Interdisciplinary Studies

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OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 120

Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: None.

Minimum Grade requirements for courses to count toward major: None.

Other GPA requirements to graduate: Cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all courses counting towards major.

Contact Information: Virginia Nees-Hatlen, Assoc. Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 5774 Stevens Hall, Room 130, Orono ME 04469-5774, (207) 581-3844, Virginia.Nees@umit.maine.edu

The Bachelor of Arts program in Interdisciplinary Studies allows students to design an individualized major under the supervision of a Program Committee composed of at least three faculty members from three different departments in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. This program of study must meet individualized educational goals that cannot be achieved within any departmentally based major program. Students pursuing a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies work closely with their committees in planning and completing an integrated, coherent, interdisciplinary sequence of courses, including at least 36 credits from three or more departments with 27 credits from departments in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. At least 27 of these credits must be in upper-level courses (that is, courses with a prerequisite), and no more than 18 credits may be taken from any one department. The program committee may also establish additional major requirements, such as a language requirement, and all programs must include a capstone experience. Sample interdisciplinary programs include Religious Studies, Film Studies, Black Studies, Franco-American Studies, and Native American Studies. Students are responsible for recruiting and convening their own faculty committees and working with them to develop an approved curriculum, so normally at least four semesters at the University of Maine are needed to plan and complete these individualized programs of study. We recommend that students begin the process at the end of the sophomore year. This program is not suitable for advanced transfer students.