Interdisciplinary Studies: Graduate Interdisciplinary Degree

The Graduate Interdisciplinary Degree Program is designed to be a rigorous, quality program providing the opportunity to qualified students to meet career goals by combining two or more disciplines into a single degree program. To ensure the quality of the program, a faculty member will be assigned from each discipline concerned to provide close supervision, participation, and coordination. It is imperative that the program be truly interdisciplinary and represents an integration of subject matter from each of the major disciplines. Programs that parallel other degree programs are not acceptable as interdisciplinary degree programs. Identification of two primary disciplines which will be combined in the proposed program. At least one of the primary disciplines listed must offer a program leading to the desired degree (i.e., MA, MAT, MM, MPH, MS, DA or EdD). Secondary disciplines may also be included.

Applicants for the Graduate Interdisciplinary Degree Program are encouraged to consult with the Graduate School prior to submitting their applications. Applicants must follow the student administered application procedure. The complete application packet should include the following:

Interdisciplinary Admission Application

1. The degree application returned with the appropriate non-refundable application fee.
2. One official copy of the applicant’s transcripts from all colleges or universities attended (except UNC).
3. If applying for a doctoral program, one official copy of the applicant’s GRE General Test scores (not more than five years - 1,825 calendar days old) sent from Educational Testing Service to the Graduate School. A student copy of the GRE results will be accepted in the packet for processing to the program area for screening. NO admission will be granted until the official GRE report is received from Educational Testing Service.
4. Three letters of recommendation from appropriate professional sources attesting to the applicant’s ability to pursue the intended graduate interdisciplinary program.
5. A detailed written statement of career goals and objectives and a rational for pursuing the proposed interdisciplinary program. This must be a compelling statement clarifying why no single existing degree program could satisfy these goals.
6. Identification of two primary disciplines which will be combined in the proposed program. At least one of the primary disciplines listed must offer a program leading to the desired degree, (i.e. MA, MAT, MM, MPH, MS, DA or Ed.D.). Secondary disciplines may also be included.
7. A current resume that summarized academic and professional experiences, activities, publications, and other pertinent information.

Preliminary Review. The Graduate Interdisciplinary Degree Coordinating (GIDP) Committee, comprised of interdisciplinary coordinators from each college, conducts a mid-semester preliminary review of all complete applications from individuals who satisfy the minimum admission requirements of the Graduate School. Applicants who do not meet the minimum admission requirements of the Graduate School will be denied admission (see Admissions for admission standards for each degree level).

If the GIDP Committee finds the application to have merit, the Graduate School forwards the application materials to the appropriate GIDP Coordinator who contacts the disciplines for their evaluation and recommendation. If the GIDP Committee finds the application to lack merit or compelling rationale for interdisciplinary studies, the Graduate School notifies the applicant of the committee’s concerns. Those applicants who receive such notification may resubmit their application materials after addressing the concerns of the GIDP Committee.

Upon receipt of the application materials from the Graduate School, the GIDP Coordinator and the faculty in the appropriate disciplines evaluate the application and recommend to the Graduate School that the applicant be granted or denied admission status. Each discipline recommending admission must designate an advisor and stipulate any additional academic requirements.

All disciplines included in the proposal must recommend admission and must designate graduate faculty advisors before the Graduate School confers admission status.

Program Criteria. The Plan of Study must meet the following criteria:

