THE INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES DEGREE 

If you are considering or already planning to pursue a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) at KSU, please take note of its fundamental requirements:   

• The minimum GPA for enrollment into the program is a 2.5.  This will be based on your “adjusted GPA” per the Admissions Office.  This GPA must be maintained through graduation.
  

• You will need to combine two disciplines for your interdisciplinary degree*, and in each discipline must earn a minimum of 12 hours in 3000- or 4000- level courses with a grade of "C" or higher.  These courses must focus on a single broad theme and be consistent with your educational and career goals.       Ultimately, you will complete a total of 39 hours of upper-division course work toward your degree.**

• In addition, you must earn at least 18 hours of credit in lower-division course work related to your major disciplines; 15 hours in 3000- or 4000-level courses that satisfy the special IDS areas of “Writing/Communication,” “Theory/Culture,” and “Application/ Integration”***; and 9 hours of “Related Studies” credit (upper-division courses preferred but not mandated).  You must earn a “C” or better in all of the above courses.  If you have taken or plan to take courses that are most accurately categorized as “Free Electives” (e.g., KSU 1101), you may use these towards the general 123-hour degree requirement.
  

• After meeting with an Interdisciplinary Studies advisor and designing a valid IDS curriculum, you will submit a formal degree proposal to one of the IDS Co-Directors, Dr. Liza Davis or Ms. Shannon Ferketish (Department of University Studies).  As part of this process, you will write a substantive rationale for combining your chosen disciplines, explaining their thematic connection and their value in helping you achieve your career goals after graduation.
  

The IDS Coordinator will, in turn, send the proposal to the appropriate advisors in each of your major disciplines.  When you have made any revisions these advisors may recommend, the proposal will be submitted to the appropriate department chairs for final approval and returned to the IDS Co-Directors, who will file your degree plan with the University’s Registrar. 

*You may combine up to three disciplines but in doing so may risk compromising the quality of your degree:  the fewer upper-division courses you take in any one of your major areas, the less substantive your work in those areas may appear. 

**You may use approved electives at the 3000- or 4000-level as part of this requirement as long as you have earned a grade of "C" or better in each course and met the 12-hour, upper-division course requirement in each of your major disciplines. 

***Internships are strongly encouraged, but not required. 

If you have further questions, please contact:

Dr. Liza Davis (call 770-499-3514 or e-mail ldavis@kennesaw.edu); or

Ms. Shannon Ferketish (call 770-423-6930 or e-mail sferketi@kennesaw.edu); or

Ms. Carolyn Lerner (call 678-797-2364 or email clerner@kennesaw.edu) 

Why IDS?

Requirements