Proposals
Because IDS is a limited access program, students must propose a program of study and go through an approval process in order to enter the major or the minor.
Prior to starting this process students MUST be in contact with the Program Advisor.
If you are following a curated theme for your major or minor, the proposal is a pretty straightforward process. Your courses will be determined largely by the Curated Theme Program of Study for your program. There is a lot of flexibility in these programs, so make sure to do some research about the best courses for your interests, from those to choose from. You will still need to complete the online proposal form after meeting with the Program Advisor to change your major or declare your minor, but you do not need to include your course selections or respond to the capstone or explanation sections of the form (it's still a good idea to start thinking about possible capstone projects!). If you have not yet been in touch with the curated theme coordinator, please do so. They are an invaluable resource for helping you with your program.
If you are creating your own program of study, what we call "DIY" (Do It Yourself) or New Program, the proposal process is more complex. Because you are charting new territory, so to speak, we ask that you take some time to consider your options very carefully, and make sure that you've really created the best program possible for your needs and interests. Before you start the online form, you should look at this Draft Major Proposal or Draft Minor Proposal forms below [contact IDS Advisor Dr. David Jaffee at djaffee@unf.edu for a draft proposal] to give you a chance to start working on the proposal ahead of time. You can use these drafts as worksheets to prepare for the final Mywings form. After you've met with the IDS Program Advisor and have a good plan with your proposal, you'll complete the Mywings form. You may also want to meet with the Program Director before or during this time. After you submit your finalized form in Mywings, there may be additional revisions required. The entire process from submission of the final form to approval may require several weeks.
Proposal FAQ for New Program students (DIY)
-
I'm not really sure what a "theme" is. How do I figure out my theme?
Great question. Some students start the New Program (DIY) process with a really clear theme in mind (e.g. Pre-Opthamology, a major UNF doesn't offer, or Medieval Studies, a deep and long-held passion). Other students know they are interested in courses that cross disciplinary boundaries, but they struggle with what precisely their theme is. Your theme should accurately reflect your major/minor coursework, be intelligible to others, and not present a confusing impression (it shouldn't sound too much like another major/minor here at UNF). Some strategies that have worked for other students: - Start with courses you're really excited about. In terms of content, skills, or both, what unites these courses?
- Start with how you want your IDS degree to lead to your next life steps. What kinds of courses (content and skills) would be good for that plan? Your theme might emerge from this. Keep in mind, though, that your theme title shouldn't be too aspirational (don't use the title of the job you want as your theme title, for instance). Instead, let your aspirations guide your course selection, and your theme emerge from there.
- Practice describing what you want to do with lots of other people. Friends, family, co-workers... and see if in trying to explain your plan, you can more and more clearly hone in on a theme that brings together the different disciplines and courses you want to take for your program.
- Make an appointment with the Program Director! Let’s work together to build your theme.
-
How can I possibly decide on 10-12 courses?
Some students have a problem of plenitude -- so many courses they want to take, so little time! This is a great problem to have, but it does require some work to resolve. In this case, you may want to start with a theme, and work from there to refine your course list to courses that really, really make sense for that theme. Talk with faculty who teach courses you're especially excited about. Reach out to departments to ask when courses are likely to be offered (sometimes the schedule can actually be help!). Consider your future plans, and what kinds of courses might be most likely to help you. Look at what people in the fields you want to pursue have said about their educations. Talk with other students about courses that they think are really valuable, and/or faculty they loved taking courses with.
-
What's up with the capstone (majors only)?
Ah, the capstone. This is one of the coolest things about this major, but it does require some thinking time. All IDS majors complete a capstone (and register for the capstone course for 0 or 1 credits), but your capstone can be a lot of different things. See the Capstone page for more on this. When you complete your proposal, you need a sense of what you want to do for your capstone: take a 12th course, intern, study abroad, do directed research with a faculty member, etc. There are a ton of possibilities. The semester before you're ready to do your capstone, you need a clear plan. The capstone is not something you can just "wing." Consider making an appointment with the Program Director to talk about your ideas for a capstone.
-
How should I prepare for the Explanation section of the proposal?
First, use the draft form to brainstorm and work through the questions before you get to the online form. Think of these questions as preparation for your post-graduation life. Anyone who asks about your education will have questions about what it means that you were an Interdisciplinary Studies major or minor, and these questions are designed to help you think through that conversation in advance. Why this theme? Why these courses? How is this major related to your career/post-grad aspirations? What skills do you see as coming from this major? What's your plan for the capstone? Why do something strange like this and not a "normal" major? (Answer: Because it's awesome! Seriously, though, you do need to think through why this and not a more standard major). Please take this part of the proposal seriously. Consider writing out your responses and meeting with someone in the Writing Center to get feedback on your responses. Demonstrating that careful thought has gone into these responses is one of the most important things we look for in your proposal.
