Interdisciplinary Studies Program

Welcome to the Interdisciplinary Studies Program at East Central University!

The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) offers students an alternative route to a college degree. By offering a unique mix of web-based and field experience courses combined with courses from other majors, the IDS program can help students create a major tailored to their own career and/or personal learning goals, including specialization in particular content areas.

The IDS Degree meets many employers' requirements for hiring or promotion and can also provide the foundation for admission to graduate school.

Program Eligibility and Requirements

Any student who has completed at least 60 hours of college credit is eligible for program admission.

IDS students must earn at least 15 of their last 30 semester hours at East Central University before graduation OR at least 50 percent of the hours required by the major must be earned from ECU. They must also meet the same general education and other requirements for graduation as all other undergraduates.  See link below:

Current IDS Degree Requirements

Getting Started in the Interdisciplinary Studies Program

• Students who have not been admitted to ECU previously should begin that process by applying to the University online.
• Schedule an appointment with the Director of Interdisciplinary Studies, Dr. Shirley Mixon, and provide her with copies of all college transcripts. Dr. Mixon will serve as your IDS Advisor as well as instructor in the IDS core courses.  She will help you set up an Individual Learning Plan which will define the course work to be applied to your IDS major.

Who is eligible?

Any student who has completed at least 60 hours of college credit is eligible for admission to the program. 

What are the requirements for graduation with a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies?

IDS students must meet the same general education and other requirements for graduation as all other undergraduates.  These include: completion of 60 hours at a senior college; 30 hours completed at  ECU with the last 15 hours in residence; 40 hours' upper-level course work; at least 124 hours total with a minimum 2.0 grade point average, and other requirements defined in the ECU catalog.

How many hours are required for the IDS major?   Is a minor required?

The IDS major requires 45 hours of which 27 must be upper division.  The IDS core courses (12 hours) are the only required courses.  IDS students work with their advisor to select another 33 hours of course work which may include either new course work or credits completed previously.  No minor is required.

What can one do with a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies?

The IDS meets many employers' requirements for hiring or promotion and can also provide the foundation for admission to graduate school.  In addition, students should tailor their IDS core requirements and other course work to address particular career and personal learning goals including specialization in particular content areas.

How do I get started?

Students who have not been admitted to ECU previously should begin that process by:

• Applying to the university online
• Scheduling an appointment with Dr. Shirley Mixon and providing her with copies of all college transcripts.

Departmental Brochure