Students must complete all the general education (GE) courses required of all students. The major in Interdisciplinary Studies requires students to complete 33 credit hours of electives beyond the normal GE requirements. The purpose of the program is to provide the student with a thorough and interdisciplinary grounding in the liberal arts tradition, thereby preparing them to make a valuable and diversified contribution to society regardless of their career path. It provides students with a broad range of skills that are needed in today's corporate and nonprofit worlds, in education, as well as in the federal, state, and local government sector. Interdisciplinary Studies focuses on critical thinking and communication abilities and develops graduates who are curious, adaptable, and excellent at solving problems.
Requirements
A degree in interdisciplinary studies requires the completion of the following general education requirements:
Bachelor of Arts General Education Requirements
| English |
Required: ENGL 15000 (GE-Eng) /EPP 15000 (GE-Eng) and ENGL 17000 (GE-Eng)
|
| Communications |
Select: one Communications course (GE-Comm) |
Literature
|
Select: two English Literature courses (GE-Lit)
|
Philosophy or Religion
|
Select: one Philosophy or Religion course (GE-Phl-Rel) |
| Fine Arts |
Select: one Fine Arts course (GE-FineArt) |
| American Government or American History |
Select: one (GE-AmGovHis) American Government or History course |
World History
|
Select: one (GE-WHis)
|
| Culture and Civilization |
Select: two Cross-Cultural courses (GE-CrsClt) or two courses of the same Foreign Language* (GE-ForLang) |
| Social Sciences |
Select: two Social Sciences courses (GE-SocSci) from different disciplines |
| Mathematics |
Select: one Mathematics course (GE-Math) |
| Natural Sciences |
Select: two Natural Science courses (GE-BioSci, GE-EarthSci, or GE-PhysSci) from two different science disciplines, one of which must include a lab (GE-BioSciLab), (GE-EarthSciLab), or (GE-PhysSciLab). |
*Non-native speakers of that language only
Some general education courses meet more than one type of general education requirement. For example, (GE-Fine Art/CrsClt), indicating that it meets either the fine art or the cross-cultural requirement. However, the course cannot be used to satisfy both requirements simultaneously.
Note: Although two requirements are fulfilled in this instance, the total number of credits earned is still three, as only one course was taken.
Notes (GE-Eng):
(1) In order to advance to Research and Argumentation (ENGL 17000), students must earn at least a C in Strategies for University Writing (ENGL 15000 or EPP 15000). In order to advance beyond Research and Argumentation (ENGL 17000), students must also earn a C or better in Research and Argumentation (ENGL 17000). This requirement applies also to students who have transferred their English composition courses into Lindenwood University.
(2) Upon completion of ENGL 17000, students are required to successfully complete the Writing Proficiency Assessment. If students do not pass the assessment, they are required to successfully complete the Writing Proficiency Lab (ENGL 21000) prior to graduation. Transfer students are also required to meet this requirement. It is strongly recommended that students complete the writing assessment immediately following the semester in which they complete ENGL 17000.
Notes (GE-CrsClt):
(1) If foreign language courses are selected, the student must choose two courses of the same foreign languages with a GE-ForLang designation in order to meet the requirement. However, foreign language GE-CrsClt courses can be combined with other GE-CrsClt courses in other departments to meet the cross cultural requirement.
(2) Native speakers of a foreign language may not satisfy the Culture and Civilization GE requirement by taking courses designated as GE-ForLang if taught in their first language. However, they may satisfy this requirement by taking courses designated as GE-CrsClt even if offered in their first language.
(3) In the list of courses below, the GE-ForLang courses are those appearing at the end of the list, including elementary, intermediate, conversation and composition, and advanced oral expression and grammar courses.
Additional required coursework
A degree in interdisciplinary studies also requires the completion of an additional 33 credit hours of elective coursework. These courses must come from the ten categories listed below (Courses listed below as additional coursework are not restricted to general education courses, includes any courses as listed.):
One literature course selected from any course designated as a (GE-Lit).
One political science or history course selected from any HIST or PS courses.
One cross cultural course selected from any course designated as a (GE-CrsClt).
One social science course selected from any ANT, ECON, PSY, or SOC courses, plus the following:
One fine and performing art course selected from any course designated as a (GE-Fine Art).
One philosophy course or one religion course selected from any PHL or REL courses.
One communications course selected from any COM courses, plus the following:
| ENGL 21200 | Introduction to Technical and Professional Writing | 3 |
| SW 10000 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
One economics course selected from any ECON courses.
Three courses selected from the following categories listed above:
Literature
Political Science and Historical Studies
Cross Cultural
Social Science
Fine and Performing Arts
Philosophy and Religion
Communications
Economics
Note: No course can count as both a general education required course and as an elective course for the major in general studies.