Undergraduate Degree

The Interdisciplinary Humanities major is ideal for students who seek a broad liberal education with an emphasis on the disciplines represented by the departments and school of the College of Arts and Letters. It offers study in several fields of knowledge which have a close intellectual relationship and illuminate each other.

The Interdisciplinary Humanities program is a good choice for students planning to study the law or general business.  Many students also use this major to help prepare for graduate study or human services and government work.  A student majoring in Interdisciplinary Humanities cannot obtain a teaching certificate without taking additional work beyond degree requirements.

The Interdisciplinary Humanities major offers unusual flexibility in the choice of areas of concentration.  The program is most suitable for self–disciplined students with clearly defined  academic objectives.  The one basic criterion is that the student's education shall have intellectual coherence.  There are two ways of organizing the major.  Both require the completion of 6 credits of course work in quantitative reasoning and a concentration of courses to form the major:

The Triad Program:  The major consists of courses in three selected departments or programs.  All of the departments or programs may be within the College of Arts and Letters, or two may be from the College of Arts and Letters and one from another college.  With the flexibility of this program the student may pursue studies in related disciplines.  The requirements for the major are satisfied by a total of 50 to 64 credits from three designated departments or programs with a minimum of 15 credits in each. The student must also fulfill the 6 credit requirement in quantitative reasoning referenced in item 3.b. below.

Area or Period Studies:  The major consists of courses in one department in the College of Arts and Letters, with a minimum of 15 credits at the 300 and 400 levels.  This concentration provides a core; the remainder of the major may be selected from related interdepartmental combinations with a minimum of 20 additional credits in the College of Arts and Letters to bring the total to between 50 and 64 credits.  The student must also fulfill the 6 credit requirement in quantitative reasoning referenced in item 3.b. below.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Interdisciplinary Humanities major is met by completing AL 492A, the capstone seminar, referenced in item 3. a. (1) below. With approval of the college, a student may use the Tier II writing requirement for one of the departmental majors that is associated with one of the emphasis areas within the College of Arts and Letters that the student selects to satisfy the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Interdisciplinary Humanities.  Refer to the requirements referenced in items 3. a. (2) (a) (I) and 3. a. (2) (b) (I) below.
2. The requirements of the College of Arts and Letters for the Bachelor of Arts degree, with the exception of the College's cognate requirement.
3. The following requirements for the major:
   1. The following courses related to Interdisciplinary Humanities (50 to 64 credits):
      1. Completion of AL 492A Capstone Seminar in Interdisciplinary Humanities (W) (3 credits). This course satisfies the Tier II writing requirement and the college capstone requirement. With the approval of the College, the student may substitute a capstone seminar course in one of the departmental majors associated with one of the emphasis areas in the College of Arts and Letters that the student selects to satisfy the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Interdisciplinary Humanities. The course used to satisfy this requirement may not also be used to satisfy requirement 3. a. (2) (a) below.
      2. The student must complete the requirements for either the Triad Program or the Area or Period Studies Program that  follow.  Both the program and the related courses must be approved by the student's advisor (47 to 61 credits).
         1. Triad Program:
            1. One of the following groups of courses (45 credits):
               At least 15 credits in each of three emphasis areas1, 2 within the College of Arts and Letters. At least 15 credits in each of three emphasis areas,^{1, 2} two within the College of Arts and Letters and one in another College.
            2. Additional credits in courses related to Interdisciplinary Humanities as needed to meet the requirement of at least 50, but not more than 64, credits in courses in the major (2 to 16 credits).
         2. Area or Period Studies Program:  Both of the following groups of courses:
            1. At least one emphasis area ^{1, 2} within the College of Arts and Letters with a minimum of 15 or 16 credits at the 300–400 level.
            2. Additional credits in courses related to Interdisciplinary Humanities, including a minimum of 20 credits in courses in the College of Arts and Letters ^{1, 2} as needed to meet the requirement of at least 50, but not more than 64, credits in courses in the major (32 to 45 credits). 
      3. At least 20 credits in 300–400 level courses in the student's emphasis areas.
   2. At least 6 credits in courses that involve quantitative reasoning skills selected from areas such as the following:  mathematics, computer science, economics, statistics and probability, logic, management, business, and research or creative methodology.  Both the area and the related courses must be approved by the student's academic advisor. Courses used to fulfill the University mathematics requirement may not be used to fulfill this requirement.

¹  An emphasis area is associated with a departmental major or minor.

²  If the student selects a foreign language as an emphasis area, the courses must be at the 300–400 level or above.