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Interdisciplinary Studies Programs

Program Leadership

Director

Jennifer Lieberman, associate professor of English
j.lieberman@unf.edu

Professor Lieberman specializes in American literature and science and technology studies. She graduated from the University of Florida with a B.A. in English and a B.S. in mathematics, she received her Ph.D. in English with a concentration in gender studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and she completed an NSF Postdoctoral fellowship in Science and Technology Studies at Cornell University. At UNF Professor Lieberman regularly teaches courses on everything from literature to writing about science, medicine, and technology, in addition to Introduction to Interdisciplinary Inquiry and Introduction to International Studies.

Environmental Studies Curated Theme (36 Credits)

Theme: Environmental Studies (Revised 11/2021)

Only two transfer courses will apply towards major requirements. A grade of C or better is required in all major courses. No more than 2 courses at the lower division may be used for the major. Students will be required to complete all prerequisites needed for individual major courses. Individual courses may be used only once to meet program requirements or electives. Students may cross-count up to 9 credits for a minor or a second major, on approval from that program. Students may not minor in Environmental Studies.

Capstone (3 credits) 

At the end of their program, students will complete a capstone experience, which may involve an internship, a directed independent study or relevant coursework, a relevant study abroad, community-based experience, a program with the Institute for Environmental Research and Education, or other credit-bearing project to be approved by the program director.

Foundations (12 credits)

  • BSC 3057 Intro to Environmental Studies (3 credits)
  • GIS 3043 Intro to Geographical Information Systems (3 credits)
  • PHI 3640 Environmental Ethics (3 credits)
Select 1 Methods course (3 credits) from the following: 
  • ANT 4083 Quantitative Methods in Anthropology (3 credits)
  • CCJ 3700 Research Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice (3 credits)
  • SYA 3300 Logic of Inquiry (3 credits)
  • ENG 4004 Research Methods in English (3 credits)
  • HIS 3051 Craft of the Historian (3 credits)
  • IDS 3053 Introduction to Interdisciplinary Inquiry (3 credits)
  • PAD 4144 Nonprofit Management (3 credits)
  • PHI 3084 Philosophical Methods (3 credits)
  • POS 3733 Research Design for Political Scientists (3 credits)
  • PSY 3213 Research Methods in Psychology (3 credits)
  • REL 3102 Religion as Culture (3 credits)

Or other methods coursework approved by the program director.

Electives (21 credits) 

Select 7 courses related to environmental studies.

Up to 3 of the 7 courses may be taken from the natural sciences, and up to 3 from outside of the College of Arts and Sciences (Coggin College of Business; Brooks College of Health; College of Computing, Engineering, and Construction; College of Education and Human Services).

Students are encouraged to gain a wide variety of disciplinary skills and perspectives. Special Topics courses on environmental themes from any department may be included, after consultation with the program advisor. Please note that some courses may be offered on a limited basis, and courses may have significant prerequisites.

At least 2 courses (6 credits) MUST be selected from Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences:
  • AMH 3420 Florida History
  • AMH 3460 American Cities and Suburbs
  • AMH 3580 American Indian History
  • AMH 3630 Environmental History of the United States
  • ART 3786 Ceramics
  • CPO4034: Politics of Developing Countries
  • HIS 3490 History of Medicine and Disease
  • PAD 4144 Nonprofit Management
  • PHI 3400 Philosophy of Science
  • PHI 3601 Ethics
  • PSY 3810 Evolutionary Psychology
  • PSY 4870 Conservation Psychology
  • REL 3168 Religion and Nature
  • SYD 4510 Environment and Society

Or relevant Special Topics or other coursework approved by the program director.

At least 1 course (3 credits) MUST be selected from the Natural Sciences and Mathematics:

No Prerequisites:

  • BSC 1005C Principles of Biology
  • BSC 1930 Current Applications in Biology
  • CHM 1020 Chemistry for Liberal Studies
  • ESC 2000 Earth Science
  • GLY 2010 Physical Geology
  • PHY 1033 Discovering Physics 
Courses with Significant Prerequisites: 
  • BOT 4503C Plant Anatomy and Physiology
  • BSC 3052 Conservation Biology
  • BSC 3263 Marine Biology
  • BSC 4054 Environmental Toxicology
  • CHS 4615 Environmental Chemistry    
  • CHS 4615L Environmental Chemistry Lab
  • FAS 4354 Coastal Fisheries Management
  • MCB 4603C Microbial Ecology
  • OCE 3008 Oceanography
  • OCB 3180L 4930 FIO Marine Field Studies
  • PCB 3043C Ecology
  • PCB 4301C Limnology
  • ZOO 4823c General Entomology
  • ZOO 4208c Coastal Invertebrate Biology
  • ZOO 4823C General Entomology
  • MAD 4505 Discrete Biomathematics

Or relevant Special Topics or other coursework approved by the program director.

