Interdisciplinary Studies (BS)

Program of Study

Core Requirements

Area A Essential Skills
ENGL 1101English Composition I (minimum grade of C)3
ENGL 1102English Composition II (minimum grade of C)3
Select one of the following:3
Quantitative Skills and Reasoning
Introduction to Mathematical Modeling
College Algebra
Pre-Calculus
Applied Calculus
Calculus with Analytic Geometry I
Elementary Statistics
Area A Total9
Area B Institutional Options 1
B1: Select 3 hours of following courses:3
Public Speaking
Any Foreign Language 1001, 1002, 2001, 2002
B2: Select 1 or 2 hours of the following courses:1-2
Scholarship Across the Disciplines
Introduction to Servant Leadership
Perspectives 1-hour
Perspectives 2-hour
Area B Total4-5
Area C Humanities/Fine Arts/Ethics
Select one of the following humanities courses:3
World Literature I
World Literature II
Comparative Arts 2
The Western Intellectual Tradition
ITDS 1774 Introduction to Digital Humanities
Historical Perspectives on the Philosophy of Science and Mathematics
Introduction to Philosophy
Select one of the following fine arts courses:3
Art Appreciation
Comparative Arts 2
Music Appreciation
Theatre Appreciation
Introduction to the History of Art I– Prehistoric through Gothic
Introduction to the History of Art II– Renaissance through Modern
Area C Total6
Area D Science/Math/Technology 1
D1: Select two science courses from the following list. One science course must include a lab; the other science course may or may not include the lab:7-8
Human Origins (no lab)
Descriptive Astronomy: The Solar System
and Descriptive Astronomy Lab (lab optional)
Descriptive Astronomy: Stars and Galaxies
and Descriptive Astronomy Lab
Understanding the Weather
and Understanding the Weather Lab
Principles of Biology (lab included)
Contemporary Issues in Biology Non-Lab (no lab)
Contemporary Issues in Biology with Lab (lab included)
Survey of Chemistry I
and Survey of Chemistry I Lab
Survey of Chemistry II
and Survey of Chemistry II Lab
Principles of Chemistry I
and Principles of Chemistry I Lab
Principles of Chemistry II
and Principles of Chemistry II Lab
Environmental Studies
and Environmental Studies Laboratory (lab optional)
Sustainability and the Environment
Natural Disasters: Our Hazardous Environment (no lab)
Introductory Geoscience I: Physical Geology
and Introductory Geoscience I: Physical Geology Lab
Introductory Geo-sciences II: Historical Geology
and Introductory Geo-sciences II: Historical Geology Lab
The Fossil Record (lab included)
Introductory Physics I
and Introductory Physics I Lab
Introductory Physics II
and Introductory Physics II Lab
Physics of Color and Sound
and Physics of Color and Sound Lab (lab optional)
Principles of Physics I
and Principles of Physics I Lab
Principles of Physics II
and Principles of Physics II Lab
D2: Select one of the following or a science course from above:3-4
Introduction to Computing Principles and Technology
Computer Science I
Introduction to Data Science
Introduction to the Geographic Information Systems
Pre-Calculus
Applied Calculus
Calculus with Analytic Geometry II
Computer-Assisted Problem Solving
Introduction to Discrete Mathematics
Formal Logic
Elementary Statistics
Area D Total10-11
Area E Social Sciences
HIST 2111U. S. History to 18653
or HIST 2112 U. S. History since 1865
POLS 1101American Government3
Select one of the following behavioral science courses:3
Principles of Macroeconomics
Principles of Microeconomics
Moral Philosophy
Introduction to General Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
Select one of the following world culture courses:3
Cultural Anthropology
Discovering Archaeology
Ancient World Civilizations
Language and Culture
World Regional Geography
World History to 1500
World History since 1500
Introduction to International Studies and Cross-Cultural Learning
Understanding Non-Western Cultures
Area E Total12
Wellness Requirement
KINS 1106Lifetime Wellness2
or PHED 1205 Concepts of Fitness
Select one PEDS course1
Wellness Total3
Total Credit Hours45
1

Note: Students must complete Area B and Area D with a combined total of 15 credit hours within the following ranges. Any additional hours may be applied to Area F or beyond, depending on the program of study. Students should consult their advisors.

