University College
Purpose and Goals
The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in Interdisciplinary Studies offer students a customized set of studies that allow them to pursue an academic program that fits their educational, professional, and career goals. Through individualized advising, the program helps students define their educational goals and design multidisciplinary curricula drawing on a variety of course offerings.
The purpose of the degree program is:
- To provide flexibility to students with broad interests;
- To offer an option to students with new interests or those changing their majors late in their academic careers; and
- To maximize opportunities for individuals to pursue graduate studies and advance their careers.
The 120 SCH program is flexible to meet the academic and career goals of traditional and non-traditional student scholars. While students may be required to take some traditional face-to-face courses to complete the University Core Requirements and in their chosen Concentrations of Study, the required 9 SCH of General Studies courses are entirely online. Additionally, American Sign Language I & II (SGNL 1301 and SGNL 1302) are offered asynchronously online as an option to fulfill the 6 SCH foreign language requirement.
Staying on track and ensuring you take the appropriate courses at the right time is essential to our students' success. The PV Cares Academic Advisors in University College provide individualized academic advisement for all Interdisciplinary Studies majors to help students navigate the registration process and develop their personalized degree plan.
Instructional Organization
| Program | Degree Offered |
|---|---|
| Interdisciplinary Studies | BA, BS |
General Studies Courses
GNST 2301 Coding and App Development (Basics): 3 semester hours.
Introduction to general programming language (including various data types, syntax, expression, assignment, branching, looping, function, etc.)
Swift programming language. Xcode platform and coding playground and basic app development for smart devices. (IOS).
Prerequisites: MATH 1123 or MATH 1316.
GNST 3302 iOS App Development: 3 semester hours.
Swift programming language, Xcode app development platform, and basic data structure and algorithm concepts, and advanced iOS app development, including GPS and map app, single view app, multiple view app, text field, table view, list view, gesture recognizer, various sensors, and app publication in App Store.
Prerequisites: GNST 2103 or GNST 2301.
GNST 3310 Multidisciplinary Seminar: 3 semester hours.
This course is designed to encourage self-analysis of career interests and planning. Students will also (a) develop their skills in critical thinking, reading, writing, and speaking; (b) synthesize knowledge drawn from other courses; and (c) learn to collaborate with others in building knowledge and understanding. Required for all General Studies majors.
Prerequisites: (ENGL 2311 or ENGL 1143) or (ENGL 1302 or ENGL 1133) or (HUMA 1303 or HUMA 1301) or (PHIL 2023 or PHIL 2306) or PHIL 2303 or (ENGL 2153 or ENGL 2341) or (ENGL 2383 or ENGL 2331) or (HUMA 1403 or HUMA 1305).
GNST 4310 Diversity & Global Learning: 3 semester hours.
This high impact practice course will introduce students to obstacles that world populations face. The course will consist of field assignments that will help students explore cultures, life experiences, and worldviews different from their own. Experiential learning may be local, regional, or national. Required for all General Studies majors. This is a writing intensive course.
Prerequisites: GNST 3310 or GNST 3103.
GNST 4320 Multidisciplinary Capstone: 3 semester hours.
This course requires students to integrate and use fundamental concepts learned in previous courses within the students’ degree concentration. Students nearing the end of their college years will create a project of some sort that integrates and applies what they’ve learned. The project might be a research paper, a performance or an ePortfolio of their “best work”. Required for General Studies majors. This is a writing intensive course.
Prerequisites: (GNST 3310 or GNST 3101) and (GNST 4310 or GNST 4103).
American Sign Language Courses
SGNL 1301 American Sign Language (ASL) I: 3 semester hours.
The course involves the learning of beginner levels of American Sign Language. Which includes the study of the history, structure, and grammar of American Sign Language. It also incorporates the study of the historical and cultural contexts of the Deaf community.
SGNL 1302 American Sign Language II: 3 semester hours.
In this course, students will expand their knowledge of ASL, Deaf Culture, Deaf History, and the Deaf Community. We will focus on the instruction and development of vocabulary, grammar, fingerspelling, basic classifiers, and overall sign production. Projects, presentations, a plethora of skill-building activities, exercises, and games as well as interactive communication, will be used to enhance and enrich developing expressive and receptive skills in the target language. Throughout the course, students will be able to continue performing the tasks of the novice language learner, such as understanding signed phrases, producing learned signs, phrases sentences, and stories & understanding the importance of grammar, culture, & communication in ASL.
Prerequisites: SGNL 1301.