Interdisciplinary Studies

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Program Coordinator:

Christopher Wetzel
Office: Martin Institute 238
Phone: 508-565-1979
cwetzel@stonehill.edu

Interdisciplinary Studies Major

The BA or BS in Interdisciplinary Studies is an option for students who seek to accomplish intellectual goals outside of a conventional major or combination of a major or minor. The program of study, to be formulated with faculty advisors - one of who will be designated as the principal advisor - must reflect the objectives of a liberal arts education illustrated in the Hill Book’s description of the Cornerstone Program.

BSBA Interdisciplinary Studies majors are not allowed.

The program proposal includes a statement describing educational goals sought, and the sequence of courses that would enable the student to achieve these goals. The course content must be focused upon a specific theme and must include a significant number of courses beyond the introductory level as well as a senior Capstone Experience.

Normally a proposal to create a Self-directed Interdisciplinary Major must follow the guidelines below.

• Must be approved prior to the senior year or enrollment in the final ten courses of their Stonehill degree.
• Typically a BA Interdisciplinary Major must be composed of 12-20 3- or 4-credit courses. Courses must be selected from at least three academic programs. Each program needs to be represented by a minimum of three courses, and at least two of the courses must be at the 300-level or above.
• Typically a BS Interdisciplinary Major must be composed of 16-22 3- or 4-credit courses.  The BS in Interdisciplinary Studies must include at least 16 required science, technology, engineering, and mathematics courses. Courses must be selected from at least three academic programs. Each program needs to be represented by a minimum of three courses, and at least two of the courses must be at the 300-level or above.
• No more the 50% of the courses may be applied to fulfill the requirements of another major.
• Must adhere to the application process described in the Hill Book.
• The Self-directed Interdisciplinary Major must be approved by the designated faculty advisors and the Interdisciplinary Studies Program Coordinator.

Any subsequent changes to the approved education plan must be submitted to the Program Coordinator for updated approval each semester.

Interdisciplinary Minor

Interdisciplinary Minors give students the opportunity to explore, in some depth, a well-defined question or topic beyond the major. The Interdisciplinary Minor provides students with maximum flexibility to propose a course of study, comprised of classes and other academic experiences, as a path to conduct an interdisciplinary inquiry that may or may not be related to the Major or Disciplinary Minor. Students submit a proposal for an Interdisciplinary Minor that will include no less than five and no more than six academic units. Given the depth of study required, it is expected that no student would undertake more than one Interdisciplinary Minor during his or her academic career at Stonehill.

Programs

The College offers several established Interdisciplinary Programs:

Majors

• American Studies, B.A.  
• Gender and Sexuality Studies, B.A.   
• Earth and Planetary Sciences, B.S.  

Minors

• Asian Studies Minor  
• Gender and Sexuality Studies Minor  
• Italian Studies Minor  
• Latin American and Caribbean Studies Minor  
• Middle Eastern Studies Minor  
• Speech Language Pathology Minor  

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