Catalog Department Overview ►

Minimum Requirements for Interdisciplinary B.S.: 120 credits

Concentrations: Individualized, General Studies

Students must earn a C- grade or better in each course.

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Students choose the title of their major and the courses within their major with the guidance of a faculty committee. 

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The General Studies concentration provides a flexible bachelor's degree completion pathway for students who have faced obstacles to completing other UAF majors. This concentration is intended for students who have earned 90 or more credits, and they must be approved to graduate with this concentration by the Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies department. Students do not name their major if they choose the General Studies concentration.

Note: At least 39 upper-division (F300-F499) credits must be earned to complete any UAF bachelor's degree.

Concentrations

Individualized

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In addition to INDS F401, this element should be unique and specific to an individual student's major. It should connect the courses and learning outcomes of the major, demonstrate and/or apply the concepts learned, and help prepare students for their post-graduation goals in a meaningful way.

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An Individualized concentration must include coursework from more than one discipline, cannot be titled the same as an existing major and must demonstrate a cohesive body of knowledge and skills. Courses in the major must be approved by the director of Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies, an advisory committee of at least three faculty members, the dean of the faculty committee chair and the dean of the Division of Exploratory Studies & Academic Success. An interdisciplinary studies major from UAF consists of a minimum of 30 credits, at least 12 of which have to be earned at UAF.

General Studies

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Students in the General Studies Concentration will work with a degree completion advisor to choose classes that are meaningful and relevant to their educational interests and career goals from a variety of disciplines.

Complete the following admission requirements:

Students should meet with an undergraduate interdisciplinary advisor to discuss the appropriate concentration. Students will work with an advisor to complete the necessary paperwork to declare the concentration.

Additional guidance can be found on the Office of Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies website.

Individualized Concentration

This concentration is fully customized to an individual student’s unique learning outcomes.  Building an Interdisciplinary Studies major takes time, effort, and commitment from the student, and it is ultimately a student’s responsibility to make sure things are done well and on time. However, they will have the guidance of a multidisciplinary, three-person faculty committee and the help of the Office of Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies(UIS) along the way. Students will work with their faculty committee and a UIS advisor to choose their major’s title, courses, capstone, and learning outcomes, which they will document on an Interdisciplinary Studies Bachelor’s Approval Form. Once the form is drafted, students must have a formal faculty committee meeting to get feedback and apply edits. The form is then signed by the student, their faculty committee, the director of the UIS, the faculty committee chair’s dean, and the Dean of the Division of Exploratory Studies & Academic Success. The approved title of a student’s interdisciplinary major will appear on their transcript and diploma when they graduate as follows: “Your Title: Interdisciplinary Studies” and their concentration (and minor, if added) will be listed below. 

Timeline

We encourage students in the Individualized concentration to meet with their committee and have their concentration fully approved by the end of their sophomore year, or the end of a transfer student’s second semester. The latest this concentration can be approved is by the midterm of the semester before a student graduates. If that deadline is missed, the student may need to change to the General Studies concentration or postpone their graduation to the next semester. 

General Studies Concentration

The General Studies concentration provides a flexible bachelor's degree completion pathway for students who have faced obstacles to completing other UAF majors. This concentration is intended for students who have earned 90 or more credits. Students will work with an advisor to review the remaining degree requirements, develop a tentative timeline for degree completion, and complete any necessary paperwork to formally approve their graduation with the General Studies concentration. Students do not name their major if they do the General Studies concentration. Students may not have a double major if they are in the General Studies concentration of the Interdisciplinary Studies major.

Catalog Department Overview ►

Individualized Concentration

Footnote Definitions

General Studies Concentration

Footnote Definitions

Catalog Department Overview ►

Program Learning Outcomes are specific, measurable statements that define the knowledge and skills students will gain by the end of the program.

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate strong communication skills
• Connect concepts across disciplines
• Do critical self assessment
• Demonstrate practical applications of academic concepts
• Develop their own learning objectives within their major