Draft Major Proposal Form
Program of Study Proposal Form
Student Designed Programs
Interdisciplinary Studies provides students the opportunity to design a personalized program of study that involves an intentional selection of coursework across multiple disciplines. As IDS Majors, students are able to craft a focus and purposeful inquiry into a particular set of issues, problems, challenges, or methodologies. This program, centered in the College of Arts and Sciences, enables students to reflect critically and creatively on themselves, their educations, and their futures, and how they can contribute to a better and more just society.
This is a 36 credit hour major. 18 credits must be taken from within the College of Arts and Sciences. Students must take IDS 3xxx Introduction to Interdisciplinary Inquiry (or receive permission to waive this requirement), and must take IDS 4xxx Interdisciplinary Studies Capstone.
Name:
N Number:
GPA:
Anticipated Graduation Date:
Total Hours Attempted:
Total Hours Completed:
Minor:
Credits Remaining:
For a B.A. in IDS, student may also need to complete Foreign Language/Foreign Culture courses, general education courses, or free electives.
How have you fulfilled the Foreign Language/FC requirement?
Other courses required for Graduation:
Please note that if accepted into the program, your official degree/major will be a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies. Your theme title will appear only on your transcript, not on your diploma.
Proposed Program of Study
Proposed Theme Title:
1. IDS 3xxx Introduction to Interdisciplinary Inquiry (3 credits)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Alternate Courses:
A.
B.
C.
Capstone: All IDS students complete a capstone experience.
12. IDS 4xxx Interdisciplinary Studies Capstone (0-1 credits)
All capstone project must be approved by the program director. Students completing capstone projects 1 or 2 that involve significant reflective or summative components should take IDS 4xxx for 0 credits, to mark the completion of this requirement on their transcript. Students completing capstone projects 1 or 2 without significant reflective/summative components, or students completing capstone project 3, should take IDS 4xxx for 1 credit, which will present them the opportunity to synthesize their interdisciplinary theme and coursework in relation to their learning and goals.
Capstone 1 : A faculty-supervised independent research project (3 credits in the appropriate discipline) and the Capstone course (0-1 credits)
Capstone 2: An experiential learning opportunity, including but not limited to study abroad, internship, leadership or other community-based learning opportunity (3 credits) and the Capstone course (0-1 credits)
Capstone 3: A regular course relevant to the program theme (3 credits) and the Capstone course (1 credit)
Total Credits for the Major:
Explanation of the Proposed Program of Study
1. Why have you selected the theme title you are proposing? In what ways does this title accurately reflect your coursework?
2. If someone were to ask you why you chose this set of courses, how would you explain the way in which these courses fit together into a coherent program of study?
3. What are your immediate career/education goals, and how will this program enhance your ability to achieve these goals? Be specific.
4. What are your long-term career/education goals (10 or more years into the future), and how will your course of study help you to achieve these goals? Be specific.
5. Please explain 2-3 specific skills or areas of expertise you hope to develop through this combination of courses and disciplines.
6. Explain which Capstone you are proposing at this point and how it relates to your program and theme. How do you plan to prepare for your Capstone? What specific elements of your Capstone will prepare you for your immediate and long-term goals?
7. How will this course of study, in contrast to a more traditional major, benefit your education? In answering this question, please attempt to articulate the distinct disciplines involved in your proposed course of study, and explain how these disciplines (and their associated approaches, concerns, themes, issues, questions, or concepts) are complementary given your overall theme and interests. Please give specific examples.
IDS Advisor/Director : Dr. David Jaffee djaffee@unf.edu
Draft Minor Proposal Form
Program of Study Proposal Form
Student Designed Programs
Interdisciplinary Studies provides students the opportunity to design a personalized program of study that involves an intentional selection of coursework across multiple disciplines. As IDS majors or minors, students are able to craft a focus and purposeful inquiry into a particular set of issues, problems, challenges, or methodologies. This program, centered in the College of Arts and Sciences, enables students to reflect critically and creatively on themselves, their educations, and their futures, and how they can contribute to a better and more just society.
This is a 15 credit hour minor, and most credits should be taken from within the College of Arts and Sciences. All courses must be upper-division (3000-4000) level courses.
Name:
N Number:
Anticipated Graduation Date:
GPA:
Major:
Credits Remaining:
Proposed IDS Minor Theme:
Program of Study:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Alternate courses:
A.
B.
Explanation of the Proposed Program of Study
1. Why have you selected the theme title you are proposing? In what ways does your title accurately reflect your coursework?
2. If someone were to ask you why you chose this set of courses, how would you explain the way in which these courses fit together into a coherent program of study?
3. What are your career/educational goals, and how will this minor help you to achieve these goals?