Additional electives may be selected from the previous categories or from the following coursework from CCB, BCH, CCEC, and COEHS. Coursework outside of COAS may have significant prerequisites and/or be restricted by major. Any relevant coursework not listed here may be available for the major on approval by the program director:

  • ECP 3302 Environmental Economics
  • ENV3001C Environmental Engineering
  • FSS 3800 Seminar in Food Systems and Sustainability
  • GEB 4113 Entrepreneurship
  • GEO 2200 Physical Geography
  • GEO 3372 Conservation of Natural Resources 
  • GEO 3502 Economic Geography
  • GEO 3553 Cultural Dimensions of Economic Geography
  • GIS 4048 Intermediate Geographical Information Systems
  • HSC4210 Environmental Health
  • HSC 4624 Global health
  • HSC 4674 Global Health: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
  • MAN 4720 Strategic Management and Business Policy

Film, Film and Production, and Film and Screenwriting Themes

 

Theme 1: Film  

A grade of C or better is required in all major courses. Students may cross-count up to four courses (12 credits) when double majoring. Prerequisites needed for major courses may not count toward the major.

Capstone Experience 

Towards the end of their program, students will consult with an advisor or program coordinator about what they will use to satisfy their capstone requirement. This might be a project done within a class, an independent project, an internship, study abroad, or something else that encapsulates the student’s cumulative learning in their major.

Foundations (4 courses, 12 credits)

FREQUENCY: THESE FOUR COURSES ARE OFFERED 1-2 TIMES A YEAR

  • FIL 4828: Movements in International Film
  • FIL 3826: Movements in American Film
  • FIL 3006: Analyzing Films
  • FIL 3801: Film Terms 

Core  

Film Studies: (5 courses, 15 credits)

FREQUENCY: FIL FILM STUDIES CLASSES TEND TO BE OFFERED EVERY OTHER YEAR ON AVERAGE

  • FIL 3801: Film Terms
  • FIL 3006: Analyzing Films
  • FIL 4839: Film Noir
  • FIL 4075: American Film in Context: 1950s – 60s
  • FIL 4073: American Film in Context: 1970s
  • FIL 4078: American Film in Context: 1980s
  • FIL 4300: Documentary Movements and Media
  • FIL 3832: The Horror Film
  • FIL 3833: Science Fiction (“film genre” in course catalog)
  • FIL 3831: Black Cinema
  • FIL 4822: French Cinema
  • FIL 4843: East Asian Cinema
  • FIL 4843: Anime (frequency irregular)
  • FIL 4935: Film and Trauma
  • FIL 4848: World Cinema and the Cross-Cultural Encounter (CD)
  • FIL 4882: Gender, Sexuality, and Cinema (CD) (“cinema and culture” in course catalog)
  • PHI 3880: Philosophy of Film
  • LAH: Modern Latin American History through Film TWICE YEARLY INCL SUMMER 2
  • SPW 3391: Spanish American Film (requires permission)
  • POS 3683: Law and Cinema
  • REL 3111: Religion and Film (online) EVERY OTHER YEAR
  • PGY 4944: Examining Italian Film through Photography EVERY YEAR
  • FIL 4940: Internship in Film Administration (requires permission and advising) Or Film Studies related coursework approved by the Film Coordinator.
Production: (1 course, 3 credits)

The film program believes that making media is invaluable to learning about media, so we require one production class of our film studies students. Students interested in more production should look to the Film and Production Major. Students interested in more screenwriting should look to the Film and Screenwriting Major.

  • FIL 3363: Documentary Production EVERY FALL
  • FIL 4379: Advanced Documentary Production EVERY SPRING

The documentary production courses are meant to be taken in sequence through fall and spring 

  • FIL 4361: Audio Documentary and Podcasting EVERY FALL
  • FIL 4900: Directed Independent Study

Used for Independent filmmaking projects, permission and preferred FIL 4379 first

  • CRW 3610: Screenwriting Workshop
  • PGY 2401: Introduction to Photography
  • PGY 2807C: Digital Photography for Non-Photography Majors
  • MUM 1630: Introduction to Digital Audio
  • TTP 2100: Acting 1
  • THE 3103: Acting 2
  • THE 4935: Directing and Performance 

Major Electives: (1 course, 3 credits)

Select from any of the Production or Film Studies courses above or any of the courses below 

  • CRW 3742: Integrative Arts Workshop
  • CRW 4616: Adv. Screenwriting Workshop
  • ARH 4710: History of Photography
  • ENC 4436: Writing as Social Action YEARLY
  • COM 3752: Listening
  • ADV 3812: Integrated Marketing Communication
  • MMC 3200: Law and Ethics in Communication (Requires overrides)
  • MMC 4500: History of Mass Communication (Requires overrides)
  • RTV 3001: Principles of Broadcasting
  • ENG 3816: Digital Methods in Literary Studies YEARLY
  • DIG 3152: Introduction to Electronic Textual Editing YEARLY
  • ARH 4800: esthetics of Art 3
  • PHI3800: Aesthetics

Or any Film related coursework approved by the Film Coordinator.

