Interdisciplinary Studies

The Interdisciplinary Studies major offers students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree by integrating substantive course material selected from two or three academic options within existing majors.

This baccalaureate program is designed to attract highly motivated students who wish to coordinate offerings from multiple departments. Potential students selecting this path may be those interested in maritime studies, but do not intend to be licensed professional mariners, ocean scientists, practicing engineers, or logisticians but are likely to be interested in changing careers or enhancing credentials for an existing career. Participation in the Regiment of Midshipmen is optional. To ensure acceptable standards within the major, students will be required to work with an assigned faculty committee of department representatives from the selected areas of study.

Any student interested in this major should contact the Office of the Provost.

A student electing this major will be required to:

• Apply to MMA and, if accepted, be assigned to the Interdisciplinary Studies’s coordinator.
• Submit a proposal statement that outlines the academic/career oriented goal and courses of interest that will form the foundation of the curriculum plan.
• Develop a curriculum plan with the faculty advisor who will propose a sequence of courses and prerequisites to meet the degree requirements.

Approval of application and admittance to this major will be conducted by a committee consisting of:

• At least two faculty members representing the curriculum areas in the proposed plan.
• A faculty member recommended by the program coordinator and appointed by the Academic Dean to serve as that student’s academic advisor.

Curriculum requirements include:

• Minimum credit hours for BS degree – 120 credit hours
• General Education, BS minimum requirements (41 credit hours)
  • Humanities
  • Social Sciences
  • Math and Natural Sciences
• Curriculum plan that integrates choices from TWO existing majors consisting of introductory to advanced level courses (approximately 34 credit hours in each of two areas, 68 total).

OR

• Curriculum plan that integrates choices from THREE existing majors consisting of introductory to advanced level courses (approximately 24 credit hours in each of three areas – 72 total).

For a list of course options per year, by semester, see the Undergraduate Course Catalog.