2025-2026 Academic Catalog

Dec 05, 2025

2025-2026 Academic Catalog

Interdisciplinary Studies, BS (INTERDISC-BS)

CIP Code: 300000

Program Description

The Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies is a flexible degree that draws on courses from all the schools and programs in the College of Liberal Arts and offers opportunities to incorporate courses from other colleges as well. It allows students to design a program of study that is both broad in scope and narrow in concentration or a program that focuses on a topic or area best addressed by integrating disciplinary approaches. The program is ideal for the following students:

Students whose interests encompass more than one field and who desire greater flexibility in their programs of study.
Students who wish to combine study in arts/humanities or social science and the sciences/technology.
Transfer students, particularly those with substantial prior coursework.
Students who wish to go on to pursue graduate study in programs that do not require a specific undergraduate major, e.g. law school, medical school, an MBA program, a Master of Public Administration, or a Master of Humanities.
Returning adult students with some prior learning and/or work experience who wish to complete an undergraduate degree in an accelerated time frame.
Working professionals who need to complete a degree fully online in order to accommodate their work schedules.
Active-duty military, veterans, and family members who need or desire a broader undergraduate degree in the liberal arts and sciences that is tailored to their own interests.
Students who change their major partway through their course of study yet aim to graduate in a timely fashion. For example, students in STEM disciplines who decide they wish to pursue careers in policy, government, activism, or with non-profits.

The Interdisciplinary Studies major provides a strong foundation in core areas of critical thinking, writing proficiency, ethics, and interpersonal communication. The degree offers opportunities for coursework that prepares students to work within diverse communities and with diverse colleagues, supervisors, and clients. Equipped with such skills, Interdisciplinary Studies students are well prepared to adapt to the vicissitudes of constantly changing economic conditions and work environments.

The flexibility of the Interdisciplinary Studies major allows students to simultaneously complete courses towards a variety of interdisciplinary minors/certificates as part of the Interdisciplinary Studies degree. Some examples of such minors/certificates include African & African American Studies, Art History, Classical Languages & Cultures, Comparative Religion, Environmental Studies, International Studies, Medical Humanities & Health Studies, Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies, National Security Studies, Philosophy, and Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies. Students should work with their advisors to craft their individualized program of study.

Students can complete the program fully online or choose to take the majority of the classes in person. Students with appropriate prior learning and/or work experience may obtain credits through Prior Learning Assessment.

Program Admission Requirements

This academic program does not have admission requirements beyond regular admission to Wright State University. Any student is eligible to declare this academic program.

Program Learning Objectives

Students enrolled in this program will learn to:

conduct interdisciplinary research that contributes to innovative solutions for cultural, political, ethical, and social issues
develop and apply clear and persuasive written communication skills to contribute to meaningful discourse and engage with diverse community perspectives
critically examine and compare diverse approaches to addressing social, political, ethical, and cultural challenges in both local and global contexts, cultivating leadership potential

Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of their learning experience, graduates of this program can:

design and implement interdisciplinary research projects that integrate innovative methodologies to address complex societal issues and foster regional and global engagement
compose clear, well-structured, and impactful arguments tailored to diverse audiences, demonstrating advanced communication skills and ethical reasoning
analyze and evaluate theoretical and practical solutions to cultural, political, ethical, and social issues

For More Information

Program Requirements

I. Wright State Core: 36 Credit Hours

As a part of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree at Wright State University, all students must complete the Wright State Core, a general education curriculum. Most programs require 36 hours in the Core, some programs may require additional hours.

Specific Core classes in some of the Elements may be required by some majors. When this occurs, the specific Core courses required will be listed below. In Elements where a specific course is not required, students can choose any course from the Wright State Core Program Requirements.

First-Year Seminar: 3 Credit Hours

All students must successfully complete a First-Year Seminar during their first year. Transfer students who transfer 24 or more credit hours (post high school graduation) are exempt from this requirement and will need to satisfy three additional credit hours in the Additional Core Courses category.

