Interdisciplinary Studies Major

Goals Option

A Goals Option of the  Interdisciplinary Studies major allows students to create a major that is unique from other majors offered by UAF and combines multiple academic interests together in a cohesive way. Goals Option students choose the title of their major, courses in their major, and a capstone, all with the expert guidance of a faculty committee.
An Interdisciplinary Studies major must not only use classes from multiple disciplines, but it also must connect those disciplines and ideas together. A capstone will assist in making these connections.
The Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies (UIS) department's advisors are here to help you get started, connect you to a faculty committee, and support you on your academic journey. First read through this page, and then make an appointment with a UIS advisor to get started. UIS advises students on bachelor's and associate level Interdisciplinary Studies degrees. For master's and PhD Interdisciplinary Studies programs, please visit the UAF Graduate School's website.

At the undergraduate level, the Interdisciplinary Studies major can be completed with any of the following degree types:

Bachelor of Arts - Must complete all general university, GER and BA requirements, as well as the Interdisciplinary Studies major approval process. The BA degree requires students to have minor. A minimum of 130 credits are needed for this degree with at least 30 credits in the Interdisciplinary Studies major. 

Bachelor of Science - Must meet all general university, GER and BS requirements, as well as the Interdisciplinary Studies major approval process.  The BS degree requires two math classes including a calculus course, and four GER-approved natural science courses, including a two-semester science sequence. A minimum of 130 credits are needed for this degree with at least 30 credits in the Interdisciplinary Studies major.

Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences -  Students in the BAAS degree must have a previously earned AAS degree from an accredited institution. They also must complete all general university, GER and BAAS requirements, as well as the Interdisciplinary Studies major approval process.  A minimum of 120 credits are needed for this degree with at least 30 credits in the Interdisciplinary Studies major.

Associate of Applied Science -Must meet all general university and AAS degree requirements, as well as the Interdisciplinary Studies major approval process. A minimum of 60 credits are needed for this degree with at least 30 credits in the Interdisciplinary Studies major.

Most  Goals Option students take a combination of  in-person and online courses. It may be possible to complete it fully online depending on the specific courses that a student includes in their major. Students should work with their interdisciplinary advisor and faculty committee members to determine what courses and what delivery methods will work best for them and support their learning outcomes.  

More details about graduation requirements can be found in the .

In addition to general university requirements, General Education Requirements (GERs), degree specific requirements, the Interdisciplinary Studies -Goals Option major requires:

  • Your major to be fully approved prior to your final semester.
  • A minimum of 30 credits (either upper and/or lower division) be applied in the Interdisciplinary Studies major. 
  • Two elements of the Capstone to be completed by the end of you final semester.  1. You and your faculty committee choose a course, project, internship, portfolio, or other culminating piece of work. 2. All students with a catalog year of 2022-23 and later must also complete the INDS F400 Interdisciplinary Studies Capstone course.

You can keep track of the Goals Option Graduation Requirements using Degree Works and a UIS

 

To be fully admitted to the Goals Option students must:

  • Be admitted to the 海角论坛 as a degree seeking student. If you need to apply for admission, follow the instructions here.
  • If you are admitted to UAF, but are in another major, complete a form to add or change to Interdisciplinary Studies.
  • Have a GPA of 2.0 or higher
  • Meet with an Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies Advisor. You can make an intake appointment here. 
  • Meet with a faculty committee and have your Interdisciplinary Studies approval form signed by all faculty, UIS staff and deans listed on the form.  Details about forming a faculty committee and have your major approved in the Interdisciplinary Studies Major Approval Process section below.

 

Interdisciplinary Studies Major Approval Process

In addition to reading through website and the the UAF catalog an important first step in creating your own Interdisciplinary Studies major is to meet with an Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies (UIS) advisor. You can make an appointment by clicking here.

 

Interdisciplinary Studies major in the Goals Option must be formally approved by the UIS department, a faculty committee, and two deans on an Approval Form. The UIS department will provide guidance and assistance along way, but it is ultimately a student's responsibility to make sure their major is approved prior to their last semester and the all elements of their degree are completed. The key is communication. Stay in contact with your faculty and the UIS office throughout your educational journey. 

 

Please click to make your own copy of the Bachelor's Degree Major Approval Form. The AAS Major Approval Form .

**You will be asked to make a copy of this document. Please rename your Goals Option Major Approval Form so that it includes  your name and student ID. Share this document with your UIS Advisor. You will also eventually share it with your Faculty Committee Members.**

 Here are guidelines for the Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies Major Approval Process:

  • An Interdisciplinary Studies Major title cannot be redundant with or too similar to an existing UAF major.
  • The title must be an accurate representation of courses, capstone and the major鈥檚 learning outcomes.
  • A title can鈥檛 look like something it is not, and it can鈥檛 sound like a degree that has specialized professional  accreditation (e.g. nursing).
  • Keep in mind that your diploma will read 鈥Your Title: Interdisciplinary Studies鈥. Your title should not be too long or have unnecessary punctuation.

 

Major Title Examples from Alumni:

  • Horticulture Management
  • Materials Chemistry
  • Mathematical Influences on Art
  • Ethnobotany
  • Indigenous Health and Wellness
  • Juvenile Education, Intervention and Treatment 
  • Computing Solutions for Small Businesses
  • East Asian Language and Cultural Studies
  • Construction Management and Design
  • Health Care Administration
  • Art History and Museum Studies
  • Drafting and Design
  • Community Restorative Practices 
  • Sustainable Energy
  • Public Administration
  • Majors must have a minimum of 30 total credits and a minimum of 12 UAF resident credits (no resident credits needed for the AAS Major). Many INDS majors do have more than 30 credits.
  • Individual courses must have a grade of CR, P, T,  or C- or better.
  • When entering transfer credit courses on the approval form, the course number should be the course number at UAF and the original course number from the transfer school and the original course title should both be included in the "Course Title" Column 
  • Courses must be from at least two different academic departments.
  • Collectively, the major鈥檚 courses must demonstrate a cohesive body of knowledge and skills.
  • Major courses can鈥檛 share with GER requirements.
  • Anything above 30 credits can be shared with the BA, BS, or BAAS degree requirements.
  • Major courses can share with ANT, minor, and double major, or dual degrees without restriction.
  • 39 upper division credits are needed to earn a UAF bachelor鈥檚 degree, but there is no specific requirement for upper division credits in a major. However, all established UAF bachelor鈥檚 majors include some upper division credits. Therefore, interdisciplinary majors are highly encouraged to include upper division credits.
  • The capstone for Interdisciplinary Studies goals option has two elements:
    • All students take INDS F400 Interdisciplinary Studies Capstone, a zero credit class that focuses on resume development and other practical steps in post-graduation planning.
    • Students are also required to have a unique capstone that is specific to their individual needs. 
  • The unique capstone element can be, but is not limited to, an internship, research project, specific college-level course, portfolio or other collection of work. It should be measurable.
  • The capstone is approved by the student鈥檚 interdisciplinary faculty committee.
  • The intent of the capstone is to give INDS students an opportunity to utilize all of their skills/knowledge gained from their major. It should also serve to help tie the major together and prepare a student for the post-graduation application of their degree.
  • The AAS Degree does not require a capstone.

General Guidelines

  • Faculty committees must include a minimum of three members including the committee chair.
  • The committee members must represent at least two different academic departments and should be selected based on their knowledge of the student鈥檚 interdisciplinary interests.
  • The faculty committee members should be full-time UAF teaching or research faculty. 
  • The committee chair should be a full time teaching faculty member from a college or school that offers the same degree level as the interdisciplinary degree. The committ