Interdisciplinary Studies students apply for the program through the School of Graduate Studies, which serves as a liaison between you and the programs and departments you will draw your courses from.
For admission consideration, you must meet minimum Graduate Studies admission requirements plus additional Interdisciplinary Studies requirements listed below:
- Open only to domestic students.
- Undergraduate GPA is closely reviewed. Most Interdisciplinary Studies students have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0.
- Submit a detailed Statement of Intent that includes specific details about your proposed program.
Creating your program
As an Interdisciplinary Studies student you must plan your program before applying. This plan will include:
Final project choice
Choose your plan. This choice will affect the number of credits in your program.
- Thesis
- Creative Work
- Starred Paper
- Portfolio with Project
- Portfolio with Internship
- Portfolio with Practicum
- Comprehensive Exam (with permission from committee)
List of potential classes
When compiling your list of potential courses, organize them by department and include the course department, number, title, number of credits and semester you are intending to take the course.
- Identify the three areas of study from at least two or more academic departments to take your courses from. At least one of the departments must offer a Master of Arts, Master of Science or specialist degree.
- Research, select and create a list of 500 and 600-level courses from your chosen departments. At least half the special studies credits must be 600-level.
- Include research methodology and statistics courses if you are pursuing thesis or starred paper.
- List additional courses beyond the minimum required for your plan in case a course is not available.
Faculty Committee
You may choose and request the three faculty members who will serve on your admissions committee and who will also serve you as faculty advisers throughout your program and as your culminating project committee.
BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION:
- Contact three faculty members from your identified departments to serve on your admissions committee.
- Submit your recommended faculty to the graduate school for approval.
- Discuss your course curriculum ideas with the faculty members and establish a relationship with them prior to your admissions conference.
- Request the Interdisciplinary Studies request form from graduateadmisison@stcloudstate.edu.
Program Title
You will create a title for your interdisciplinary program. The title will need to be approved at the admissions conference. This is the title that will be featured on your St. Cloud State transcript and on your diploma.
The title should:
- Be recognizable by your profession.
- Capture your skill set when presented on a resume.
Statement of Intent
Your Statement of Intent must include:
- A summary of your educational and career objectives, philosophy and background and how it has prepared you for the proposed degree and also describe the career or personal goals and professional needs that will be best met with an Interdisciplinary Studies degree.
- Why you are seeking a special study degree.
- The departments or programs that will compose your proposed program.
- The proposed title for your program.
- The culminating project you are seeking — thesis, starred paper, creative work, comprehensive exam or portfolio.
- A list of proposed courses — organized by department and including the course number, course name, number of credits and semester you propose taking the course.
Pre-Admissions conference
As you identify faculty mentors you will need to schedule a meeting with them and a representative from Graduate Studies. Once all details are finalized you will be invited to apply for admission, including all required application materials.
The interview includes your faculty committee members and a representative from Graduate Studies.
During the hour-long interview you will:
- Explain why you want to pursue an Interdisciplinary Studies degree.
- Answer questions about your academic background, career or personal goals and professional needs.
- Explain how quickly you plan to progress to the completion of your degree.
Following the interview, the committee will decide whether to admit you to the Interdisciplinary Studies program. The committee members will inform you of their decision at the meeting.
If you are admitted the committee will then:
- Review your proposed title and curriculum.
- Attempt to finalize the courses that will compose your program.
- Submit a program form to Graduate Studies.
