School of Interdisciplinary Studies
Interdisciplinary Studies (BS)
The Bachelor's degrees in Interdisciplinary Studies (BAIS) emphasize a broad learning experience and a wider perspective than that provided by traditional undergraduate majors. They are designed to offer the student the opportunity to participate in an interdisciplinary, coherent, academically sound, and goal-oriented education directly relevant to the student's intellectual development and career aspirations. They are appropriate for those students who seek a thorough grounding in the traditional arts and sciences from an interdisciplinary perspective. Each student in the Interdisciplinary Studies program becomes an active partner in the formulation of his or her program of study, working in consultation with an academic advisor to devise an appropriate individual degree plan. Within the framework of two foundation areas, a university-wide Interdisciplinary Studies sequence, and a multidisciplinary concentration, a student may draw upon the resources of all schools of the University to create a degree program.
Common areas of concentration for the BAIS are business issues, environmental studies, human resources, international relations, law, public relations, and urban studies. Graduates have been accepted into graduate programs in divinity, education, environmental studies, the health professions, humanities, interdisciplinary studies, law, management, and social sciences. The BS in Interdisciplinary Studies is selected by students interested in environmental studies, the health professions, and other science-related fields. Students interested in pre-health are advised to contact the Head of Healthcare Studies during their first semester.
Minors and Double Majors are not allowed in these two Interdisciplinary Studies degrees. In order to make the Interdisciplinary Studies degrees reflect their name, no more than 21 semester credit hours of courses with the same prefix are allowed in the combined major requirements and the 6 semester credit hours of electives. (All courses taught by the Naveen Jindal School of Management courses count as a single prefix.) In the major requirements and 6 semester credit hours of electives, the plan must include sufficient upper-division courses to total 45 upper-division semester credit hours. In the concentration, a minimum of three (3) prefixes must be represented. Please consult an academic advisor for further elaboration.
The BAIS and BSIS are geared toward non-Education majors. For those students who wish to pursue a future in the field of Education, UT Dallas offers both a Bachelor's of Arts in Education and a Bachelor's of Science in Education through the School of Interdisciplinary Studies.
Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies
Degree Requirements (120 semester credit hours)
View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester
Faculty
Professors: Erin A. Smith
Professor of Instruction: Tonja Wissinger
Associate Professors of Instruction: Kathleen Byrnes, Patricia A. Leek
Assistant Professors of Instruction: Leah Goudy, Kyle Hammonds, Ruth Johnson, June Jones, Marc Lusk, Michele McNeel, Azadeh Stark, Chelsea Taylor, Larissa Werhnyak
I. Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 semester credit hours
Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from institutions of higher education. The courses listed are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.
Communication: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from Communication Core courses (see advisor)
Mathematics: 3 semester credit hours
Choose one course from the following:
MATH 1325 Applied Calculus I
MATH 2413 Differential Calculus
MATH 2417 Calculus I
Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Mathematics Core courses (see advisor)
Life and Physical Sciences: 6 semester credit hours
Choose two courses from the following:
ISNS 2359 Earthquakes and Volcanoes1
ISNS 2368 Weather and Climate1
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Life and Physical Sciences Core courses (see advisor)
Language, Philosophy and Culture: 3 semester credit hours
Choose one course from the following:
AMS 2300 American Popular Culture
AMS 2341 American Studies for the Twenty-First Century
Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Language, Philosophy and Culture Core courses (see advisor)
Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Creative Arts Core courses (see advisor)
American History: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from American History Core courses (see advisor)
Government/Political Science: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from Government/Political Science Core courses (see advisor)
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 semester credit hours
Choose one course from the following:
GST 2300 Introduction to Gender Studies
PSY 2301 Introduction to Psychology
SOC 1301 Introduction to Sociology
Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Social and Behavioral Sciences Core courses.2
Component Area Option: 6 semester credit hours
Choose one of the following courses in mathematics:
MATH 1326 Applied Calculus II (if MATH 1325 is taken)
MATH 2414 Integral Calculus
or MATH 2415 Calculus of Several Variables (if MATH 2413 is taken)
MATH 2419 Calculus II (if MATH 2417 is taken)
and MATH 2415 Calculus of Several Variables
Or select any course from Component Area Option Core courses.2 (see advisor)
II. Major Requirements: 61 semester credit hours
BIS 1100 Interdisciplinary Studies First Year Experience
Major Core Courses: 18 semester credit hours
BIS 3320 The Nature of Intellectual Inquiry
One 3 semester credit hour ISIS course
One 3 semester credit hour AMS, GST, or ISIS, or BIS 4V04
Any three ISNS science courses1
Major Related Courses: 42 semester credit hours consisting of:
Two Foundations: 12 semester credit hours each (24 semester credit hours)
Foundation I consists of courses taught by the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, or Science courses from the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences (NSC and CGS only).
