Interdisciplinary Studies: Concentration in Individual Degree

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

The Individual Degree Concentration allows students to develop an individualized degree program that integrates academic disciplines. It includes courses from two or more disciplines with a central focus on a subject or topic that may not be covered in existing majors or combinations of academic programs, but the combination of these courses will help students reach their academic/career goals. A Plan of Study will be devised in consultation with a faculty advisor and approved by the Interdisciplinary Studies department chair.

Students interested in the Individual Degree Concentration must submit an individualized degree plan of study form to the Interdisciplinary Studies department chair. This form, available on the department’s website, must include a brief explanation (approximately 100-200 words) of what subject areas will be combined and why. It will also include the listing of proposed courses, some initial ideas or questions to be answered in the senior capstone and potential titles for the Individual Degree Concentration.

After the individualized degree plan of study is approved, it is forwarded to the Office of the Registrar for verification that the proposal meets all graduation and proposal requirements, after which the student can formally declare a major in Interdisciplinary Studies. No changes may be made to the approved program without written authorization from the Interdisciplinary Studies chair. The title of the individual degree will be identified on the student’s transcript at the time of graduation.

Requirements for the Individual Degree Concentration:

I. Required courses in the major—36 hours:

Of the 36 required hours, 16 must be at the 300-400 level.

IST 499
16 hours in a primary subject area, as defined by the course prefix
8 hours in a secondary subject area
8 additional hours of electives relevant to the program of study and approved by the major advisor. These 8 additional hours cannot be in the primary or secondary area of study.

II. Other departmental requirements:

Major competency is demonstrated by successful completion of IST 499.

Additional Information:

Students seeking an Individual Degree Concentration cannot seek a double major, and none of the hours used to fulfill requirements for a declared minor may be used for the Individual Degree Concentration. UNC Asheville graduates returning for a second degree cannot use any of the courses from their previous major or minor for the Individual Degree Concentration. Post-baccalaureate students with degrees from other institutions must complete two-thirds of the major requirements at UNC Asheville.

Liberal Arts Core (LAC)

For additional information about the Liberal Arts Core and the specific courses that fulfill the requirements, visit the Office of the Registrar website, https://registrar.unca.edu/liberal-arts-core.

Liberal Arts Core Requirements

Courses that satisfy some of the following LAC requirements can be found throughout the curriculum and may be used to fulfill multiple requirements.

Requirement	Credits
First-Year Seminar	3-4
Academic Writing and Critical Inquiry	4
Humanities	12
Laboratory Science	4
Scientific Perspectives	3-4
Quantitative Perspectives	4
Social Science	3-4
Second Language (proficiency through the 2nd semester)	0-8
Arts and Ideas	3-4
Senior Capstone	4
Diversity Intensive (DI and DI-R)	6-8