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The Interdisciplinary Studies Program strives to demonstrate and encourage dialogue among the disciplines. The IDS major provides an opportunity to cluster courses from different subject areas and facilitates study in a variety of fields where the University has special strengths. All IDS majors also incorporate a sequence of interdisciplinary core courses which encourage integrative thinking and are designed to enable students to move easily among various specialized disciplines and to integrate a working knowledge of interdisciplinary perspectives and methods with their concentration.

The general features of the B.A. degree in Interdisciplinary Studies are:

1. A series of core courses which give all IDS majors a firm grounding in interdisciplinary perspectives and methods and which link them with the student's study in their concentration. These interdisciplinary core courses are:
   • IDS 3000 Histories of Knowledges
   • IDS 3150 Interdisciplinary Praxis
   • IDS 3300 Seminar I
   • IDS 3700 Seminar II
   • IDS 4550 Senior Seminar
2. A choice of six major concentrations :
   • American Studies
   • Environmental Policy & Planning
   • Individually-Designed
   • Labor Studies
   • Internet Studies
   • Liberal Studies: Modern

   All major concentrations in Interdisciplinary Studies require a minimum of 122 semester hours for the degree. In addition to the University core curriculum, the IDS major core, major concentration requirements, minor requirements, and intermediate competence in a foreign language, students must also take electives to meet the minimum number of required hours. In all concentrations, students may select other courses with the consent of an IDS advisor. Courses taken for university core curriculum credit, or for the minor, may not also be counted toward the major.

3. Additional IDS Courses :

IDS 2210. Bodies, Places, Spaces, Times, and Things (3).On Demand.
GEN ED: Aesthetic Perspective (Theme: "The Body: Expression, Presentation, and Representation")
Inquiring into the ways in which humans create, transmit and transform meaning materially, this course investigates the physical dimensions of human being - bodies (our own and others’), places, spaces, times, and things - exploring how dimensions of physical
existence common to the human species bear variable meanings across personal and cultural boundaries. (WRITING; MULTI-CULTURAL; CROSS-DISCIPLINARY) (CORE: HUMANITIES or SOCIAL SCIENCES)

IDS 2450. Introduction to Not-for-Profit Organizations (3).F. On Demand.
This course explores many facets of nonprofit organizations including organizational structure, laws, and regulations in nonprofit, employment and working conditions, entry methods into nonprofit careers, and segments of the nonprofit world of work. This course also explores the guiding principles, philosophy and mission of nonprofit organizations from an interdisciplinary approach, studying them from a societal, historical, political, legislative, and economic point of view. (CROSS-DISCIPLINARY)

IDS 2500. Independent Study (1–4).F;S.

IDS 2530–2549. Selected Topics (1–4).F;S. On Demand.

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IDS 3250. Internet Studies (3). On Demand.
This seminar explores the emerging interdisciplinary field of Internet Studies. Topics covered may include the digital divide, virtual communities, race and gender in cyberspace, and topics in cyberculture. These and other issues may be explored for their social, political, psychological, economic, cultural, ethical, and artistic implications. This seminar will also help students develop their critical reading and writing skills in connection with the World Wide Web, explore Internet research methodologies, and introduce students to some of the technical and editorial issues involved in Web page design and publication. This course is required for the concentration in Internet Studies under the B.A. degree in Interdisciplinary Studies; and it is also a required course for the undergraduate minor in Internet Studies. There are no prerequisites. (WRITING; CROSS-DISCIPLINARY; COMPUTER)

IDS 3260. Creativity: An Introduction (3).On Demand.
GEN ED: Historical and Social Perspective (Theme: "Mind")
An interdisciplinary and cross-cultural investigation of creativity as an individual, social, cultural, and natural phenomenon. Although often associated with artistry, creativity contributes to the development of all academic and professional disciplines and is an important component in non-academic culture and in individual life. The concept of creativity has deep roots in Western culture (going back at least to Augustine), and the cross-disciplinary study of creativity has burgeoned in the United States since WWII. The class will explore: the history of the concept of creativity; creativity and self-fulfillment; psychological, anthropological, and sociological theories of creativity; practices claiming to enhance creativity; and case studies of creative individuals and creative breakthroughs.

IDS 3261. Sustainability, Religion, Spirituality (3).On Demand.

Debate has raged among scholars, activists, and members of religious communities about the role(s) of religion and of specific religions in fostering unsustainability and in achieving sustainability. As part of this debate, some have proposed the existence and importance of a spirituality unconnected with historical or new religions as a key component of moving toward sustainability. This course provides an interdisciplinary introduction to these questions both in their historical and contemporary forms.

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IDS 3500. Independent Study (1–4).F;S.

IDS 3520. Instructional Assistance (1).F;S.
A supervised experience in the instructional process on the university level through direct participation in a classroom situation. Graded on an S/U basis. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing. May be repeated for a total credit of three semester hours.

IDS 3530–3549. Selected Topics (1–4).F;S. On Demand.

IDS 3650. Marx’s Capital (3).S.
This course provides an introduction to Karl Marx as well as an in-depth study of his major theoretical work, Capital, Volume I. The transdisciplinary uses of Marxian theory in illuminating a wide variety of issues across disciplinary boundaries will be explored. Students will be asked to make connections between Marx’s writings and their own areas of study. (WRITING; CROSS-DISCIPLINARY)

IDS 3900. Internship (3-12).F;S.
Supervised work in an appropriate field experience. Student must get approval from the advisor of the B.A. in interdisciplinary studies program prior to enrolling. Graded on an S/U basis.

IDS 4200. Interdisciplinary Thinkers and Thinking (3). On Demand.
This course will critically explore one or more of the following: (1) the interdisciplinary aspects of such thinkers as Aristotle, Marx, William Irwin Thompson, Gregory Bateson or Gerda Lerner; (2) integrative systems such as general systems theory, social ecology or comparative civilizations; or, (3) contemporary theoretical issues such as the relation between literary post- modernism and constructive post-modernism. The goal will be to illustrate the methods and contributions of interdisciplinarity. (WRITING; CROSS-DISCIPLINARY)

IDS 4530–4549. Selected Topics (1–4).F;S. On Demand.

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