Capstone Requirement

Capstone requirements can be fulfilled by in a number of ways:

  • Finishing both FIL 3363 and 4379, ending in the public showing of your documentary film
  • Completing an Internship in Film Production or Administration
  • Completing an independent film project through FIL 4900: Independent Study in Film Production (requires permission)
  • Completing an independent screenwriting project through FIL 4900: Independent Study in Film Production (requires permission)

Proposing a capstone project approved by film faculty

* Interdisciplinary Studies majors, such as the Film Major, must do one of two things:

  • Declare a minor
  • Double major

Doing either provides an opportunity to bring disciplines together in a very productive manner. A Film Major could either minor or double major in Criminal Justice, Psychology, Philosophy, History, Photography, Graphic Design, Sociology, Communications, the list goes on. 

For example, including the following five classes in the degree could change the degree to Film and Black Arts. Add a Creative Writing minor focused on screenwriting and the major could be Film, Screenwriting, and Black Arts. 

  • FIL 4075: American Film in Context: 1950s – 60s
  • FIL 4073: American Film in Context: 1970s
  • FIL 3831: Black Cinema
  • AML3621: Black American Literature
  • MUH 3055: African American Musical Heritage

Browse the online catalog for course descriptions: https://www.unf.edu/catalog/courses.aspx
See the list of programs, majors and minors here: https://www.unf.edu/catalog/programs.aspx

Consult with faculty mentors and advisors to help with curricular designs:

Dr. Jillian Smith: Film Program Coordinator – jlsmith@unf.edu
Dr. Jenni Lieberman: Interdisciplinary Studies Coordinator – j.lieberman@unf.edu 
Ms. Alex Lackard: Advisor for IDS and Film, a.lackard@unf.edu

Theme 2: Film and Production

A grade of C or better is required in all major courses. Students may cross-count up to four courses (12 credits) when double majoring. Prerequisites needed for major courses may not count toward the major.

Capstone Experience 

Towards the end of their program, students will consult with an advisor or program coordinator about what they will use to satisfy their capstone requirement. This might be a project done within a class, an independent project, an internship, study abroad, or something else that encapsulates the student’s cumulative learning in their major. 

Foundations 

Film Basics (1 course, 3 credits)

Choose one:

  • FIL 3006: Analyzing Films
  • FIL 3801: Film Terms
Core Production: (3 course, 9 credits) 

Take all three (the first two must be in sequence): 

  • FIL 3363: Documentary Production EVERY FALL
  • FIL 4379: Advanced Documentary Production EVERY SPRING, requires FIL 3363
  • FIL 4361: Audio Documentary and Podcasting EVERY FALL 
Additional Production: (3 courses, 9 credits)

Choose 3 courses from below and/or from repeating FIL 4379 and/or FIL 4361 above

FILM 

  • FIL 4900: Directed Independent Study

Used for Independent filmmaking projects, permission and preferred FIL 4379 first 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

  • PGY 2401: Introduction to Photography (black and white film, not digital)
  • PGY 2807C: Digital Photography for Non-Photography Majors
  • PGY 3820C: Intro to Digital Imaging
  • PGY 3410C: Intermediate Photography
  • PGY 4944C: Adv. Photo Practicum: Personal Documents

CREATIVE WRITING. (all repeatable) 

  • CRW 3610: Screenwriting Workshop
  • CRW 4616: Adv. Screenwriting Workshop
  • CRW 3742: Integrative Arts Workshop 

THEATER: ACTING and DIRECTING

  • TTP 2100: Acting 1
  • THE 3103: Acting 2
  • THE 4935: Directing and Performance

MUSIC

  • MUM 1630: Introduction to Digital Audio

ENGINEERING

  • IDH 4990: Aerial Surveillance: Drones, Kites, and 3d Models YEARLY (requires override)

DIGITAL ARCHIVING

  • ENG 3816: Digital Methods in Literary Studies YEARLY
  • DIG 3152: Introduction to Electronic Textual Editing YEARLY

INTERNSHIP

  • FIL 4945: Internship in Film Production (requires permission and advising) 
Career: (1 course, 3 credits)

Choose one:

  • ART 3930: The Business of Art (online) EVERY SUMMER – Course under revision, may be unavailable
  • ENC 4403: Grant Writing
  • MMC 3200: Law and Ethics in Communication (Requires overrides)  

Major Electives: (3 courses, 9 credits)

Choose major electives from Foundations courses above (can include repeated course) or from the list below

