Interdisciplinary Studies

The challenges of our complex world--the impact of AI on everyday life and work, climate change and inclusive societies, to name a few--require the ability to integrate knowledge and skills from more than one discipline. Interdisciplinary Studies allows you to design your own major, to think both creatively and critically. You can select complementary minors or majors in disciplines that reflect your interests and career goals, to create a professional profile unique to you. 

Core coursework in the major explores diverse subjects that share a strong interdisciplinary theme. By emphasizing the practice of studying complex issues through a synthesis of different research methods and media, these courses equip students with skills in critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, and multi-faceted analysis. 

You may choose to pursue either a Bachelor of Science with a cognate requirement or a Bachelor of Arts with a world language requirement in either the Integrative or Individualized Studies concentrations: 

Integrative Studies Concentration:  This academic plan allows you to create your own major by combining established minor programs of study. Your plan must include two minors (or more, depending on the student's interest) from any academic programs in the university to build content knowledge in specific areas of focus. Students must complete all requirements of each minor program of study, with at least 18 credit hours coming from upper-division courses.

Individualized Studies Concentration: This academic plan allows you to create your own major through individual, complementary courses. Your plan must include a total of at least 18 credits of upper-division coursework and 36 total credits from any academic programs in the university to build content knowledge in specific areas of focus. Students are required to draft an intentional plan of study, including a rationale and course outline.

Exploratory Studies Concentration: If you are a first-year student with fewer than 45 credits who has not declared a major or been admitted to the major of your choice, you will be admitted to Exploratory Studies. In this concentration, you will enjoy an immediate academic home that allows you to explore different disciplines and programs by taking Exploratory Studies 1010, designed to give you knowledge about various majors and minors at UNO. You will engage in cross-curricular academic advising, career assessment, guided exploration of majors and careers, mentoring, and programming designed to provide you the support you need as you figure out your best-fit major.  You will have the opportunity to interact with advisors, faculty, and peer mentors from different fields to discover your passions and make an informed decision on a major.  Exploratory Studies majors are required to declare a major within their first 45 credit hours in any college, which includes the option to switch to either the Integrative Studies or Individualized Studies concentrations in Interdisciplinary Studies (see above).

Declaring the Integrative or Individualized Concentration

Students are required to meet with the Interdisciplinary Studies advisor before declaring.

Double Majors

Double majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies with the Integrative or Individualized concentration offers students an opportunity to explore a second field of interest, to acquire credits required by a graduate program, or to add an area of expertise to their profile, without fulfilling all the requirements of a second major. Those interested in double majoring should pursue another UNO program that does not overlap substantially with their concentration coursework. 

Residency

Students choosing either the Integrative or Individualized Studies Concentration must complete INDS 1000 and INDS 4950 and at least 12 additional hours of major requirements at UNO.  Students choosing the Integrative Studies Concentration must complete at least 6 hours of coursework in each minor that fulfills the concentration requirements.

Contact Information

Sara Marzioli, Director
smarzioli@unomaha.edu
website

Because the Interdisciplinary Studies major is uniquely crafted by each student through either the Individualized or Integrative Concentration, students can apply their skills gained to numerous occupational fields including, but not limited to the following:

  • business
  • the arts
  • non-profit sector
  • environmental policy
  • urban studies
  • language and culture studies
  • social justice
  • helping professions
  • information and technology
  • education
  • law
  • medicine and allied health professions
  • human resources
  • public service sector