Academic Catalog

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies

The IDS major is available to students at all levels of their academic careers from the beginning freshman to the returning degree-completion student with previously earned credits. IDS transfers who have earned an AA or AS degree from a regionally-accredited (for college transfer) technical or community college or have completed the general education requirements at an accredited baccalaureate institution will have satisfied the general education requirements for the bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degrees in IDS. A minimum of 30 semester hours must be completed in residence at USC Upstate after acceptance into the IDS program.

Student Worksheet

General Education Requirements
I. Communication
English
Select two of the following:6
Composition I
Composition II
Speech
SPCH U201Foundations in Oral Communication3
II. Mathematics, Logic & Natural Sciences
Mathematics
Select one of the following:3-4
Elementary Statistics
College Mathematics
College Algebra
Calculus for Management and Social Sciences
Precalculus I
Precalculus II
Calculus I
Calculus II
Elements of Discrete Mathematics
Basic Concepts of Elementary Mathematics I
Natural Science (w/lab)
Select one of the following:4
Descriptive Astronomy
and Descriptive Astronomy Laboratory
Introductory Biology I
and Introductory Biology I Lab
Introductory Biology II
and Introductory Biology II Lab
General Biology
and General Biology Lab
Human Anatomy and Physiology II
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab
Chemistry and Society
and Chemistry and Society Lab
Chemistry of Living Things
and Chemistry of Living Things Lab
General Chemistry
and General Chemistry Lab
General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis
and General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis Lab
Physical Geology
and Physical Geology Lab
Historical Geology
and Historical Geology Lab
Environmental Geology
and Environmental Geology Lab
Introduction to Physical Science
and Introduction to Physical Science Laboratory
General Physics I
and General Physics I Lab
General Physics II
and General Physics II Lab
Math, Logic and/or Natural Science
Select 3-12 credits of the following: 13-12
Any Mathematics or Natural Sciences course/s listed above
Foundations of Human Physiology
and Foundations of Human Physiology Laboratory
Genetics and Society
Human Biology and Society
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Environmental Science
Probability and Statistics
Natural Disasters
Geology of the Southeast
Introduction to Logic and Rhetoric
Deductive Logic
Psychological Statistics
Introduction to Statistics for the Social Sciences
III. Information Technology
Information Technology
Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Computer Technology
Introduction to Computer Science
Intro to Digital Studies
Survey of Information Technology
Introduction to Digital Safety
Strategies for Information Discovery
Intro to Music Technology
IV. Fine Arts, Humanities & History
Fine Arts
Select one of the following:3
African American Culture
Introduction to Art
History of Western Art: Prehistory - Middle Ages
History of Western Art: Renaissance - Modern
Introduction to Music
History of American Popular Music
Introduction to Theatre Art
Fundamentals in Acting
History
Select one of the following:3
Introduction to World History I
Introduction to World History II
History of the United States to 1877
History of the United States from 1865
Fine Arts, Humanities, and/or History
Select 0-9 credits of the following: 10-9
Any Fine Arts or History course/s listed above
American Studies, 17th - 19th Century
American Studies, 20th Century
Introduction to Creative Writing
Interpreting Popular Culture
Business Writing
Understanding English Grammar
Masterpieces of World Literature
Survey of American Literature I
Survey of American Literature II
Survey of British Literature I
Survey of British Literature II
African American Literature
Introduction to Film
Introduction to Philosophy
Political Philosophy
Contemporary Moral Issues
Comparative Religion
Introduction to Southern Studies
Introductory Spanish I: Business
V. Foreign Language & Culture
Foreign Language 2
Select 3-9 credits of the following: 13-9
American Sign Language I
Introductory French I
Introductory German I
Introductory Spanish I
VI. Social & Behavioral Sciences
Social & Behavioral Science
Select 3-9 credits of the following: 13-9
Introduction to African American Studies
Understanding Other Cultures
Introduction to Criminal Justice
Principles of Macroeconomics
Principles of Microeconomics
Introduction to Geography
American National Government
Introduction to Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
Interpersonal Communication
Leadership Development I
Introduction to Women's & Gender Studies
VII. General Education Electives
General Education Electives
Select 0-9 credits of the following: 10-9
May include any courses listed above
American Sign Language II
Introductory French II
Introductory German II
Introductory Spanish II
Major Requirements 3
Students must complete the required credit hours from either Track 1 or Track 268-86
Total Hours120
1

IDS majors and their advisors will determine the appropriate number of hours for each of these distribution areas. IDS requires no less than 43 General Education hours.

2

The minimum acceptable level of competency is completion of the 101 level of a language. Students who place into the 102 or higher level of a language satisfy the language requirement but will have additional hours in general education electives, if hours are required by their degree program. 

3

A minimum grade of C is required for all major, minor, and cognate courses.

Tracks

Track 1

IDST U300Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies3
or IDST U301 Ethics in the Professions
Discipline I
Select 15 Upper division hours from one area of study 115
Discipline II
Select 9 Upper division hours from a different area of study than Discipline I 19
IDST U490Senior Seminar in Interdisciplinary Studies3
Minor
All IDS majors in Track I must complete a minor. Area of study for minor must differ from areas of study in Disciplines I and II. 118-21
Electives
Select 20-29 credits20-29
Total Hours68-80
1

For areas of study, see Majors and Minors in the index.

Track 2 (Individualized Program)

With the approval of the IDS Director, a student may pursue the Individualized Program.

IDST U300Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies3
or IDST U301 Ethics in the Professions
Individualized
Select 24 Upper division hours in two or more areas of study 124
IDST U490Senior Seminar in Interdisciplinary Studies3
Cognate or Minor
Select Cognate or Minor 212-21
Electives
Select 26-35 credits26-35
Total Hours68-86
1

For areas of study, see Majors and Minors in the index

2

Cognate hours and area of study for minor must differ from individualized areas of study