Film Studies

FREQUENCY: FIL FILM STUDIES CLASSES TEND TO BE OFFERED EVERY OTHER YEAR ON AVERAGE

  • FIL 3801: Film Terms
  • FIL 3006: Analyzing Films
  • FIL 4839: Film Noir
  • FIL 4075: American Film in Context: 1950s – 60s
  • FIL 4073: American Film in Context: 1970s
  • FIL 4078: American Film in Context: 1980s
  • FIL 4300: Documentary Movements and Media
  • FIL 3832: The Horror Film
  • FIL 3833: Science Fiction (“film genre” in course catalog)
  • FIL 3831: Black Cinema
  • FIL 4822: French Cinema
  • FIL 4843: East Asian Cinema
  • FIL 4843: Anime (frequency irregular)
  • FIL 4935: Film and Trauma
  • FIL 4848: World Cinema and the Cross-Cultural Encounter (CD)
  • FIL 4882: Gender, Sexuality, and Cinema (CD) (“cinema and culture” in course catalog)
  • PHI 3880: Philosophy of Film
  • LAH: Modern Latin American History through Film TWICE YEARLY INCL SUMMER
  • SPW 3391: Spanish American Film (requires permission)
  • POS 3683: Law and Cinema
  • REL 3111: Religion and Film (online) EVERY OTHER YEAR
  • PGY 4944: Examining Italian Film through Photography EVERY YEAR
Other:
  • ADV 3812: Integrated Marketing Communication
  • ENC 4436: Writing as Social Action
  • COM 3752: Listening
  • RTV 3001: Principles of Broadcasting
  • MMC 4500: History of Mass Communication (Requires overrides)
  • ARH 4710: History of Photography
  • ARH 4800: Aesthetics of Art 

Or any Film related coursework approved by the Film Coordinator.

Capstone Requirement

Capstone requirements can be fulfilled by in a number of ways:

  • Finishing both FIL 3363 and 4379, ending in the public showing of your documentary film
  • Completing an Internship in Film Production or Administration
  • Completing an independent film project through FIL 4900: Independent Study in Film Production (requires permission)
  • Proposing a capstone project approved by film faculty

* Interdisciplinary Studies majors, such as the Film and Production Major, must do one of these:

  • Declare a minor
  • Double major

Take advantage of this to craft the degree you want. For instance, minoring in Film provides both production and film history background. Double majoring in other production modalities, such as Photography, Graphic Design, or Communications—Digital Video Production provides all the production the university has to offer. Double majoring or minoring in fields such as criminal justice, psychology, political science, or history can shape filmmaking while doubling skill sets and employability.

Browse the online catalog for course descriptions: https://www.unf.edu/catalog/courses.aspx
See the list of programs, majors and minors here: https://www.unf.edu/catalog/programs.aspx

Consult with faculty mentors and advisors to help with curricular designs:
Dr. Jillian Smith: Film Program Coordinator – jlsmith@unf.edu
Dr. Jenni Lieberman: Interdisciplinary Studies Coordinator – j.lieberman@unf.edu 
Ms Alex Lackard: Advisor for IDS and Film, a.lackard@unf.edu

Theme 3: Film and Screenwriting

A grade of C or better is required in all major courses. Students may cross-count up to four courses (12 credits) when double majoring. Prerequisites needed for major courses may not count toward the major.

Capstone Experience

Towards the end of their program, students will consult with an advisor or program coordinator about what they will use to satisfy their capstone requirement. This might be a project done within a class, an independent project, an internship, study abroad, or something else that encapsulates the student’s cumulative learning in their major.

Screenwriting (3 courses, 9 credits)

  • CRW 2600: Introduction to Screenwriting
  • CRW 3610: Screenwriting Workshop (repeatable)
  • CRW 4616: Adv. Screenwriting Workshop (repeatable) 

Creative Writing (2 courses, 6 credits)

Choose two: (Can repeat the same course) 

  • CRW 3110: Fiction Workshop (repeatable)
  • CRW 3211: Creative Non-Fiction Workshop (repeatable)
  • CRW 3310: Poetry Workshop
  • CRW 3742: Integrative Arts Workshop (repeatable)
  • CRW 4122: Adv. Fiction Workshop
  • CRW 4224: Adv Creative Nonfiction Workshop
  • CRW 4320: Adv Poetry Workshop
  • CRW 4924: Adv Creative Writing Workshop

Professional Writing (1 course, 3 credits)

Choose one:

  • ENC 4436: Writing as Social Action
  • ART 3930: The Business of Art (online) EVERY SUMMER – Course under revision, may be unavailable
  • ENC 4403: Grant Writing

Film/Narrative Basics (1 course, 3 credits)

Choose one:

  • FIL 3006 Analyzing Films
  • FIL 3801: Film Terms
  • LIT 3213: The Art of Critical Reading and Writing (narrative tools)

Production: (1 course, 3 credits)

  • FIL 3363: Documentary Production EVERY FALL
  • FIL 4379: Advanced Documentary Production EVERY SPRING

