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 60 hours of college credit and be in good academic standing for admission or at least 45 credit hours and good academic standing for conditional admission to the program pending completion of additional credit hours by portfolio, competency exams, or dual enrollment. 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.