LA 1020 - First-Year Seminar: College of Liberal Arts Credit Hour(s): 3

Element A - English Composition: 6 Credit Hours

First-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)

All students must successfully complete ENG 1100.  Based on Writing Placement level, some students may be required to enroll in a corequisite course (DEV 0100).
ENG 1100 - Academic Writing and Reading Credit Hour(s): 3
Second-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)
ENG 2100 - Research Writing and Argumentation Credit Hour(s): 3

Element B - Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic: 3 Credit Hours

Students will select one Element B course from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements list. Based on Math Placement Level, students may need additional prerequisite or corequisite coursework in mathematics prior to enrollment in the course chosen.

Element C - Arts and Humanities: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Arts and Humanities courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. One course must fulfill the History requirement.

History Requirement (3 credit hours)

Choose 1 course from the list below:
HST 1100 - Western Civilizations to 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3
HST 1200 - The West and the World since 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3
HST 1500 - Introduction to Greek and Roman Culture Credit Hour(s): 3
Arts and Humanities Course (3 credit hours)

Choose an additional Arts and Humanities course (a different prefix from what is chosen above) from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element D - Social and Behavioral Sciences: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Social and Behavioral Sciences courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element E - Natural Sciences: 7 Credit Hours

Students will select two Natural Science courses, from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. At least one course must contain a laboratory.

Additional Core Courses: 5 Credit Hours

Students will select up to 5 additional credit hours from Elements A-E from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements to reach the 36 minimum hours required in the Core. Unless specified by the student’s major, these are selected by the student. When a major has required courses in this area, the specific Core course(s) required will be listed below.

Additional Core Requirements

Within the 36 credit hours of the Wright State Core students must successfully complete the following:

One Global Inquiry (GI) course

Two Inclusive Excellence (IE) courses

One to two Integrated Writing (IW) courses. To meet degree requirements all students must complete a minimum of 3 IW courses by choosing either (a) 1 in the Core and 2 in the major or (b) 2 in the Core and 1 in the major. Students should check their major program requirements for courses that fulfill Integrated Writing.

Students who do not make choices within the 36 required hours of the Core to fulfill the GI, IE, and IW requirements will take additional Core hours beyond the minimum of 36.

II. Program Requirements: 33 Credit Hours

LA 3100 - Ethics and Values Credit Hour(s): 3
LA 3200 - Cultures and Society Credit Hour(s): 3
LA 4100 - Interdisciplinary Research Credit Hour(s): 3
Selected Major Requirements: 24 Credit Hours
- 9 credit hours must be from the College of Liberal Arts
- 15 credit hours must be at the 3000-4000 level
Students should consult with an academic advisor to create their own program of study and/or choose from the following academic disciplines:

AFS, ANT, ARA, ART, ATH, BIO, CHE, CHI, CLS, COM, EC, EES, ENG, ENV, FR, GEO, GER, HST, LAT, ML, MUS, PHL, PHY, PLS, PSY, REL, RST, SOC, SPN, SW, TH, WGS

III. College Requirements: 15-16 Credit Hours

Required:
PHL 3000 - Critical Thinking Credit Hour(s): 3
Choose one of the four Research Methods Courses (3 credit hours):
COM 3490 - Survey of Communication Research Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 3100 - Quantitative Methods in Political Science Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3400 - Sociological Analysis Credit Hour(s): 3
WGS 3700 - Research Methods in Liberal Arts Credit Hour(s): 3
Choose three courses (9-10 credit hours) from the following list:
ATH 2100 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology Credit Hour(s): 4
ATH 2150 - Comparative Nonwestern Cultures Credit Hour(s): 3
GEO 2200 - Human Geography Credit Hour(s): 3
GEO 2210 - Nonwestern Human Environments Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 2000 - Power and Politics Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 2000 - Introduction to Sociology Credit Hour(s): 3

IV. General Electives: 35-36 Credit Hours

Students must earn a minimum of 120 credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. If the total number of credit hours in the WSU Core (general education program) and the major requirements do not total at least 120 credits, students will choose additional courses (general electives) to meet the minimum required 120 credit hours. Students may choose from any undergraduate course in the Academic Catalog for which they meet the course prerequisites and for which they do not already have earned credit.

Students are encouraged to consider adding a minor, certificate, or microcredential.