Dec 09, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Academic Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Academic Catalog

Interdisciplinary Studies, BA


Academic Award Bachelor of Arts
Credits Required 122 semester credits
Faculty Lead Ben Thomas
CIP Code 30.0000

Degree Requirements


The BA in Interdisciplinary Studies is an individually designed major option for students who wish to create a program of study by combining selected courses from two or more majors. Students are required to identify a central organizing theme of their Interdisciplinary Studies Major and design it under the guidance and supervision of an Interdisciplinary Studies Advisor (Provost or designate). A minimum of 20 of the major credits must be upper division courses. Students meet all General Education Requirements. Courses cannot double count within the Major and as General Education Requirements.

Process to design an Interdisciplinary Studies Major

  • Students identify the unifying theme of their program and present their concept at a meeting with the Interdisciplinary Studies Chair (the Provost or designate).
  • In conference with an Advisor appointed by the Interdisciplinary Studies Chair, students make a list of the courses they have completed or plan to take that will apply toward their academic goals. This list must comprise a minimum of 45 semester credits, all of which are related to the areas of concentration.
  • The courses in the Primary Concentration (24 credits) are to be selected from one academic discipline offered at NU. The courses in the Secondary Concentration may come from any number of areas as long as interrelationships are discernible.
  • One of these courses must be an internship. It is recommended that the internship be related to the primary concentration, but in consultation with advising, it is possible for it to be related to the secondary concentration.
  • A minimum of 20 credits between the two concentrations must be upper division (3000- and 4000- level) courses.
  • Students draft a statement that describes the proposed major theme and discusses the interrelationships among the courses that were chosen.
  • This proposal is submitted to the Interdisciplinary Studies Chair for approval. The contract must be approved at least 30 credits prior to graduation.

Core Curriculum Requirements: 57


Humanities: 9


6 credits in this area must be from Writing Practice courses* (see Course Descriptions    for applicability)

  • ENGL xxx3 Any Literature course 3 credits
  • HIST   xxx3 Any Course in History 3 credits
  • 3 additional credits selected from the following 3 credits
    • Art (ARTE), Bible (BIBL), Drama (DRAM), English (ENGL), History (HIST), Language (LANG), Music (MUSI), or Theology (THEO)

Social Sciences: 9


6 credits in this area must be from Writing Practice courses* (see Course Descriptions  for applicability)

  • Select a minimum of two disciplines from the following: 9 credits
    • Business Administration (BUSM), Communication (except COMM 1213), Economics, Education (EDUC), Exercise Science (EXSC), Geography (GEOG), Information Technology (INTC), Management (BMGT), Marketing (BMKT), Philosophy (PHIL), Political Science (PSCI), Psychology (PSYC), Sociology/Anthropology (SOCI), or User Experience Design (UXDE)

Science and Mathematics: 7


  • MATH xxxx - College-level Mathematics 3 credits
  • SCIE xxxx - Science course with Lab 4 credits

Formation and Calling: 3


Professional Readiness: 2


Two Core Curriculum elective credits are required to be Career Readiness credits. These credits can be earned by taking a combination of Career Readiness Courses and introductory internship and/or job shadowing experiences. 

  • This two-credit requirement is waived for students who transfer 57 or more credits to NU
  • Students with 44-56 transfer credits are required to take one Career Readiness credit

Core Electives: 6


Select any college-level courses

Interdisciplinary Studies Major: 45*


  • The final proposal and contract must be approved by the Provost at least 30 credits prior to graduation.
  • At least 20 credits in the Major must be upper division credits.
  • One course must be an internship selected in consolation with the advisor

Interdisciplinary Studies Primary Concentration: 24


(Select from one academic discipline offered at NU)

Interdisciplinary Studies Secondary Concentration: 21


General Electives: 20


Any college-level courses

Total: 122 Semester Credits