Interdisciplinary Studies,
Office of Student Academic Affairs,
College of Letters and Science,
Cheadle Hall 2119;
Telephone (805) 893-2038
The major in interdisciplinary studies was created to provide a means for students to achieve particular intellectual goals that cannot be met by any existing major. Successful interdisciplinary studies majors are those that carry a coherent theme across a group of three or more departments-a theme that cannot easily be examined within a single major or double-major format. Students are urged to consult with a college advisor early in their academic careers for assistance in formulating their objectives within the major and in identifying the courses at UCSB which will best fulfill those goals.
Students wishing to enter the major must draw up a proposed program of study in three separate departments according to the requirements listed below. After approval by the chairs of the selected departments and review by the office of the dean, the proposal is submitted to the executive committee of the College of Letters and Science, which has sole authority for approving admission to the major. The executive committee evaluates proposals according to a combination of the following criteria: (1) overall coherence and academic integrity of the proposed set of courses to be taken in each department; and (2) rationale for the choice of major departments, as explained in a statement of purpose submitted by the student.
The program approved by the executive committee constitutes a contract and may be altered only by petition to the committee.
Applications for admission to the major are available in the college office, Cheadle Hall 2119. The entire process of admission-from first picking up application papers to final approval by the committee-can take several weeks. Interested students are advised, therefore, to begin the process during their sophomore year, and in no case later than the end of their junior year. Applicants to this program are normally not admitted as freshmen. Those who have reached their senior year will be admitted only in exceptional circumstances.
The interdisciplinary studies major does not automatically exempt prospective teaching credential candidates from the Multiple Subject Assessment for Teachers (MSAT). For such exemptions, students must complete the Multiple Subject Preparation Program (MSPP). Students interested in UCSB's credential requirements are urged to consult the Graduate School of Education in Phelps Hall 1180 as soon as possible.
Students who intend to pursue graduate or professional studies are urged to consult advisors in their proposed fields to determine the prerequisites for admission to the desired graduate programs. The specific areas of emphasis within interdisciplinary studies will not be noted on student transcripts.
Upper-division major. Students must complete a minimum of 56 upper-division units, selected from three departments in the College of Letters and Science, with at least 16 units in each department. The senior thesis or research project requirement is included in the 56 upper-division units. Some departments allow only a restricted number of their upper-division courses to be applied to this major. Students should ask at the office of prospective departments, or the college office, for a current list of courses that will be accepted for the interdisciplinary studies major. Upper-division courses which are accepted in transfer from other four-year colleges and universities will be accepted for major credit in appropriate departments only if they conform to courses approved for the major in that department. Different foreign languages are considered to be in different departments. Courses in military science and physical activities are not acceptable for the major. Economics 109, Mathematics 100A-B may be acceptable in the preparation for the major, but cannot be applied to the upper-division major. No more than 12 units of performance courses (Dance 149, Dramatic Art 149, Music Performance Laboratories, or equivalent transfer courses) can apply to the major, and no more than 4 units of such courses may be taken in any single department. Courses which are to be applied to the major may not be taken on a passed/not passed basis.
Senior thesis or research project requirement.
As a means of tying together the various strands of their study in a coherent
and academically significant fashion, interdisciplinary studies majors
are required to complete at least one 4-unit course in one of the three
selected departments in which a senior thesis or research project will
be completed. A list of suitable courses is available at department offices
and the college office.