BA/BS in Interdisciplinary Studies

Interdisciplinary studies is a growing, diverse, and dynamic field that values the integration of multiple academic perspectives. Degree programs in the field are designed for traditional and adult returning students whose needs are not met with the historical major or minor program. Interdisciplinary studies is all about looking at education from the student's perspective and offering them a customized plan to learn, professionalize, and access the best of what UNA offers.

Additionally, interdisciplinary programs have developed in response to demands from employers that college graduates have diverse "ready-to-work" skills, the ability to think across traditional academic lines, a change orientation, and excellent communication skills. To meet these demands we offer students an individualized path to complete their Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree by offering areas of emphasis containing complementary courses that cross traditional disciplinary lines.

costs

Cost
Tuition Calculator

credientials

Credentials
Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts

modality

Mode
Face-to-face and 100% online availability

time

Time to Complete
Variable

Why UNA?

UNA’s Interdisciplinary and Professional Studies programs prioritize meeting the individual academic needs of each student with whom we come in contact. Through professional advising, we are diligent to make the most of preexisting credit hours, actively work around students’ schedules, and our programming allows students to progress towards degree completion at their own pace with online, hybrid, or face-to-face courses. Through our interdisciplinary core curriculum, we adapt, inspire, and challenge our students to think creatively. We remain current of skills central to employment and graduate education, and we encourage students to pursue internships, study abroad experiences and applied research as these experiences build competencies invaluable to future employers.

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Degree Requirements

The Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) major offers a flexible and individualized program of study based on academic and career interests in one or two areas of emphasis. Students may choose from emphases in Arts, Business, Health, Humanities, Organizational Leadership, Public Safety, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Technology, Applied Educational Studies (Non-Licensure), and Applied Entrepreneurship (AAS or AOT degree required). Note: The Applied Entrepreneurship emphasis allows students who have earned an Associate of Applied Science or Occupational Technology Degree to apply approved technical coursework toward their overall degree requirements. A description of each emphasis may be found here: areas of emphasis. 

Below are the requirements for the overall degree including general education, interdisciplinary core curriculum, area of emphasis, and any other remaining coursework. Click the following link to review the IDS Program of Study. 

Note: We realize this is a lot of information to sort through! Feel free to reach out to us directly to discuss how we can customize a program of study to meet your needs today. Contact Ms. Heather Stancil at hstancil@una.edu / 256.765.5003. 

General Education (44 credit hours minimum)

  • Students will complete the same General Education Component required of all students if approved by the student’s academic advisor.
  • Students may follow either requirements for a Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. A BA requires the completion of 6 credit hours of foreign language courses at the introductory level.

IDS Core Curriculum (9 credit hours)

  • IDS 100 Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies (3 credit hours, online). In IDS 100 the student will, in addition to other requirements, choose an area of emphasis and develop a program of study to complete their degree program. This course must be taken within the first 12 credit hours of admission to the IDS major. 
  • IDS 250W Interdisciplinary Research: Process and Practice (3 credit hours, online)
  • IDS 450 Capstone Project (3 credit hours, online). This course is taken during the student's last semester at UNA.

Area of Emphasis (42 credit hours)

If choosing a singular emphasis,

  • No more than 24 hours can be taken within the same discipline as reflected by that discipline's prefix (examples = AC, BI, DA, GE, etc.).
  • A minimum of 24 hours of 300/400 level credit must be included in the area of emphasis (36 total 300/400 level credits are needed to graduate).
  • No more than 30 hours may come from the Sanders College of Business and Technology.
  • A writing-intensive course (signified by a W by the course number) must be included. 
  • Up to 12 hours of advisor-approved classes that fall outside of a particular area of emphasis may be included contingent upon their alignment with the student's career goals.

*If choosing two areas of emphasis,

  • Each emphasis will be 21 credit hours.
  • Each emphasis will include a minimum of 12 hours of 300/400 level credit (36 total 300/400 level credits are needed to graduate).
  • No more than 24 hours can be taken within the same discipline as reflected by that discipline's prefix (examples = AC, BI, DA, GE, etc.).
  • No more than 30 hours may come from the Sanders College of Business and Technology.
  • A writing-intensive course (signified by a W by the course number) must be included in at least one area of emphasis.
  • Up to 6 hours of advisor-approved classes that fall outside of either area of emphasis may be included contingent upon their alignment with the student's career goals

*The option to choose two emphases is pending approval by the Alabama Council of Higher Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and School Commission of Colleges (SACSCOC).

Electives (remaining hours to reach a total of 120 credit hours minimum)

  • A total of 120 semester hours is required as a minimum for graduation with 36 semester hours of this total coming from courses numbered 300 or 400.
  • The remainder of the 120 hours may be selected by the student with program approval.
  • An average of C (2.0) is required for all hours attempted toward the degree.
  • All other university policies (e.g., residence requirements) relating to requirements that must be met for all degree programs apply to IDS students.
  • A minor is NOT required for IDS students. However, students are often able to add classes into their area of emphasis that will complete the requirements for a minor or certificate with little effect on the total number of hours needed to complete their degree. 

Testimonials

"I decided to pursue an Interdisciplinary Studies Degree when I realized that one discipline of study was not going to make me as well-rounded as I needed to be for the type of work I wanted to do. This degree program has helped me learn many different skills from both the Entertainment Industry and Digital Media disciplines. My Post-Graduation plans are to work in a church as a Worship Leader and/or Creative Director, along with any freelance music and graphic design work I pick up along the way. I feel that once I graduate, I will have the skills to be able to set up, perform, and record music, while also being able to work on graphics, photography, video, and social media."
Patrick Crummie, 2022 graduate - BS in Interdisciplinary Studies with an Emphasis in Art. He is currently employed as the Creative Arts Director at Highland Park Baptist Church in Muscle Shoals, AL. 

♦

"My experience in the Interdisciplinary Studies degree program has proven invaluable in both my personal and academic career. The program provided me with a comprehensive understanding of management principles and communication skills, two vital skills I believe are crucial for success in any field. The IDS program played a critical role in my academic success as I completed a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Alabama in 2015 and then a Doctorate of Business Administration from Georgia State University in 2022. An Interdisciplinary Studies degree is an excellent foundation for anyone interested in pursuing a degree. The program equips students with a diverse skill set that can be applied to various academic disciplines, allowing for the creation of unique and innovative programs that cater to the needs of a diverse student body."
Dr. Shinika Byrd, 2012 graduate - BS in Interdisciplinary Studies with an Emphasis in Business. She is currently employed at the University of North Alabama as an Assistant Professor and Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion within the Sanders College of Business & Technology. 
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