B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies

Interdisciplinary Studies (formerly General Studies) is a program which allows you, the student, to be in control of designing your educational program. The degree, a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, is comprised of two or three academic Areas of Emphasis (21 credit hours each or 15 credit hours each, respectively). You may choose from any discipline offered as a major or minor at VSU. Within each Area of Emphasis, you may use a maximum of one lower level course (1000-2000); the remaining courses must be upper level (3000-4000) and all must have a grade of "C" or better. Open to all students, the program allows flexibility in building a course of study that matches individual interests and goals. In creating a program of study, students build an interdisciplinary program from the ground up, offering an opportunity to explore vital connections among disciplines that will lead to exciting and far ranging results. It is often at the intersection of disciplinary boundaries that new work is being done, which will have substantial benefits to the individual pursuing these studies as well as to society, in which broad thinkers who can synthesize disparate materials can make important contributions. For the student who has a desire to develop a more personalized educational program that moves beyond the traditional major, the Interdisciplinary Studies Program is the place to begin conversation and exploration.

Interdisciplinary Studies Admission Requirements

Students who wish to enter the Interdisciplinary Studies Program must submit to the program director an Interdisciplinary Studies Proposal, including a statement of goals, an indication of the disciplines to be studied, and a listing of possible courses for the program. They must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 to be admitted.

Selected Educational Outcomes

  1. Students will be able to articulate reasons for the interconnectedness of their chosen fields of study.
  2. Students will demonstrate knowledge in depth as well as in breadth through a selected range of their fields of study.
  3. Students will demonstrate critical, analytical, and synthesizing skills that characterize exploration beyond disciplinary boundaries.
  4. Students will engage in professionally oriented activities geared toward individual career or post-graduate goals.

Examples of Outcome Assessments

  1. Student-generated planning documents for the related fields of study.
  2. Portfolios of student work.
  3. Progress reports generated by faculty advisors meeting with the student.
  4. Student entrance and exit interviews.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies

Core Curriculum 60
Core Curriculum Areas A-E (See VSU Core Curriculum)  42
Core Curriculum Area F 18
Guided Electives 1
INDS 2000
Senior College Curriculum 60
Major Core 9
Research-based Course from the discipline
Professional/Technical Writing/Communication
Interdisciplinary Studies Capstone
Select Option A or Option B (Below) 51
Total hours required for the degree 120

First Discipline 21
Second Concentration 21
Free Electives 9

Option B

First Discipline 15
Second Discipline 15
Third Discipline 15
Free Electives 6

A minimum of 39 upper division hours must be taken across the disciplines in the student’s interdisciplinary major. All courses in Area F and the Senior College Curriculum must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.

If the Honors option is chosen, then the student must take 6 hours of Foreign Language and Culture plus the requisite Honors classes and maintain the GPA specified by the Honors College.

Need more information?

Contact Program Advisor Dr. Cheri Tillman at (229) 245-2493 to schedule an appointment or contact via email at cgtillma@valdosta.edu.