The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree provides an alternative four-year program for non-traditional students who do not need or desire the academic specialization involved in traditional major or major/minor programs.  This degree program allows considerable latitude and flexibility to satisfy individual interests and needs.  In lieu of the major/minor required by traditional degree programs, the student must complete a broad area of emphasis (complementary courses from different academic disciplines) of at least 37 semester hours of course work approved by the interdisciplinary studies degree advisor.  
 

Areas of Emphasis
The broad areas of emphasis listed below are available for an Interdisciplinary Studies Degree program:

ARTS

BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE

BUSINESS

EDUCATION

HEALTH

HUMANITIES

ORGANANIZATION & COMMUNICATION OF IDEAS

SCIENCE

SOCIAL & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE

SOCIAL SCIENCE

TECHNOLOGY

Students also have the option of requesting a broad area of emphasis not listed above.  The written request, based on specific individual objectives, must be made by the student and approved by the advisor, the Director of Academic Advising and Retention Center, and endorsed by the division of Academic Affairs.  Approval should be granted prior to the student submitting his/her undergraduate degree program form for signatures.

Minimum Academic Requirements

128 college-level undergraduate semester hours

Grade point average of at least 2.0 (in all credits presented for graduation, in all credits completed at Western and in the Area of Emphasis)

44 semester hours of General Education courses

37 hours in the Area of Emphasis (1 hour UCC 499)

42 semester hours of upper division credit including 12 hours in the Area of Emphasis

32 hours earned in residence, at least 16 of which must be completed after the semester in which the student earned a cumulative total of at least 90 semester hours

No more than 24 semester hours in a single academic discipline,
nor more than 24 semester hours from the School of Journalism and Broadcasting, no more than 30 semester hours in courses administered by the Gordon Ford College of Business, nor more than 12 upper-level semester hours from the Gordon Ford College of Business.

(Developmental courses do NOT count towards the total number of hours earned.  Courses such as MATH 055, MATH 100, ENG 055, and DRDG 080 represent developmental courses and do NOT count towards the degree.)
For more information on the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Degree you may contact the Academic Advising and Retention Center at (270) 745-5065.