Interdisciplinary Studies

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Interdisciplinary Studies (IDIS) is an individually designed major for students who wish to create a unique program of study by combining two majors.

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How It Works

Students meet with the Interdisciplinary Studies advisor (currently Matthew Haddick) to build a customized major with two concentrations. The student should identify a centralizing theme for the major and work with the advisor to pick courses for the two concentrations. Some of the requirements include:

  • The primary concentration must consist of 24 credits, be a current major at NU, and consist of current classes in that major.
  • The secondary concentration must consist of 21 credits and courses may be selected from a variety of disciplines as long as the interrelationships are discernible. This concentration is designed to be more flexible.
  • One of these courses must be an internship.
  • At least 20 credits must be selected from upper division (3000/4000-level) courses.

Once the student and advisor have agreed on a degree plan, the plan must be sent to the Provost’s Office for approval. Along with the plan, the student must submit a statement paragraph that identifies interrelationships among the concentrations and courses chosen and why the IDIS degree is the best fit for their goals.

Once the degree is approved, it will be submitted to the Registrar’s Office and posted to the student’s degree audit.

Should I Major in Interdisciplinary Studies?

The IDIS major is great for students who have specific career goals that are not easily met in one specific major but could be met by selecting portions of two different majors. For example, students looking to become credentialed secondary education teachers in Washington State by completing NU’s BA-to-MIT program may benefit from selecting Educational Studies as one concentration and their intended subject area as another. The major is not intended to allow students to bypass more difficult courses or study two completely separate majors without selecting either.

If you have questions about whether IDIS is a good fit for you, contact the IDIS advisor or email advising@northwestu.edu.

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