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Master of Arts and Master of Science Degrees in Interdisciplinary Studies

The Master of Arts and the Master of Science degrees in Interdisciplinary Studies are intended for persons desiring graduate studies in a wider range of fields than normally possible in a program with a traditional major. The student’s background and goals are considered in the design of the individual degree plan.

Admission Requirements

The following are required for admission:

  1. A satisfactory score on the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
  2. A minimum grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work.
  3. Consideration is also given to one or more of the following: the applicant's demonstrated commitment to his or her chosen field of study, socioeconomic background, first generation college graduate, multilingual proficiency, geographic region of residence, and level of responsibility in other matters including extracurricular activities, employment, community service, and family responsibilities.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts or Master of Science degree designation will be determined by the student’s advisor according to the first field emphasis of the student’s degree plan. Specific requirements for both degrees follow:

  1. A total of 36 semester hours of graduate work. No more than six semester hours of undergraduate courses approved for graduate credit may apply to this degree. A student may transfer a maximum of 9 semester hours of graduate credit in which a grade of “B” or better has been earned from approved institutions. All transfer work is subject to approval by the student’s advisor.
  2. From the list below, the student must select a minimum of 12 hours of course work in the first field and a minimum of six hours each in the second and third fields. A maximum of 18 hours in any one field may be applied to these degrees. Please note: Not all programs below accept students into the first field; check with the graduate advisor.
    1. First, Second, Third Fields:  Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Music, Psychology
    2. Second and Third Fields Only:  Art, Communication, History, Political Science, Public Administration
  3. Electives may be chosen from any field with the advisor’s approval.
  4. A minimum grade-point average of 3.0 in each of the three selected fields and a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 in all graduate work. No course with a grade below “C” may be applied toward this degree.
  5. No more than six semester credit hours in independent study courses.
  6. Successful completion of a written, comprehensive examination over the fields of study shown in the degree plan, excluding electives. This examination will be administered and evaluated by the student’s examination committee (see below).

Comprehensive Examination Committee

The committee must have a minimum of three faculty members including the student’s chief advisor, who chairs the committee and is a faculty member in the predominant field of the student’s degree program, and one faculty member from each of the remaining two fields of that program.