Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science
in Interdisciplinary Studies
Curriculum Contract Guidelines
___________________________________________________________________
Proposals for curriculum contracts should be submitted to the director of the Interdisciplinary
Studies Degree Program, Prof. Natalia Taylor Bowdoin (803-641-3492/nataliab@usca.edu).
The proposal is due no later than October 1 (fall semester) or February 15 (spring semester).
The Interdisciplinary Studies Advisory Committee will review the proposal for its academic
integrity and feasibility. Proposals denied by the Committee will be returned to you with
recommendations for revisions.
Please follow the format described below:
A. Staple pages together in the upper-left corner of the document.
B. Use Times New Roman 12-point font for all text. Set all margins at one inch (top, bottom,
left and right).
C. Include your name and page number in the top-right corner on each page of the proposal
after the title page.
D. Double-space the document.
E. Include the following information on the title page:
1. A title for your course of study (e.g. Gender Studies, Human Rights, Health
Communication) ;
2. Your name with USCA contact email and phone number ; and
3. The names and academic departments of the two faculty sponsors for the program.
F. Justify your course of study including the following information:
1. Description of your proposed course of study
2. Table of courses to be included to meet the specific BIS degree requirements (see
example at end of this document).
a. List the courses by semester and include courses already taken in previous
semesters and/or transfer credits applied.
b. Type courses for the interdisciplinary studies major in bold and include
course number and credit hours.
c. Indicate credit hours for general education, electives or courses for the
minor/cognate, but do not list course numbers.
Note: the major must include 36 credit hours from the two disciplinary areas, 24
of which must be at the 300 level or above. Also required are IDST 201
(Interdisciplinary Methods – 3 hrs) and IDST 500 (Senior Thesis – 3 hrs)
3. Your intended minor or cognate (12-18 hrs).
4. The number of total earned hours completed at time of application.
5. Responses to the following questions:
a. Why are you interested in pursuing this interdisciplinary area?
b. How do the selected courses form a coherent program?
c. Is there any additional information you would like the committee to know
regarding this proposal?
G. The signature page provided here should be signed by you and the two faculty sponsors,
and attached to the application. The Interdisciplinary Studies Program Director will sign the
document after approval by the Advisory Committee.
H. Please attach an unofficial copy of your current transcript.
Name___________________________________
(please print)
____________________________________________________________________
Title of the Course of Study
a proposal toward the Bachelor of _______________ in Interdisciplinary Studies degree.
Agreed by:
(please sign)
____________________________________________________Date________
Student Signature
____________________________________________________Date________
Faculty Sponsor Signature
____________________________________________________Date________
Faculty Sponsor Signature
____________________________________________________Date________
Director of Interdisciplinary Studies Program Signature on behalf of the Advisory Committee
Amending the curriculum contract is allowable at any time. Minor changes require the
signature of the student, academic advisor(s), and the Director of Interdisciplinary Studies.
Major amendments must be approved by the Advisory Committee. The Director of
Interdisciplinary Studies. will determine whether an amendment is major or minor.
EXAMPLE FOR F2 – TABLE OF COURSES FOR THE MAJOR
List the courses by semester and include semesters already taken and/or transfer credits applied. Type
courses which will apply toward the interdisciplinary studies major in bold and include course number
and credit hour. For future general education, electives or courses for the minor/cognate, course
number listings are not necessary but do indicate credit hours. Note: the major must include 36 credit
hours from the two disciplinary areas, 24 of which must be at the 300 level or above. Also required
are IDST 201 (Interdisciplinary Methods – 3 hrs) and IDST 500 (Senior Thesis – 3 hrs)
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE PROVIDED FOR YOUR REFERENCE AND GUIDE – YOUR
SPECIFIC COURSES WILL CORRESPOND WITH THOSE SELECTED WITH THE HELP
OF YOUR TWO FACULTY SPONSORS AND THE INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
COORDINATOR
Previous Transfer Credits:
Course
Course #
Credit Hours
Applied College
Algebra
Composition
Comp &
literature
Physical
Geology
Historical
Geology
MATH108
3
BIS Major/Gen
If BIS -- 300
Ed/Elective/Minor level or above?
or Cognate?
Gen Ed.
ENGL101
ENGL102
3
3
Gen Ed.
Gen Ed.
GEOL 101
4
Gen Ed.
GEOL 102
4
Gen Ed.
Semester: Fall 2014
Course
Course #
Credit Hours
Understanding
Other Cultures
Biological
Science I
Math course
Language
course
Social &
Behavioral
Science
ANTH102
3
BIS Major/Gen
If BIS -- 300
Ed/Elective/Minor level or above?
or Cognate?
BIS Major
BIOL121
4
BIS Major
3
4
Gen Ed
Gen Ed
3
Gen Ed
Semester: Spring 2015
Course
Course #
History of
Civilization
course
Interdisciplinary IDST201
Methods
Biological
BIOL122
Science II
Language Course
Humanities
Credit Hours
3
BIS Major/Gen
If BIS -- 300
Ed/Elective/Minor level or
or Cognate?
above?
Gen Ed
3
BIS Major
4
BIS Major
4
3
Gen Ed
Gen Ed
Semester: Summer 2015
Course
Course #
Food, people & ANTH490
planet
Social &
Behavioral
Science
Credit Hours
3
BIS Major/Gen
If BIS -- 300
Ed/Elective/Minor level or above?
or Cognate?
BIS Major
Yes
3
Gen Ed
Semester: Fall 2015
Course
Course #
Credit Hours
Botany
Culture,
Health &
Healing
Humanities
Am Political
Institutions
Elective
BIOL320
BIOL528
4
3
BIS Major/Gen
Ed/Elective/Minor
or Cognate?
BIS Major
BIS Major
3
3
Gen Ed
Gen Ed
2
Elective
If BIS -- 300
level or above?
Yes
Yes
Semester: Spring 2016
Course
Course #
Credit Hours
Seasonal Flora
Anthropology
Indp Study
“Advanced
Studies in Food
and Culture I”
Humanities
Minor
Minor
BIOL528
ANTH399
4
2
BIS Major/Gen
Ed/Elective/Minor
or Cognate?
BIS Major
BIS Major
If BIS -- 300
level or above?
3
3
3
Gen Ed
Minor
Minor
Credit Hours
3
BIS Major/Gen
If BIS -- 300
Ed/Elective/Minor level or above?
or Cognate?
Gen Ed
3
Elective
Credit Hours
4
BIS Major/Gen
If BIS -- 300
Ed/Elective/Minor level or above?
or Cognate?
BIS Major
Yes
3
BIS Major
3
3
Minor
Minor
Yes
Yes
Semester: Summer 2016
Course
Course #
Oral
Communication
Elective
Semester: Fall 2017
Course
Course #
Ecology &
BIOL370
Evolution
Anthropology: ANTH399
Advanced
Studies in Food
& Culture II
Minor
Minor
Yes
Semester: Spring 2018
Course
Course #
Credit Hours
Biological
Research III
Senior Thesis
Elective
Minor
Minor
BIOL399
3
BIS Major/Gen
If BIS -- 300
Ed/Elective/Minor level or above?
or Cognate?
BIS Major
Yes
IDST500
3
3
3
3
BIS Major
Elective
Minor
Minor
Yes