The Interdisciplinary Studies Major is an integrated program designed by an individual student, in collaboration with the Director of the Interdisciplinary Studies Major and subsequent faculty advisors. This major provides an opportunity for students whose career and/or life aspirations do not fall into one of the traditional degree programs offered at MNU. Each interdisciplinary studies program is unique in support of each student’s goals while also adhering to MNU degree requirements. Courses are carefully selected from two or more academic disciplines, providing practical skill development yet emphasizing theory, history of the field, and research methods (if applicable). Content areas may be from the same academic department but must be distinctly different disciplines.
The Interdisciplinary Studies Major is a minimum of 51 credit hours (including INST 4903) in addition to the MNU General Education requirements. Students may want to consider a minor in another content area to supplement the degree and reach the 126 hours required for graduation. Students must enroll in and pass INST 4903: Senior Capstone during the last 30 hours prior to graduation. A senior comprehensive examination may be required by one or more of the content areas.
INST 4903: Senior Capstone: This course provides the interdisciplinary studies student the opportunity to integrate knowledge and/or skills learned in their coursework. A significant research paper or project is approved and completed under the supervision of the faculty content advisors. Students may be required to publicly present their research/projects/performance. A proposal for the senior capstone project must be approved by the Interdisciplinary Studies Director and the content area advisors in the semester prior to enrolling in INST 4903.
Requirements for acceptance into the major:
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or Innovation Acadeny (Honors) student, if a freshman)
- Minimum of two semesters remaining prior to degree completion
- A one-page proposal describing career and/or life aspirations, specifiying two academic disciplines and determining potential key couses and research elements that support these goals, providing rationale for seeking this major.
- Approval of the director of the Interdisciplinaary Studies Major and two content area advisors.
For more information, including an application for acceptance into this major, contact Rion Taylor, Director of the Interdisciplinary Studies Major, at rgtaylor@mnu.edu.
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