• The documentary production courses are meant to be taken in sequence through fall and spring

  • FIL 4361: Audio Documentary and Podcasting EVERY FALL
  • TTP 2100: Acting 1
  • THE 3103: Acting 2
  • THE 4935: Directing and Performance

* Note on documentary production courses: all teach the basics of assembling a narrative and/or of basic filmmaking, which is applicable beyond the documentary form

Major Electives: (3 courses, 9 credits)

Film Studies:

FREQUENCY: FIL FILM STUDIES CLASSES TEND TO BE OFFERED EVERY OTHER YEAR ON AVERAGE

  • FIL 3801: Film Terms
  • FIL 3006 Analyzing Films
  • FIL 4839: Film Noir
  • FIL 4075: American Film in Context: 1950s – 60s
  • FIL 4073: American Film in Context: 1970s
  • FIL 4078: American Film in Context: 1980s
  • FIL 4300: Documentary Movements and Media
  • FIL 3832: The Horror Film
  • FIL 3833: Science Fiction (“film genre” in course catalog)
  • FIL 3831: Black Cinema
  • FIL 4822: French Cinema
  • FIL 4843: East Asian Cinema
  • FIL 4843: Anime (frequency irregular)
  • FIL 4935: Film and Trauma
  • FIL 4848: World Cinema and the Cross-Cultural Encounter (CD)
  • FIL 4882: Gender, Sexuality, and Cinema (CD) (“cinema and culture” in course catalog)
  • PHI 3880: Philosophy of Film
  • LAH: Modern Latin American History through Film TWICE YEARLY INCL SUMMER
  • SPW 3391: Spanish American Film (requires permission)
  • POS 3683: Law and Cinema
  • REL 3111: Religion and Film (online only) EVERY OTHER YEAR
  • PGY 4944: Examining Italian Film through Photography EVERY YEAR

Or Film related coursework approved by the Film Coordinator.

Capstone Requirement

Capstone requirements can be fulfilled by in a number of ways:

  • Finishing both FIL 3363 and 4379, ending in the public showing of your documentary film
  • Completing an Internship in Film Production or Administration
  • Completing an independent film project through FIL 4900: Independent Study in Film Production (requires permission)
  • Completing an independent screenwriting project through FIL 4900: Independent Study in Film Production (requires permission)
  • Proposing a capstone project approved by film faculty

* Interdisciplinary Studies majors, such as the Film and Screenwriting Major, must do one of two things:

  • Declare a minor
  • Double major

Take advantage of this to craft the degree you want. For instance, double majoring or minoring in fields such as criminal justice, psychology, political science, history, philosophy, or anthropology could provide depth and content to your writing. While double majoring or minoring in other applied arts could give your work a unique creative dimension.

Browse the online catalog for course descriptions: https://www.unf.edu/catalog/courses.aspx
See the list of programs, majors and minors here: https://www.unf.edu/catalog/programs.aspx

Consult with faculty mentors and advisors to help with curricular designs:
Dr. Jillian Smith: Film Program Coordinator – jlsmith@unf.edu
Dr. Jenni Lieberman: Interdisciplinary Studies Coordinator – j.lieberman@unf.edu
Ms Alex Lackard: Advisor for IDS and Film, a.lackard@unf.edu

Minor: Film

This is the Film Minor as it currently stands in the catalog. Virtually any Film course from our current offerings will count toward the 3 electives for the minor, except FIL 2000. Contact Dr. Smith for permissions: jlsmith@unf.edu

Minor: Film (15 credits)

A grade of “C” or better is required in all minor courses. Courses cannot double count in both a major and minor.

  1. Select 1 Analysis and Terminology course 
    • LIT 3213 The Art of Critical Reading And Writing I (3)
    • FIL 3006 Analyzing Films (3)
    • FIL 3809 Film Terms (3 credits)
  2. Select 1 Historical Survey course
    • FIL 3826 Movements in American Film (3)
    • FIL 4828 Movements in International Film (3)
  3. Select 3 or more electives from any of the categories below, or any course above that has not been used to fulfill the requirement
Film Studies
  • LIT 3213 The Art of Critical Reading and Writing I (3)
  • FIL 3006 Analyzing Films (3)
  • FIL 3826 Movements in American Film (3)
  • PHI 3880 Philosophy of Film (3)
  • LAH 3736 Modern Latin American History Through Film (3)
  • FOT 3932 French Identity In Film (3)
  • FIL 3833 Film Genre (3)
  • FIL 3832 Black Cinema
  • FIL 3831 Horror Films
  • FIL 4828 Movements in International Film (3)
  • FIL 4843 Asian Cinema (3)
  • FIL 4848 Transnational Cinema (3)
  • FIL 4882 Cinema And Culture (3)
  • FIL 4822 French Cinema (3)
  • FIL 4836 Film Noir
  • FIL 4072 American Film in Context: 1950s – 1960s
  • FIL 4073 American Film in Context: 1970s (3)
  • FIL 4078 American Film in Context: 1980s (3)
  • FIL 3930 Topics In Film (3)
  • FIL 4935 Advanced Topics In Film (3)
  • SPW 4934 Spanish American Film (3)
  • FIL 4300 Documentary Movements and Media (3)
Film Production and Screen Writing
  • CRW 3610 Screenwriting Workshop (3)
  • FIL 3363 Documentary Production (3)
  • FIL 4363 Advanced Documentary Production (3)
  • FIL 4293 Audio Documentary and Podcasting (3)
Internships and Independent Studies
  • FIL 4900 Directed Independent Study In Film (3)
  • FIL 4940 Internship In Film Administration (3)
  • FIL 4945 Internship In Film Production (3)

