
Arts/Humanities Core 3
NSM Science Elective 3
Non-US Diversity 3
Diversity of US 3
General Studies Core Area 3
 Hours15
Fourth Term
General Studies Core Area 6
General Studies Cognate 6
NSM Science Elective 3
 Hours15
Fifth Term
General Studies Core Area 6
General Studies Cognate 6
NSM Science Elective 3
 Hours15
Sixth Term
Arts/Humanities Core 3
General Studies Core Area 6
General Studies Cognate 6
 Hours15
Seventh Term
General Studies Core Area 6
General Studies Cognate 6
WAC Elective 3
 Hours15
Eighth Term
General Studies WAC class 3
Elective 12
 Hours15
 Total Hours120
1

Determined by placement test or ACT or SAT score. Students in the General Studies program must complete a minimum of two courses in mathematics: MATH 1320 and MATH 2600 or MATH 1750 and 1760 or MATH 1830 and 1840 or MATH 1850 and 1860.

  • PLO 1. Students will demonstrate proficiency in using broad, integrative knowledge.
  • PLO 2. Students will demonstrate depth of knowledge in a field and are able to produce field-appropriate applications, drawing on both their major field of study and other fields.
  • PLO 3. Students will demonstrate proficiency in using and integrating intellectual skills, including communication, across the curriculum.
  • PLO 4. Students will demonstrate the knowledge required for responsible citizenship, both from their formal studies and from community-based learning.
  • PLO 5. Students will demonstrate the knowledge required for responsible citizenship, both from their formal studies and from community-based learning.