Foundation II is drawn from the courses taught by the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology; the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences (if not used for Foundation I); the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science (if not used in Foundation I); the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences; the School of Interdisciplinary Studies; and the Naveen Jindal School of Management.
One Concentration: 18 semester credit hours
Each student devises, in consultation with his/her advisor, the topic for the Concentration and selects 18 semester credit hours of coursework related to the topic, drawn from at least three academic disciplines. Appropriate IS coursework may be selected. Three courses must be science courses and one must be a statistics course.
Requirements differ depending on medical career choice. Must incorporate three science courses and a statistics course
Courses listed may have prerequisites, co-requisites, or preparatory courses to register for the course.
ECON 4332 Energy and Natural Resources Economics
ECON 4333 Environmental Economics
GEOG 2302 The Global Environment
GEOS 2302 The Global Environment
GEOS 3421 Sedimentary Systems
GEOS 3470 Structural Geology
GEOS 4430 Hydrogeology and Aqueous Geochemistry
ISNS 2359 Earthquakes and Volcanoes
ISNS 2367 The Oceans
ISNS 2368 Weather and Climate
IPEC 3349 World Resources and Development
PA 3310 Managing Government Organizations
PSCI 3310 Managing Government Organizations
PA 4345 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Pre-Medicine Concentration
It is recommended that students meet with a Healthcare Studies advisor or an advisor from the Health Professions Advising Center (HPAC). Requirements differ depending on medical career choice. must incorporate three science courses and a statistics course
Courses listed may have prerequisites, co-requisites, or preparatory courses to register for the course.
BIOL 2311 Introduction to Modern Biology I
BIOL 2111 Introduction to Modern Biology Workshop I
BIOL 2312 Introduction to Modern Biology II
BIOL 2112 Introduction to Modern Biology Workshop II
BIOL 2281 Introductory Biology Laboratory
BIOL 3402 Molecular and Cell Biology
BIOL 3303 Introduction to Microbiology
BIOL 3203 Introduction to Microbiology Lab
BIOL 3461 Biochemistry I
BIOL 3462 Biochemistry II
BIOL 3455 Human Anatomy and Physiology with Lab I
BIOL 3456 Human Anatomy and Physiology with Lab II
CHEM 1311 General Chemistry I
CHEM 1111 General Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 1312 General Chemistry II
CHEM 1112 General Chemistry Laboratory II
CHEM 2323 Introductory Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 2123 Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 2325 Introductory Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 2125 Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
CHEM 3341 Inorganic Chemistry I
ECON 3330 Economics of Health
HIST 3328 History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine
HLTH 1100 Career Explorations for the Health Professions
HLTH 1322 Human Nutrition
HLTH 3300 Pre-Health Professional Development
HLTH 3101 Medical Terminology
HLTH 4380 Special Topics in Healthcare
NSC 4351 Medical Neuroscience
PHYS 1301 College Physics I
PHYS 1101 College Physics Laboratory I
PHYS 1302 College Physics II
PHYS 1102 College Physics Laboratory II
PSY 4328 Health Psychology
SOC 4371 Mental Health and Illness
SOC 4372 Health and Illness
STAT 3332 Statistics for Life Sciences
STAT 3360 Probability and Statistics for Management and Economics
III. Elective Requirements: 17 semester credit hours
Free Electives: 17 semester credit hours
A minimum of 45 semester credit hours must be taken at UT Dallas. All the coursework in the final semester must be taken at UT Dallas.
The plan must include sufficient upper-division courses to total 45 upper-division semester credit hours.
Honors in Interdisciplinary Studies (BS)
Grade Point Average (GPA): 3.900 cumulative GPA, 3.900 GPA in courses described below, and a total of 30 upper-division UT Dallas semester credit hours as described below.
Required courses: 9 semester credit hours
BIS 3320 The Nature of Intellectual Inquiry (3 semester credit hours)
Foundation I - Natural Science and Mathematics (6 semester credit hours)
Concentration: 15 semester credit hours
Options (6 semester credit hours)
6 semester credit hours of Internship
or 3 semester credit hours of Internship and one three semester credit hour AMS/GST/ISIS course
1. A required major course that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Semester credit hours are counted in the Core Curriculum.
2. Students are strongly encouraged to take core courses that are closely related to their foundations, concentrations, and career goals.