Interdisciplinary Disability Studies

Disabled people comprise one of the largest minority groups in the United States, with nearly 20 percent of Americans having a physical, sensory, psychosocial, or neurological disability or a combination of disabilities. The recognition of this sizable minority, together with disability social justice and political activism in recent decades, has led to the emergence of Disability Studies.

Disability Studies is a robust and vibrant field of intellectual inquiry that views disability not as a defect in individuals’ bodies, but as an issue needing to be addressed by society. Courses in this minor explore how disability generates knowledge concerning the complex relationship between society and the person differing from the norm. Focusing on disability within social and political contexts, the minor’s courses provide students with an opportunity to reflect critically on ableist, as well as inclusive, practices. This minor will have merit with employers valuing diversity and an inclusive workplace culture. This minor is available through UNF’s Interdisciplinary Studies program.

IDS Advisor: Ms. Alex Lackard
a.lackard@unf.edu
Faculty Contact: Dr. Debbie Reed
deborah.reed@unf.edu

Required:

  • ENG3613, Disability Culture
  • ANT3462 Health, Illness and Culture

Students choose three of the following courses:

  • ASL3514, Deaf Culture
  • EEX3005, Introduction to Disabilities
  • EEX3070, Inclusion of Individuals with Disabilities
  • EEX4024, Disability Laws and Politics
  • EME3xxx, Universal Design for Learning (available Fall 2022)

Minor Theme: Peace Corps Academic Preparation (18 credits)

This minor is intended for students who are interested in becoming Peace Corps volunteers after graduation, and can be done in conjunction with UNF’s Peace Corps Preparation program.

Students must take 18 credits, with a grade of C or higher, to complete this minor. No more than 6 transfer credits can be used toward this minor. This minor fulfills some of the requirements for the Peace Corps Prep Certificate. At least 12 credits of the minor must be at the upper division level (3-4000).

Intercultural Competence (9 credits)

Select 1 of the following (3 credits):

MMC 2701 Communicating Across Cultures (3 credits)
LDR 3240 Inter-Group Dialogue Among Diverse Populations (3 credits)
SYG 2013 Sex, Race and Class (3 credits)

Select 2 electives from the following (6 credits):

Cultural Diversity (CD) or Foreign Culture (FC) courses, or courses focused on Intercultural Competence approved by your advisor and the PCPP Coordinator.

Work Sector Coursework (9 credits) 

Students will select 9 credits of coursework from one of the following work sectors, in consultation with their advisor and the PCPP Coordinator.

Education

Elementary, Middle School, Science, Deaf, or Special Education
English
Engineering
Mathematics and Statistics
Computing and Informational Sciences
Physical or Biological Sciences

Health

Nursing
Nutrition and Dietetics
Health Science
Public Health
Pre-med
Biology

Environment

Biology
Environmental Studies

Agriculture

Business or Economics
Biomedical Sciences, Coastal Biology, Coastal Environmental Sciences

Youth in Development

Social Work
Social Welfare
Gender Studies
Psychology
Child Psychology
Sport Management

Community Economic Development

Public Admin/Public Policy
Urban and Metropolitan Studies
Accounting
Finance
Entrepreneurship
Mass Communications
International Business
Computing and Information Science

Concentration: Pre-Med in Liberal Arts (16 credits)

This minor is intended for students interested in pursuing a career in medicine, and complements a traditional pre-med major such as Biology.

Students must take 16 credits minimum, with a grade of C or higher, to complete this minor.

Up to 3 credits may be transfer credits.

1-3 credits of BSC 2992: Pre Med Seminar is required.

