Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 Governors State University Academic Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Governors State University Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Interdisciplinary Studies, B.A.


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The Interdisciplinary Studies Program (IDSS) in the College of Arts and Sciences  offers adult learners a flexible program for degree completion. The program accepts credit from a variety of sources to help adult learners complete their degree in a timely fashion while conforming to university standards for general education and residency.

Non-traditional learners come to the program with a variety of life experiences that need to be meaningfully blended into an academic program. The program’s intention is to assist in creating a personally satisfying future while providing the academic rigor that is expected of a college graduate. The Interdisciplinary studies program accepts credit from a variety of sources in order to allow degree completion in a timely fashion while conforming to university standards as a regionally-accredited Bachelor of Arts degree program.

The B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies is a learner-centered degree program that allows students maximum flexibility to select and tailor courses to their individual career goals. Students may select a broad, interdisciplinary set of courses for a well-rounded education. Students can earn a minor in the disciplines of the GSU colleges. (Students who want a bachelor’s degree in a specific field of study should apply directly to the appropriate GSU college rather than through this program). Students may concentrate their course work in one college, perhaps to obtain the qualifications to enroll in a master’s degree program. Individualized study plans are one of the hallmarks of the program, which makes it ideal for adult learners. Students work with the IDSS advisors to develop the student study plan based on their previous coursework, non-traditional course work, and career goals. This degree is built upon the need to achieve degree completion in a timely manner. It is designed to assist in integrating life experience and academic credit into a plan of action for creating a degree that is unique for each learner.

Alternative Options for Credit

The IDSS accepts credit for learning other than what comes from college course work. Military experience can be counted towards credit. Students can take competency exams such as CLEP (College Level Examination Program) or may have had training at an organization offering ACE (American Council on Education) credit. Demonstration of college level learning from life experience is encouraged through the completion of a Prior Learning Portfolio for college credit. Such portfolios are assessed for college credit by faculty evaluators.

Admission Requirements

The Interdisciplinary Studies Program requires that students have 24 hours of college credit from a regionally accredited college or university and be in good academic standing. Students who have earned their first bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution are not eligible for admission to this program.

Official transcripts for military experience, proficiency test results, and ACE (American Council on Education) certified training credits should be sent directly to the Interdisciplinary Studies Program. Contact the program advisors at 708.534.4092 or idss@govst.edu for more information about the program.

Degree Requirements


Students must meet all university requirements for a bachelor’s degree. A minimum of 40 hours must be taken at the upper-division level; up to 80 credit hours in lower division courses can be transferred to GSU. The residency requirement for the university requires a minimum of 24 hours be taken as courses offered by GSU.

General Education Requirements (37 Hours)


See Bachelor’s Degree Requirements  for general education requirements. While these are usually taken at the lower-division level, they can also be completed at the upper-division level.

Required Courses (12 Hours)


The following courses must be completed with a “C” or better:

Electives (71)


Students may not exceed a maximum of 80 hours of lower-division credit between General Education Requirements and Electives. Students must complete a minimum of 28 hours of upper-division hours, if the General Education Requirements are complete through course work taken at the lower-division level.

Total - 120 Hours


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