General Interdisciplinary Studies | IDS

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences recognizes that students' academic and professional interests may include more than one discipline. Because interdisciplinary approaches, research, and curricular activities are becoming increasingly appropriate and valuable within the liberal arts and sciences and other fields, students have the option to develop and pursue interdisciplinary (IDS) majors that cross the boundaries of numerous disciplines.

About this Program

The General specialization within Interdisciplinary Studies allows students to take advantage of work completed in different fields by combining them into a single course of study. The specialization is bookended by two required courses: an introduction to cross-disciplinarity designed for students’ first semester in the major, and a capstone project-based course as a culminating experience. Between the two, students pursue professional development coursework and complete two concentrations.

Admission to the General IDS Specialization

For admission to the major, students must have the following:

  1. A minimum of 45 hours of coursework completed at a college or university 
  2. A minimum UF GPA of 2.0
  3. An application form, including: 
    1. Concentration areas and rationale
    2. Graduation plan approved by both a CLAS advisor and the Undergraduate Coordinator for the General IDS Specialization. 

Please see the General Interdisciplinary Studies Specialization website for additional information about eligibility.

Requirements for the Major

The General Interdisciplinary Studies specialization requires 7 credits of core coursework and 15 credits each for two concentrations, for a minimum of 37 credits.  At least one concentration must be within the UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Each concentration must include at least 15 credits.  

All major courses must be completed with minimum grades of C. 

Because the General IDS Specialization already allows students to combine two concentrations, additional double majors/dual degrees are not permitted with this program. 

Students can find more information about the General Interdisciplinary Studies specialization and frequently asked questions on the college’s website.   

Required Major Coursework

IDS 3055Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies (taken first term in the major)3
Select one Beyond 120 course (Other Beyond120 courses may be substituted with permission of the UGC for the specialization):1
IDS 1054
Introduction to Research in the Liberal Arts and Sciences
IDS 3003
CLAS Transfer Transitions
IDS 4930
Special Topics in Interdisciplinary Studies (Grad School 101)
IHS 1100
Intro to Pre-Health Process
IHS 3102
Pre-Health Pathways
SLS 1006
Global Pathways: Prep for Intl
SLS 1409
Professional Pathways in the Liberal Arts and Sciences
SLS 3226
The Art of Adulting
SLS 3342
Strategic Self-Marketing
IDS 4959Capstone in Interdisciplinary Studies (taken in the final term)3
Concentration 1 courses 115
Concentration 2 courses 215
Total Credits37
1

At least one of the Concentration areas must be in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

2

A minimum of 18 credits of coursework across Concentration A and Concentration B must be at the 3000 or 4000 level.

For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements: Structure of a CLAS Degree.

Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for progress toward each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

Semester 1

  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 2

  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 3

  • One Concentration 1 course1
  • One Concentration 2 course2
  • 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 4

  • One Concentration 1 course
  • One Concentration 2 course
  • 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 5

  • IDS 3055:Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies
  • One Concentration 1 course
  • One Concentration 2 course
  • 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 6

  • One Concentration 1 course
  • One Concentration 2 course
  • 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

SEMESTER 7

  • One Concentration 1 course
  • One Concentration 2 course
  • 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 8

  • IDS 4959: Capstone in Interdisciplinary Studies
  • 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
  • 2.0 UF GPA required
1

At least one of the Concentration areas must be in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

2

A minimum of 18 credits of coursework across Concentration A and Concentration B must be at the 3000 or 4000 level.

Students are expected to complete the Writing, Civic Literacy, summer enrollment, and Quest requirements while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the General Education International (GE-N) requirements concurrently with another General Education requirement (typically, GE-C, H, or S) as part of the CLAS Basic Distribution requirements. One of the two general education mathematics courses must be a pure math course.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences allows students additional flexibility in its Distribution Requirements. Students may count a maximum of 6 credits TOTAL from the CLAS Distribution course lists towards Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, or Biological and Physical Sciences, with no more than 3 credits of Humanities, 3 credits of Social and Behavioral Sciences, or 6 credits of Biological or Physical Sciences.

The full list of major-specific requirements for this major can be found on the Overview tab for this specialization. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences degree requirements can be found on the college’s degree requirements page.

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
State Core Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement 3
State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
Gen Ed Humanities 3
CLAS Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 1 4-5
 Credits13-14
Semester Two
Quest 1 3
State Core Gen Ed Humanities 3
State Core Gen Ed Mathematics; pure math 3
Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
CLAS Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 3-5
 Credits15-17
Semester Three
Quest 2 3
Concentration 1 course (Critical Tracking) 3
Concentration 2 course (Critical Tracking) 3
State Core Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences 3
Elective (or CLAS Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement if 4-3-3 option) 1 3
 Credits15
Semester Four
Concentration 1 course (Critical Tracking) 3
Concentration 2 course (Critical Tracking) 3
Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences (area not taken in semester 3) 3
Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement 3
Gen Ed Humanities 3
Natural Science Laboratory 2 1
 Credits16
Semester Five
IDS 3055 Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies (Critical Tracking) 3
Concentration 1 course (Critical Tracking) 3
Concentration 2 course (Critical Tracking) 3
Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
Gen Ed Physical Sciences 3
 Credits15
Semester Six
Concentration 1 course (Critical Tracking) 3
Concentration 2 course (Critical Tracking) 3
Beyond 120 course (Critical Tracking) 1
Gen Ed Biological Sciences 3
Gen Ed Mathematics 3
Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) 3
 Credits16
Semester Seven
Concentration 1 course (Critical Tracking) 3
Concentration 2 course (Critical Tracking) 3
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) 9
 Credits15
Semester Eight
IDS 4959 Capstone in Interdisciplinary Studies (Critical Tracking) 3
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) 6
Electives 6
 Credits15
 Total Credits120-123
1

CLAS Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement

2

Degree Requirements