3 credits of 3000/4000 level Ethics-focused coursework is required. Students may choose from: 

  • PHI 3601: Ethics
  • PHI 3632: Ethics of Sex and Gender
  • PHI 3633: Bioethics
  • PHI 3637: Ethical Issues in Public Health
  • PHI 3640: Environmental Ethics
  • PHI 3643: Ethics and Literature
  • PHI 3664: Ethics East and West
  • PHM 3050: Ethical Issues in Death and Dying
  • or other approved Ethics coursework
6 credits of Arts and Humanities coursework is required in the following disciplines. The following courses are strongly recommended: 

Philosophy 

  • PHI 3400 Philosophy of Science
  • PHI 3320: Philosophy of Mind
  • PHI 3130: (GM) Symbolic Logic
  • PHI 3670: Moral Conflict
  • PHI 3700: Philosophy of Religion
  • PHI 4674: Lies and Self Deception
  • PHM 3128: Philosophy of Race and Racism
  • PHM 3020: Philosophy of Love and Sex
  • PHH 3810: Introduction to Buddhism
  • PHH 3811: Philosophy of Zen Buddhism
  • PHH 3820: (FC) Chinese Philosophy
  • PHH 3860: (FC) Japanese Philosophy
  • PHH 3104: Socrates and the Sophists
  • PHH 3120: (FC) The Greek Experience
  • or other 3000/4000 level courses in Philosophy

English

  • ENC 3250: Professional Communication
  • AML 3102: American Fiction
  • AML 3154: American Poetry
  • ENG 3613: Topics in Disability Studies
  • AML 3621: (GW) Black American Literature
  • ENL 3333: Shakespeare
  • or other 3000/4000 level courses in AML/ENL/FIL/LIT/THE

Languages, Literature, and Cultures 

  • FOT 3931: (FC) Women and Violence in Latin America
  • LAS 3020: (FC) Peoples and Cultures of the Caribbean
  • LAS 3031: (FC) Peoples and Cultures of the Southern Cone
  • SPN 3036: Spanish for Health Professions 
  • LAT: 1120 Latin I
  • LAT 1121: Latin II

Art History 

  • Any 3000/4000 level ARH course 

Religious Studies*

  • REL 3120: Religion in America
  • REL 3127: Religion and the Courts
  • REL 3101: Religion and Popular Culture
  • REL 2110: Religion and the Arts in the US
  • REL 3152: Race and Religion in the United States or other 3000/4000 REL courses

History*

  • HIS 3490: History of Medicine and Disease
  • AMH 3312: Gender in the United States
  • AFH 3252: War, Genocide and HIV in Modern Africa
  • AMH 3312: (CD) Gender in the United States
  • AMH 3571: (CD) Introduction to African-American History
  • AMH 3580: (CD) American Indian History
  • or other 3000/4000 level courses in AMH/ASH/ASN/EUH/HIS/LAH

6 credits of 3000/4000 level Social Science coursework is required. Students may choose from the following courses and disciplines, or other couresework approved by the program director:

Psychology

  • EXP 3104: Human Sensory Perception
  • EXP 3604: Cognitive Psychology
  • EXP 3680C: Experimental Cognitive Psychology 
  • SOP 3214C: Experimental Social Psychology 
  • SOP 3004: Social Psychology
  • DEP 3054: Lifespan Developmental Psychology
  • EAB 4703: Behavior Modification
  • EXP 3461C: Human Learning & Performance

Note: Students may only take one psychology course (from the list above) in partial fulfillment of the IS Pre-Med 

Minor. In addition, students may not use CLP 4313: Health Psychology to fulfill this requirement.

Sociology

  • SYD 3020: Social Demography
  • SYD 3410: Urban Sociology
  • SYD 3700: (CD) Racial and Ethnic Minorities
  • SYD 3800: (CD) Gender and Society
  • SYD 4702: Race, Place and Inequality
  • SYO 3110: Sociology of Sexualities
  • SYO 3530: Social Stratification
  • SYO 3570: Deviance and Social Control
  •  SYO 4050: The Sociology of Human Interaction
  • SYO 4400: Health, Illness and Society
  • SYO 4730: The Sociology of Aging

Anthropology

  • ANT 3212: (CD)(FC) Peoples and Cultures of the World
  • ANT 3243: (FC) Comparative Muslim Cultures
  • ANT 3414: Principles of Socio Cultural Anthropology
  • ANT 3443: The City and Health
  • ANT 3514: Principles of Physical Anthropology
  • ANT 4025: The Anthropology of Death
  • ANT 4451: Anthropology of Race
  • ANT 4620: Language, Culture and Society

Political Science and Public Administration

  • PUP 3603: Medical Politics and Policy
  • PUP 4506: Evolution, Society and Politics

Criminal Justice

  • CCJ 4604: Crime and Mental Illness            
  • CCJ 4681: Family Violence
  • CJE 3232: Drugs and Crime
  • CJE 4270: Child Abuse
  • CJJ 3010: Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Justice    

Communications

  • COM 3044: Lying and Deception
  • COM 3042: Interpersonal Communication
  • COM 3752: Listening
  • SPC 4064: Public Speaking for Professionals 

Religious Studies*

  • REL 3120: Religion in America
  • REL 3127: Religion and the Courts
  • REL 3101: Religion and Popular Culture
  • REL 2110: Religion and the Arts in the US
  • REL 3152: Race and Religion in the United States or other approved 3000/4000 REL coursework

