Governance Manual
Section 2: Undergraduate Academic Programs
Interdisciplinary Programs
Objectives:
- To define minimum university requirements for interdisciplinary
programs focusing on an an integrated discipline.
- To ensure minimum standards of depth and breadth in proposed
interdisciplinary programs.
- To provide a framework within which the faculty members of
various departments can develop interdisciplinary programs.
Rationale:
To provide students with an interdisciplinary perspective that
cannot be provided by one department.
Definition:
Interdisciplinary program is defined as a major or a minor focusing
on integrated disciplines.
Interdisciplinary major and interdisciplinary minor are defined as a
major and a minor which integrates the knowledge, perspectives, and
methodologies of more than discipline to form a specific academic focus
in a recognized or innovative discipline not currently offered by
existing academic departments (e.g. American studies, legal studies,
comparative literature)
An interdisciplinary course is defined as a course that reflects the
knowledge, perspectives, and methodologies represented in the program.
Faculty teaching in the program is defined as faculty identified by
the director in consultation with the curriculum committee.
Policy and Implementation:
Interdisciplinary Major
Course requirements for an
interdisciplinary major will follow any current university policies
regarding requirements for a major.
An interdisciplinary major shall require a minimum of 30 credits
of coursework.
- A minimum of 6 credits of interdisciplinary coursework, focused
on the integrated discipline represented in the major (e.g.,
introductory seminar, capstone experience/course), shall be required
with 3 credits or more at the 300-400 level.
- A minimum of 18 additional credits shall be required in one
discipline or clearly defined, interdisciplinary course of study, with
at least 9 credits or more above the 300-400 level.
- A minimum of 6 additional credits shall be required from other
disciplines or clearly defined, themed-elective grouping with at least
3 credits at the 300-400 level.
Interdisciplinary Minor
An interdisciplinary minor shall require a minimum of 18 credits of
coursework.
- A minimum of 6 credits of interdisciplinary coursework, focused
on the integrated discipline represented in the minor, shall be
required,
with 3 credits or more at the 300-400 level (e.g., capstone
experience/coursework)
- A minimum of 12 additional credits shall be required from at
least two disciplines, with at least 6 credits above the 100 level.
Organization
The curriculum committee of an interdisciplinary program shall select,
with the approval of the school dean, where the program will be
housed. Interdisciplinary programs, not in a department, shall be
housed within a school under the auspices of the dean.
Interdisciplinary Curriculum
Committee
A committee composed of the director of the interdisciplinary program,
faculty teaching within the program, and students, if desired, in the
program shall be organized in away that best servers the interests of
the program. The director will conduct an election within the
program's teaching faculty for committee seats. The committee's
leadership shall be self-determined.
Director of Interdisciplinary
Program
In compliance with the existing CBA policy, the interdisciplinary
curriculum committee shall determine the selection process for the
director, including approval by the Provost.
The director of an interdisciplinary program shall have a three-year
term commencing with the terms of triennially elected department
chairs, and report to the dean of the school dean in which the program
is housed. The director will have responsibilities equivalent to
the department chair in administering the interdisciplinary
program. The director also will:
- Communicate the needs of the program during a meeting of all
school deans.
- Collaborate with the school deans on matters relating to
staffing, scheduling of classes, budgeting, and faculty selection
process.
- Serve as the primary advisor for students in the program.
- Guide systematic program review on the required review on the
required five-year cycle.
- Maintain a list of courses offered in the program and faculty
teaching those courses.
Council of Interdisciplinary
Directors
The Council of Interdisciplinary Directors (CID), composed of the
directors of all interdisciplinary programs, shall be formed.
This body will coordinate the efforts of the interdisciplinary programs
and will conduct an election of Faculty Senator(s) from the faculty
teaching within the program. The faculty senator(s) will serve in
the CID, if he/she is not serving as director, and the alternate
senator shall be one of the directors. One senator shall be
elected for every five programs with a minimum of one elected senator
at all times (i.e., 10-14 programs = 2 senators, 15-19 programs =
3 senators).
The Council of Interdisciplinary Directors (CID) reflects the
professional judgment of the faculty teaching in the programs in the
programs and recommends policy to the school curriculum committees in
such areas as curriculum, admissions and standard practices,
educational programs, University organization, advisement and
counseling, student affairs and matters of similar import.
The Council of Interdisciplinary Directors (CID) shall:
- Review proposals for new interdisciplinary programs and the
interdisciplinary courses within them.
- Initiate recommendation for changes in academic regulations and
policies or related matters affecting interdisciplinary programs and
forward to the Academic Policies Committee.
(Approval by FS 9/21/04; AA 11/1/04)
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