Interdisciplinary Studies

The proposal describes and explains the topic of your major equivalent and lists the major-equivalent courses.

These courses total 36 credit hours and come from three or more departments. You may include transferred or completed credits that are applicable to your designed major equivalent and are non-introductory. But a minimum of 18 credits in the major equivalent must be taken at the UH Manoa campus. And, remember, at least 21 of the credits for your major equivalent must be from courses you have not yet started. Interdisciplinary Studies also has a campus-wide option that permits a major with many courses taken outside of Arts and Sciences. Be sure to inquire about this, alternative if you are thinking of a program that involves at least two colleges outside of Arts and Sciences (e.g., exercise physiology).

Interdisciplinary Studies majors need to meet University core requirements. Because these may differ slightly according to each individual’s case (e.g., the student’s date of entry, the core currently in place, etc.), students will probably save time and effort by checking early with Arts and Sciences, Hawai`i Hall 108. It is important to note that students completing the B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies need to satisfy the new general education core requirements, not the B.A. core. However, in total, you must earn at least 124 semester hours of credit, of which at least 104 are to be in the Colleges of Arts and Sciences. (This requirement differs if your program comes under the campus-wide option.) A minimum of 60 of the credits you earn must be in non-introductory courses. A sample proposal available from the Interdisciplinary Studies Program shows the desired format and illustrates how the University’s regulations may be met.

It is ultimately the student’s own responsibility to ascertain eligibility and satisfactory completion of core and college requirements for the B.A. The student should check these with the Office of Student Academic Services, Hawai`i Hall 108, by attending a Junior Matriculation and Planning (JUMP) session. Please provide Interdisciplinary Studies with a copy of your JUMP session record.