History*

  • HIS 3490: History of Medicine and Disease
  • AMH 3312: Gender in the United States
  • AFH 3252: War, Genocide and HIV in Modern Africa
  • AMH 3312: (CD) Gender in the United States
  • AMH 3571: (CD) Introduction to African-American History
  • AMH 3580: (CD) American Indian History or other 3000/4000 level courses in History

*Religious Studies and History are interdisciplinary fields that share in social science and humanities methodologies. As such, students may use Religious Studies or History courses in the Social Sciences category or the Arts and Humanities category, but students may not count multiple courses in Religious Studies across both categories, and may not count multiple courses in History across both categories.

Capstone Frequently Asked Questions

The IDS Major has only a few requirements, and one is that you complete a Capstone project!

You have many different options for completing your capstone. You can: 

  • do an internship 
  • study abroad 
  • do directed research with a faculty member 
  • participate in community engagement or experiential learning opportunities 
  • take an additional course that is important for your theme 
  • and more! 

The most important thing about your capstone is that it is meaningful for YOUR program. Be creative! You should meet with the Program Director or your curated theme coordinator to discuss Capstone options well in advance of the term in which you want to do your capstone.

  • I'd like to do an internship, but I don't really know where or how to get started. What should I do?

    Great question! UNF has a great Career Center that runs our IDS internships. AT LEAST one semester before you want to intern, you should start working with them to figure out the best placement for you.

  • The plan that I put in my proposal now is not ideal, and I want to change it. Can I do that?

    It depends. We want you to find the best, most meaningful experience for your capstone. But many things require a little lead time, and the longer you leave this the more limited your options are. Please work on your capstone planning at least one semester before you plan to do your capstone.

  • I want to work individually with a faculty member for my capstone. How do I do that?

    Working in a directed individual study or other option with individualized faculty attention is a great option for your capstone. Maybe you're going to help a faculty member conduct research, or do your own research, or work as part of a team on a special project. All of these are possible, BUT... first you need to consider a couple of things.

    1. Does the faculty member know you want to do this? Not all faculty are willing or able to do directed work with students, and faculty are not compensated for this kind of work. As soon as you've identified a faculty member you'd like to work with (at least one semester before you want to do your capstone), start talking with them about it! Ask if they have any opportunities for student research, or if they would be willing to supervise directed study. Ask what kind of neat research they do (we love to talk about our research...), and how you might help. Go to them with an idea of what you want to work on, and see if they are interested! The theme here is... make sure to talk with the faculty member well ahead of time. 
    2. Talk with other students who have done directed independent studies. Get a good sense of what is involved in that discipline with that faculty member. In some disciplines, you need to be invited to work individually with faculty, while in others faculty will wait for you to bring your idea to them. 
    3. Planning ahead can be really helpful here, as some neat opportunities are only available over the summer, or might actually involve more than one semester of time.
  • I want to study abroad for my capstone. How do I do that?

    First of all, great choice! Study abroad is of the most meaningful things you can do, any time you get the chance. Right now (mid-pandemic), study abroad is a little complicated... But in general, there are two kinds of study abroad, faculty-led and non-faculty-led. Faculty-led programs are...you guessed it... led by UNF faculty members. These often (but not always) correspond to a course, and there is significant financial aid or scholarships available (in many cases). Faculty led programs go to cool places like Iceland, Switzerland, England, China, Taiwan, New Zealand, France, Spain, Mexico, ... many options, in disciplines like philosophy, religious studies, history, international studies, political science, health and medicine, literature, and so on. Non-faculty-led programs are run either by a company or by a foreign university, and there are many of these to choose from, and some pros and cons between the two types. As you consider studying abroad, you should check out the International Center's website and consider making an appointment with the International Center to chat about options that work for you.

  • I have absolutely no idea what to do for my capstone. Help?!

    You are not alone. Make an appointment to talk with the Program Director.

  • I just really, really want to take this other course. It's just a regular course, but it's so cool and it makes sense with my program and... can I do that?

    Yes! You can totally do that. If this is different from what you planned in your proposal, keep us in the loop (at least one semester before your capstone semester, please).

  • What kinds of things have other IDS students done recently for their capstones?

    IDS students have interned at all kinds of neat places.

    IDS students have studied abroad in Germany, China, Australia, Spain, ... 

    IDS students have done directed research in Economics and Geography, Music, History, Art, ... 

    IDS students have interned at local, national, and international companies, in areas relevant to their major themes; and IDS students have identified key additional courses that make good sense for their capstone, like one recent student who decided to take Business Ethics as the capstone to a program focused on diversity in the business world! 

    As you are considering your Capstone projects, do not forget to look at UNF’s opportunities for Undergraduate Research Grants and other funding sources.