Interdisciplinary Studies

The challenges of our complex world--the impact of AI on everyday life and work, climate change and inclusive societies, to name a few--require the ability to integrate knowledge and skills from more than one discipline. Interdisciplinary Studies allows you to design your own major, to think both creatively and critically. You can select complementary minors or majors in disciplines that reflect your interests and career goals, to create a professional profile unique to you. 

Core coursework in the major explores diverse subjects that share a strong interdisciplinary theme. By emphasizing the practice of studying complex issues through a synthesis of different research methods and media, these courses equip students with skills in critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, and multi-faceted analysis. 

You may choose to pursue either a Bachelor of Science with a cognate requirement or a Bachelor of Arts with a foreign language requirement in either the Integrative or Individualized Studies concentrations: 

Integrative Studies Concentration:  This academic plan allows you to create your own major by combining established minor programs of study. Your plan must include two minors (or more, depending on the student's interest) from any academic programs in the university to build content knowledge in specific areas of focus. Students must complete all requirements of each minor program of study, with at least 18 credit hours coming from upper-division courses.

Individualized Studies Concentration: This academic plan allows you to create your own major and through individual, complementary courses. Your plan must include a total of at least 18 credits of upper-division coursework and 36 total credits from any academic programs in the university to build content knowledge in specific areas of focus. Students are required to draft an intentional plan of study, including a rationale and course outline.

Exploratory Studies Concentration: If you are a first-year student with fewer than 45 credits who has not declared a major or been admitted to the major of your choice, you will be admitted to Exploratory Studies. In this concentration, you will enjoy an immediate academic home that allows you to explore different disciplines and programs by taking Exploratory Studies 1010, designed to give you knowledge about various majors and minors at UNO. You will engage in cross-curricular academic advising, career assessment, guided exploration of majors and careers, mentoring, and programming designed to provide you the support you need as you figure out your best-fit major.  You will have the opportunity to interact with advisors, faculty, and peer mentors from different fields to discover your passions and make an informed decision on a major.  Exploratory Studies majors are required to declare a major within their first 45 credit hours in any college, which includes the option to switch to either the Integrative Studies or Individualized Studies concentrations in Interdisciplinary Studies (see above).

Declaring the Integrative or Individualized Concentration

Students are required to meet with the Interdisciplinary Studies advisor before declaring.

Double Majors

Double majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies with the Integrative or Individualized concentration offers students an opportunity to explore a second field of interest, to acquire credits required by a graduate program, or to add an area of expertise to their profile, without fulfilling all the requirements of a second major. Those interested in double majoring should pursue another UNO program that does not overlap substantially with their concentration coursework. 

Residency

Students choosing either the Integrative or Individualized Studies Concentration must complete INDS 1000 and INDS 4950 and at least 12 additional hours of major requirements at UNO.  Students choosing the Integrative Studies Concentration must complete at least 6 hours of coursework in each minor that fulfills the concentration requirements.

Contact Information

Exploratory Studies:
Sara Marzioli, Director
smarzioli@unomaha.edu
website

Integrative and Individualized Concentrations:
Michelle Quick, Advisor
mquick@unomaha.edu
website

Writing in the Discipline (WID)

Students choosing either the Integrative or Individualized Studies Concentration should take a WID course that is relevant to the focus of their studies. Consult with the Interdisciplinary Studies advisor for approved courses.

Because the Interdisciplinary Studies major is uniquely crafted by each student through either the Individualized or Integrative Concentration, students can apply their skills gained to numerous occupational fields including, but not limited to the following:

  • business
  • the arts
  • non-profit sector
  • environmental policy
  • urban studies
  • language and culture studies
  • social justice
  • helping professions
  • information and technology
  • education
  • law
  • medicine and allied health professions
  • human resources
  • public service sector

EXPL 1000  EXPLORATORY STUDIES (3 credits)

All Exploratory Studies students will take EXPL 1000, a general education course specifically designed for Explorers which: Empowers students to define their passions, talents, and interests to choose a best-fit major/minor; helps students explore different disciplines, Academic Focus Areas, and majors/minors at UNO; draws on happiness and well-being theories to help students better define the meaning of success in college and in life; provides mentorship from faculty, staff, peer mentors, EXPL Ambassadors, and more.

Prerequisite(s): Not open to non-degree graduate students.

Distribution: Social Science General Education course

EXPL 1010  EXPLORATORY STUDIES: COLLEGE EXPLORATION AND SUCCESS SEMINAR (1 credit)

The aim of this course is to set students up for college success. Students will learn about university resources and college level academic success strategies. This course provides students with guided exploration of majors and career pathways. Students will use various methods to identify and reflect on their strengths and passions to direct their search for academic paths. Students will engage with faculty, peer mentors, staff and peers to foster a sense of community and belonging.

INDS 1000  INTRODUCTION TO INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES (3 credits)

This course introduces students to the differences between disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to learning and research, and how to create/critique interdisciplinary arguments, understand interdisciplinary processes, and assess the quality of their own work. Students gain the opportunity to engage in the study of thinking, reading, writing, and problem-solving through an interdisciplinary lens across the natural and physical sciences, social sciences, and humanities. This course fosters intellectual curiosity by examining personal, social, cultural, and scientific challenges, and asking students to consider interdisciplinary solutions. Open to all majors interested in learning how interdisciplinarity can both contextualize and enrich individual disciplines. For those majoring or considering majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies, this course will also offer the opportunity to craft an intentional plan of study by connecting with faculty and peers across various disciplines.

Prerequisite(s): Students majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies should take INDS 1000. Not open to non-degree graduate students.

Distribution: Social Science General Education course

INDS 4950  INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES: CAPSTONE COURSE (3 credits)

The course provides students with the opportunity to refine their practice of interdisciplinary thinking and its application to the real world; to demonstrate the knowledge and skills acquired thus far with the production of a senior project; to produce a rationale for their capstone project and specializations legible to potential employers.

Prerequisite(s): INDS 1000; a course satisfying the intensive writing requirement, and a research method course offered in their fields of study.