  • Area B1, 3 hours;
  • Area B2, 1-2 hours; 
  • Area D1, 7-8 hours;
  • Area D2, 3-4 hours. 
2

ITDS 1145 Comparative Arts, though listed under both humanities and fine arts, may be taken only once.

Major Requirements

Core Requirements45
Core: General
Area F18
Interdisciplinary Pathways
Students apply 15 credit hours at the 1000-2000 level. These credits must be approved in the student’s Pathway Plan by meeting Communication or Quantitative Literacy Learning Outcomes or by meeting prerequisite requirements for upper level courses in the student's Pathway Areas.
Area G39
Interdisciplinary Milestones
Interdisciplinary Capstone
Select two different Pathway Areas from the following list. At least 12 hours in each Pathway must be at the 3000 level or above.
1. Communicating in a Global Environment (18 hours) (Most language, linguistics, writing, and communication courses can contribute, as well as courses framed around global issues.)
2. Humanities (18 hours) (Most philosophy, literature, history, language, and creative writing courses can contribute.)
3. Leadership and Community Engagement (18 hours) (Courses framed around the topics of leadership and engagement can contribute and be found in a broad range of fields, including business, education, and social sciences.)
4. Evidence Based Inquiry using Social Science or Natural Science Perspectives (18 hours)
5. Law Enforcement and Public Safety (18 hours)
6. Create Your Pathway (18 hours) (Developed by the student in consultation with the Interdisciplinary Governance Board.)
Area I General Electives21
Select 21 credit hours of coursework. Students may need to apply upper level credit in this area to meet the program’s overall requirement of 39 credits at the 3000-level or above.
All students must complete 31 hours at CSU to meet the 25% residency requirement.
Total Credits123
 
 

Program Map

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredit Hours
ENGL 1101 English Composition I (minimum grade of C) 3
AREA AMATH 1001 or higher level MATH 3
Area B2 ITDS 1779 (2), LEAD 1705 (2), PERS 1506 (1; may be repeated with different topic), PERS 1507 (2) 1 2
POLS 1101 American Government 3
ITDS 2799 Interdisciplinary Pathways 2 3
 Credit Hours14
Spring
ENGL 1102 English Composition II (minimum grade of C) 3
Area B1COMM 1110 Public Speaking or foreign language 1001, 1002, 2001, 2002 3
AREA DLab Science 4
Area FFoundational course for Pathway preparation 3 3
Area FFoundational course for Pathway preparation 3 3
ITDS 3099 Interdisciplinary Milestones 0
 Credit Hours16
Second Year
Fall
Area FFoundational course for Pathway preparation 3 3
Area FFoundational course for Pathway preparation 3 3
Area FFoundational course for Pathway preparation 3 3
Area GPathway #1 course 4 3
Area GPathway #2 course 4 3
WellnessKINS 1106 (or PHED 1205)Concepts of Fitness 2
ITDS 3099 Interdisciplinary Milestones 0
 Credit Hours17
Spring
HIST 2111
U. S. History to 1865
or U. S. History since 1865
3
Area CFine Arts 3
AREA DMath/Science/Tech 3
Area GPathway #1 course 4 3
AREA GPathways #2 course 4 3
ITDS 3099 Interdisciplinary Milestones 0
 Credit Hours15
Third Year
Fall
AREA CHumanities 3
AREA DScience 3
WellnessPEDS Elective 1
AREA GPathway #1 course 4 3
AREA GPathway #2 course 4 3
AREA IElective 3
ITDS 3099 Interdisciplinary Milestones 0
 Credit Hours16
Spring
AREA EWorld Culture 3
AREA EBehavioral Science 3
AREA GPathway #1 course 4 3
AREA GPathway #1 course 4 3
AREA GPathway #2 course 4 3
ITDS 3099 Interdisciplinary Milestones 0
 Credit Hours15
Fourth Year
Fall
AREA GPathway #1 course 4 3
AREA GPathway #2 course 4 3
AREA IElective 3
AREA IElective 3
AREA IElective 3
ITDS 3099 Interdisciplinary Milestones 0
 Credit Hours15
Spring
AREA GPathway #2 course 4 3
ITDS 4799 Interdisciplinary Capstone 3
AREA IElective 3
AREA IElective 3
AREA IElective 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours123
1

Note: Students must complete Area B and Area D with a combined total of 15 credit hours within the following ranges. Any additional hours may be applied to Area F or beyond, depending on the program of study. Students should consult their advisors.