1. If the graduate faculty advisors determine a student has any course or degree deficiencies in his/her background, the proposal must list the course work necessary to alleviate those course or degree deficiencies. (Deficiency courses must be completed at the earliest possible date).
2. SRM 600 or one of the research-oriented substitute courses approved by the Graduate Council (master’s) or a 12 hours research core (doctoral) must be proposed. The proposal must also contain at least one additional research methods, statistics, or applied research courses (i.e. computer science, tests/measurements, etc.).
3. Secondary disciplines (divisions/schools) are defined as those disciplines in which nine (9) to eleven (11) semester hours of course work are proposed at the master’s levels or those disciplines in which nine (9) to fourteen (14) semester hours of course work are proposed at the doctoral level. If identified in the program proposal, these disciplines must assign an advisor and approve the selected course work.
4. Proposed courses must be offered with sufficient frequency to allow completion of the degree requirements within a reasonable amount of time, e.g. two years for a thirty (30) semester hour program or three to four years for a sixty-four (64) semester hour program. Furthermore, research and library resources must be available to facilitate the completion of the thesis, if applicable, or dissertation.
5. No more than one-third of the proposed courses may be double-numbered courses offered simultaneously toward undergraduate and graduate students.
6. No more than nine (9) semester hours, individually or in combination, of courses numbers 508, 513, or 622 may be proposed or counted in the degree program.
7. Program proposals must conform to all other Graduate School policies and procedures, e.g. transfer of credit. Prior to submission to the Graduate School, the Graduate Interdisciplinary Degrees Plan of Study form must be signed by the student, all graduate faculty advisors, and all primary and secondary school directors. Until an approved plan of study is filed with the Graduate School, a hold is placed on an interdisciplinary student’s ability to register for classes.
8. Master’s Degree: Proposed course work must equal at least thirty (30) semester hours of graduate level courses plus any deficiency credits.

   At least twelve (12) semester hours of graduate level course work must be proposed in each of at least two primary disciplines. Courses numbered 622 and 699 may not be used to meet this requirement.

   If a thesis is proposed, the thesis must be a minimum/maximum of six (6) semester hours.

   One of the designated advisors must be named as the Program Advisor.

9. Doctoral Degree: Proposed course work must equal at least sixty-four (64) semester hours beyond a master’s degree excluding any deficiency credits. If an applicant does not hold a master’s degree, the proposed course work must equal at least ninety-four (94) semester hours.

   At least fifteen (15) semester hours of graduate-level course work must be proposed in each of at least two primary disciplines. If an applicant does not hold a master’s degree, the proposed course work in each of at least two primary disciplines must equal a minimum of eighteen (18) semester hours. Courses numbered 622, 797 and 799 may not be used meet this requirement.

   The Plan of Study must include four (4) semester hours of proposal (797) and twelve (12) semester hours of doctoral dissertation (799)

   When there are only two primary disciplines proposed, one of the two designated graduate faculty advisors must be named as the program advisor. In addition, the two designated advisors and the study must recommend at least one additional graduate faculty advisor, subject to approval by his/her school director and the Dean of the Graduate School.

Official Admission. Upon receipt of the completed Graduate Interdisciplinary Degrees Plan of Study form, the Graduate School will forward the form and the original application materials to the GIDP Committee for final review. The student, the graduate faculty advisors, and the primary and secondary schools will be notified by letter regarding program approval or disapproval. If approved, the student will be granted admission. The decisions of the GIDP Coordinating Committee and the Dean of the Graduate School shall be final.

Advising. Together, the graduate faculty advisors are known as the Program Advisory Committee. It is the responsibility of the Program Advisory Committee to assist the student in planning and coordinating the degree program. Any deviation from the approved proposal must be approved in advance by the Program Advisory Committee and the Graduate School.

Committees. At the doctoral level, the Program Advisory Committee plus a graduate faculty representative appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School shall serve as the doctoral committee. The doctoral dissertation proposal and dissertation shall be under the supervision of a research advisor who is a member of the graduate faculty and holds doctoral research endorsement.

Comprehensive Examinations. Each interdisciplinary degree program student must pass a written comprehensive examination which is designed, administered, and evaluated by the Program Advisory Committee and by other qualified individuals as identified by the program advisor. All doctoral students must also pass an oral comprehensive examination (see the Comprehensive Examination: Oral section of this Catalog for further details).

Dissertation. Each interdisciplinary degree program student must complete a dissertation proposal and final dissertation that reflects the integrated nature of the interdisciplinary degree. Students in interdisciplinary degree programs must comply with the same policies and procedures that guide research proposals and dissertations in distinct disciplines or areas of study.