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Academic catalog > Interdisciplinary
studies
Interdisciplinary studies
Design your own major
An interdisciplinary major gives students the freedom to design
an academic program that either serves their particular interests
or allows them to prepare for a specific career requiring
a broad range of knowledge. Many graduate programs, including
journalism and law schools, acknowledge the need for a broad
base of study and interdisciplinary studies majors often plan
on continuing their education at the graduate level.
Interdisciplinary
studies major: At-a-glance (.PDF)
Overview and requirements
An interdisciplinary major is for students who wish to engage
in substantial study in several academic fields. It also gives
students the opportunity to design a major that fits their
own unique interests and needs. An interdisciplinary major
provides preparation for careers or professional programs
where a broad educational background is appropriate.
A minimum of 45 credit hours, plus a senior seminar and internship
Courses are selected from three academic departments in which
Goshen offers a major or a minor. Must include a minimum of
15 credit hours from each department, of which at least nine
credit hours must be core courses defined by the major or
minor rather than electives.
The senior seminar and internship are not included in the
nine hours of core courses required in each of the three departments
and must be completed in the same department. Any exceptions
must be approved by the supervising professor for the internship.
At least one three-credit core course in each department must
be completed in residence at Goshen College. Not including
the senior seminar and internship, a minimum of at least 18
credit hours in the major must be upper-level courses (300-400
level).
Students interested in investigating an interdisciplinary
major should contact Tom Meyers (above) to discuss interests
and options. The student’s academic adviser will usually
be a professor from the department in which the student elects
to complete the senior seminar and internship.
Examples of interdisciplinary major combinations
For example, a student may plan to incorporate classes in
business, computer science and family business for an eventual
career in a family computer business or a student planning
to teach as part of a service assignment might study language,
TESOL and education.