  • Area B1, 3 hours;
  • Area B2, 1-2 hours; 
  • Area D1, 7-8 hours;
  • Area D2, 3-4 hours. 
2

In ITDS 2799, students will develop a plan that identifies which specific Area F and Area G courses to take to meet their overall educational goals. With the guidance of the instructor of ITDS 2799 and the Interdisciplinary Governance Board (IGB), students will design their own degree program, one that highlights their unique skills and knowledge gained through study and experience. In ITDS 2799, students will develop a program map that is more specific than the general one shown here, for it will appropriate their previously earned credits to this degree.Two features of the program are designed for students with transfer credits or who have changed majors and have accrued a fair number of credits. First, its Interdisciplinary Governance Board can quickly evaluate and apply prior credits to the program so entering students know how long the program will take for them to finish. Once those prior credits have been appropriated, students can then determine which two pathways they want to pursue and which Area F courses they should take as prerequisites. Second, the program's Pathway-Milestone-Capstone design will help students who may have a variety of credits or partially completed majors to refashion their academic experience into a coherent whole, investing them with the knowledge and skills they need to meet their academic and career goals. 

3

These Area F Foundational courses should be used to satisfy prerequisites for upper division courses in the chosen two Pathways (Area G coursework). The trickiest part of the degree is making sure that the prerequisite courses for the upper level courses get taken in areas A - F.  Many can fit in Area F, but it will help to have some satisfy an A-E requirement. During Fall 1 and while enrolled in ITDS 2799, students will submit their personally created program map--including their plans for Area F Foundational coursework and Pathway choices--for approval to the IGB.

4

Students are to select two different Pathway Areas from the following list. At least 12 hours in each Pathway must be at the 3000 level or above.

  1. Communicating in a Global Environment (18 hours) (Most language, linguistics, writing, and communication courses can contribute, as well as courses framed around global issues.)

  2. Humanities (18 hours) (Most philosophy, literature, history, language, and creative writing courses can contribute.)

  3. Leadership and Community Engagement (18 hours) (Courses framed around the topics of leadership and engagement can contribute and be found in a broad range of fields, including business, education, and social sciences.)

  4. Evidence Based Inquiry using Social Science or Natural Science Perspectives (18 hours)

  5. Create Your Pathway (18 hours) (Developed by the student in consultation with the Interdisciplinary Governance Board.)

Additional Notes

This program map illustrates appropriate coursework for completing a degree within four years, provided that course grades allow for earned credit. Please consult with your advisor to determine when courses can be switched out with others and taken in a different semester or sequence than illustrated since not all courses are taught every semester.

  • This map is for illustrative purposes only and does not constitute a legal contract on the part of CSU since degree requirements or course offerings could change. As always, check with your advisor.
  •  Students must complete "Area A " (ENGL 1101 English Composition I, ENGL 1102 English Composition II, and MATH 1113 Pre-Calculus or MATH 1131 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I) prior to reaching 30 hours and earn a "C" or higher in all three courses.
  • As of Fall 2013, all undergraduate students are required each semester to meet the 2.0 institutional GPA standard for satisfactory academic progress.
 

Admission Requirements

There are no program specific admission requirements.

Additional Program Requirements

There are no program specific academic regulations.

 
 
 

Program Learning Outcomes

  • All Pathways: Students will be able to communicate effectively and professionally in a given rhetorical context.
  • Data Analysis and Application: Students will be able to evaluate data and apply it to real-life scenarios.
  • Communicating in a Global Environment Pathway: Students will be able to communicate at a professional level with a variety of audiences in a global context.
  • Humanities: Students will be able to create interpretations of texts of high artistic, cultural, historical, or literary importance.
  • Leadership and Community Engagement Pathway: Students will be able to identify contemporary community problems and use their knowledge of civic and social structures to develop strategies to address them.
  • Law Enforcement and Public Safety: Students will be able to apply knowledge concerning public safety to diagnose, analyze, and provide solutions to complex public safety, fire service, and emergency management situations.
  • Create Your Pathway: Students, in collaboration with the instructor of ITDS 2799, will demonstrate how courses taken and prior learning credit enhance their knowledge base and contribute to their career plans.