Effective as of fall 2012.
The major in Interdisciplinary Science, which leads to a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Science, requires completion of a minimum of 13 courses. Students are encouraged to download the Program Requirement Worksheet for the program in Interdisciplinary Science to track their progress.
In addition to the major, students have the option, if majoring in a different program, to elect an academic minor in Interdisciplinary Science. Students interested in completing the minor should review the minor curriculum below.
Requirements for the Major in Interdisciplinary Science
(Course may count only once towards satisfying a requirement)
Students must earn a grade of C or higher in all courses taken in order to meet the requirements for the BA in Interdisciplinary Science.
Required Courses
LSCI 2661 Energy and Sustainability
LMTH 2050 Math Models in Nature
LSCI 3020 Methods of Scientific Inquiry
Four Foundation Courses
Required: LSCI 2040 Genes, Environment, and Behavior
LSCI 2020 Constructing the Laws of Nature
LSCI 2820 Chemistry of Life
Select one from the list below:
LSCI 2830 Biology of Beauty, Sex and Death
LSCI 2840 Science and Politics of Infectious Diseases
LSCI 2030 Quantum Universe
UENV 2400 Principles of Ecology
One Additional Math Course
Select one from the list below: LMTH 2060 Ethnomathematics
LMTH 2030 Game Theory
LMTH 2030 Statistics with SPSS
LMTH 3101 Discrete Math
LMTH 3006 Math Tools for Natural and Social Sciences
LMTH 2040 Calculus
LMTH 2045 Calculus II
One Laboratory Course
Select one from the list below:
LSCI 2500 Water Quality Lab
LSCI 3030 Biodiversity Achieved Lab
UENV 3450 Ecology Lab
Two Intermediate/Advanced Level Courses
Select two from the list below:
LSCI 3037 Cell Biology
LSCI 3028 Science and Politics of The Human Genome
LSCI 3035 Space, Time, and Einstein
LSCI 3305 Chemistry of the Atmosphere
LSCI 3050 Ecology II: Urban Ecosystems
LMTH 3101 Discrete Math
LMTH 3006 Math Tools for Social and Natural Sciences
LSCI 4050 Science and Politics of Cancer
LSCI 3301 What is Science?
LSCI 4100 Nanotechnology
LSCI 4404 Epidemics and International Responses
One Additional Advanced Level Course
Select one from the list below:
LSCI 4050 Science and Politics of Cancer
LSCI 3028 Science and Politics of The Human Genome
LSCI 3301 What is Science?
LSCI 4100 Nanotechnology
LSCI 4404 Epidemics and International Responses
One Elective Course
Any LSCI or LMTH course that has not applied towards satisfying a requirement above.
Note: The following courses do not satisfy this elective requirement: Brain, Biology & Behavior, From the Rainforest, Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, Statistics (3 credits)
Requirements for the Minor in Interdisciplinary Science
LSCI 2700 Energy and Sustainability
One Mathematics course
One Lecture-Laboratory course
Two Foundation courses (across any two of the following disciplines: biology, chemistry, physics, or math)
One additional science or mathematics course numbered 3000 or higher
Students must earn a grade of C or higher in all courses taken in order to meet the requirements for the minor in Interdisciplinary Science.
Areas of Focus
In consultation with a faculty advisor, students may complete a general track within the major or a focused area of study in one of the following: Biology of Health, Science of the Environment, or History and Philosophy of Science.
Biology of Health
Students who choose this area are advised to take a series of courses in genetics, chemistry, and cell biology as well as in the social sciences. Biology of Health students are well positioned to pursue graduate study in bioethics, medical anthropology, science journalism, or history and philosophy of science, or to work in policy making or bioethics research.
Science of the Environment
Students who choose the Science of the Environment are advised to take a series of courses in chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics along with courses in the social sciences. With this background students are prepared for graduate programs in environmental studies, policy, management, education, law, and business.
History and Philosophy of Science
Students who choose History and Philosophy of Science are advised to take a series of natural sciences courses as well as social science and humanities courses that focus on science, culture, and the history and philosophy of science. History and Philosophy of Science students are prepared for graduate programs in science, technology, science studies, social science, and the history of science.
