Interdisciplinary Studies
Interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship cross boundaries between academic disciplines or schools of thought to expand traditional limits on knowledge and to address new and emerging challenges. The epidemiology of AIDS and the dynamics of climate change, for example, require the insights and resources of multiple disciplines. Whitworth University emphasizes interdisciplinary studies as essential to a comprehensive and relevant liberal arts education and to subsequent vocational service and success.
Interdisciplinary studies at Whitworth entail a range of offerings, including academic majors, minors and signature shared curriculum courses such as Core 150, 250 and 350. Several of these areas of study incorporate significant programmatic and co-curricular elements such as events, speakers and leadership/service opportunities.
Interdisciplinary Majors
American Studies, History Emphasis
International Studies, History Emphasis or Political Science Emphasis
Peace Studies, Political Science Emphasis
Individually Designed Majors, B.S. or B.A.
Students who wish to integrate related courses from a variety of academic disciplines have the option of declaring an individually designed major in lieu of choosing a departmental major. Students should complete the IDM application process after two semesters of full-time study at Whitworth, and no later than the end of their fifth semester of full-time study. Transfer students with higher than sophomore standing should apply in their first two full-time semesters at Whitworth. Students begin this process with their academic advisor (or first-year advisor if they do not have a departmental advisor yet).
The program must:
- Contain work of an interdisciplinary nature
- Include a minimum of 40 credits
- Include a minimum of 12 credits of upper-division work
- Equally distribute credits, including upper-division credits, among two or more departments (within a 10 percent margin)
- Include a W course
- Include an internship or capstone experience
While students can take up to 12 credits of Independent Study (IS) at Whitworth, no more than six can be built into IDM requirements. If IS credits are built into IDM requirements, please describe the subject and nature of the IS in the application. No teaching assistantships are allowed as requirements.
The IDM will not be approved as a substitute for existing disciplinary major or minor programs of study available within the catalog. An IDM will not be approved for strictly vocational education or preparatory programs such as pre-optometry or pre-pharmacy.
Interdisciplinary Minors
Medieval & Early Modern Studies