Interdisciplinary Studies Degree Program

Coordinator and Adviser: Ms. Rita Creger
Office: Centennial Honors College, Malpass Library, Second Floor
Telephone: 309/298-2586
Fax: 309/298-2591
E-mail: IDST@wiu.edu
Website:www.wiu.edu/idst

Under the auspices of the Interdisciplinary Studies Committee, students in the Interdisciplinary Studies Program design and pursue individualized programs of study leading to either the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. These students may select courses from several departments, take courses leading to a liberal program of study, select courses in preparation for certain graduate programs that do not require a specific undergraduate major, or pursue the Youth Development Concentration.

The Youth Development Concentration will enable students to develop skills necessary in a broad range of careers in nonprofit youth and human service organizations which seek to assist young people in developing the capacities needed to live a quality life. Professionals in these organizations play pivotal roles in making a difference in the lives of others and in their communities.

The Interdisciplinary Studies Program is intended to give students transferable skills. Courses selected by the student in consultation with their adviser encourage students to think critically, comprehend what they read, communicate orally, and write effectively. In addition, as an option, students may enroll in an internship to help them incorporate relevant work-site experiences with academic courses they have taken or plan to take.

Admission

Admission to the program is by application from students in good standing who have earned at least 24 s.h. of credit. Freshmen who wish to declare Interdisciplinary Studies on entry to the University should contact the Coordinator for application procedures. Students who have earned more than 75 s.h. will be admitted only by exception granted by the Interdisciplinary Studies Committee and only if the student has a grade point average of 2.00 or better. Students admitted by exception must complete at least 24 s.h. of credit after admission to the Interdisciplinary Studies Program.

Graduation

To graduate, students are required to: (1) complete 120 s.h.; (2) complete 40 s.h. in courses numbered 300 or above; (3) complete the University's General Education requirements for the B.S. or B.A. degree described below*; (4) have an overall C average by graduation; (5) complete an approved Writing Instruction in the Discipline (WID) requirement; and (6) complete an approved course of study for the program, no more than 21 s.h. of which may come from an individual WIU department and/or major, and (7) meet additional requirements as stated in the Undergraduate Catalog. Interdisciplinary Studies students may include an approved concentration in their degree plan, which will be shown on the transcript upon successfully completing all degree program requirements.  Minors are not shown on the transcript of an Interdisciplinary Studies student.

*(3) Complete the University’s General Education requirements for the B.S. or B.A. degree described below.

Students following the Bachelor of Science degree will complete the University General Education requirements with the following stipulation:

Concentration

Youth Development

  1. Complete the following courses:
    HE 121 Human Sexuality (2 s.h.)*
    HE 123 Drug Use and Abuse (2 s.h.)*
    HE 440 Sexuality Education in Home, School and Community (3 s.h.)
    HE 442 Drug Education in the Home, School and Community (3 s.h.)
    Jour 329 Fundamentals of Public Relations (3 s.h.)
    Psy 100 Introductory to Psychology (3 s.h.)*
    Psy 221 Psychology of Child Development (3 s.h.)*
    Psy 422 Adolescent Development (3 s.h.)
    RPTA 111 Introduction to Leisure Services (3 s.h.)
    RPTA 230 Leadership in Leisure Services (3 s.h.)
    RPTA 270 Introduction to Nonprofit Organizations (3 s.h.)
    RPTA 322 Administration of Leisure Services (3 s.h.)
    RPTA 332 Programming Principles and Applications in Leisure Services (3 s.h.)
    RPTA 424 Fund Raising and Volunteerism in Leisure Services (3 s.h.)
    RPTA 470 American Humanics Management Institute (0 s.h.)
    Soc 100 Introduction to Sociology (3 s.h.)*
    Soc 425 Juvenile Delinquency (3 s.h.)
    Sociology Elective
    Univ 490 Career Internship (6 s.h.)
  2. Select 13-15 s.h. of approved electives, of which 7 s.h. are to be upper-division courses.

* May count toward the University General Education requirement.

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