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IDSC Coursework

In addition to completion of the individually designed plan of study as approved by the faculty mentor and the faculty members overseeing the undergraduate programs inside each concentration, all IDSC majors must fulfill the Auburn Universitys general education requirements (Core Curriculum) and the following specific IDSC requirements:


Interdisciplinary degree seeking students are required to successfully complete the following courses:

• UNIV 2190, Foundations of Interdisciplinary University Studies (3 credit hours)

This introductory course examines the fundamental concepts of interdisciplinary theory with a strong emphasis on career exploration.  Students will be taught basic theories of interdisciplinary thinking and will conceptualize their own interdisciplinary goals.  In addition to completing personal career assessments, students will also produce a written prospectus as a primary product of the course. 

The written prospectus (detailed plan of study) defines the intended major and outlines the curriculum.  The student must demonstrate the relationship between the chosen fields and how the combination relates to the student’s intended educational and career goals.  With the assistance of a Career Development Services counselor, each student is required to design a unique program of study and identify how he or she plans to assess the plan in order for it to be approved.  Students are also required to demonstrate that their proposed plan is a feasible method of entry into an established job field or graduate program of study.

• UNIV 4980, Interdisciplinary Capstone Experience (3 credit hours)

Students will complete a capstone course in which they apply their knowledge of the interdisciplinary discipline to a service-learning, professional internship or thesis project.  The capstone project should adequately recognize all academic areas and concentrations the student has completed as part of the degree.  Prior approval is required from the Faculty Oversight Committee.

Auburn University Core Curriculum	41 hours
Introductory Course to Interdisciplinary Studies	3 hours
Major Course Hours	36 hours
Capstone Experience	3 hours
Interdisciplinary Supporting Coursework	8-9 hours
Electives	28-29 hours
Minimum Number of Required Hours	120

8-9 hours of Interdisciplinary supporting coursework

In addition to the required major and Interdisciplinary coursework, students must also complete the following:

• 3 hours of Oral Communication
  Students can satisfy this requirement with COMMUNICATION 1000, Introduction to Public Speaking or an additional upper-level course with an emphasis on oral communication.
  
  
• 2-3 hours of Computer Competency

Students can satisfy this requirement with COMPUTER 1000, Personal Computer Applications or an additional upper-level course with an emphasis on technological and information literacy.

• 3 hours of Written Communication
  Students can satisfy this requirement with any course beyond ENGL 1120 with an emphasis on writing.

Students desiring an IDSC degree must get approval of their individual degree plan of study from the minor advisors in the concentrated areas selected.

At least 20 of the 36 hours in the major must be at the 3000 level or higher.  Within a particular concentration, at least 12 out of the 18 hours (for two concentrations) or 9 out of the 12 hours (for three concentrations) must be from courses offered by that College or School.  The remaining courses may be chosen from closely related courses in another College or School.  Courses in the major that are outside the College or School of the concentration areas must be at the 3000 level or higher.