MSIS

Master of Science with a Major in Interdisciplinary Studies

UNT offers a Master of Science with a major in interdisciplinary studies. A minimum of 36 semester hours of graduate courses is required for this degree. However, the program offers the student a high degree of flexibility in the selection of course work.

The major in interdisciplinary studies is coordinated directly by the associate dean of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies. Prospective applicants for this program should discuss their plans with the associate dean.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the degree program in interdisciplinary studies must submit (1) a completed School of Graduate Studies application form, (2) complete transcripts and (3) a written statement outlining the course work areas to be combined on the degree and the goals the applicant hopes to accomplish by completing the degree. In addition, applicants are required to present satisfactory standardized scores (e.g., GRE, GMAT) or other admissions materials (e.g., portfolio, letter of intent), as determined by a combination of the participating degree programs. Numerical standards for admission are based on the higher of the following two:

• The highest among area-specific standarized requirements at UNT; or
• The highest mean score on relevant standardized tests for applicants to these areas nationally.

Non-quantified admissions materials (e.g., portfolio) are evaluated directly by the relevant participating program, with standards no less stringent than employed for admission by these programs. All materials and scores must be submitted prior to any enrollment for courses leading to the degree.

General Requirements

For the Master of Science with a major in interdisciplinary studies, the degree program must include no fewer than three separate fields of study with at least 6 hours in each field. For all sequences no more than 15 hours (including thesis and special problems) may be taken under any one course prefix or subject field. In addition, students may take no more than 15 hours from the College of Business Administration. A special committee, representative of each of the several disciplines of the student's program, will be formed to help the student develop the degree plan and supervise the student's progress.

Students may choose the non-thesis option and complete at least 36 semester hours. Thesis option requires 30 semester hours of which 6 hours are thesis..

A comprehensive final examination, oral and/or written, must be completed, ordinarily during the final semester of enrollment. The examination is prepared, administered and evaluated by the members of the student's advisory committee.

Two possible approaches can be taken to designing an acceptable interdisciplinary studies degree program for the degree.

Under the first approach, the candidate may plan a program designed to serve a particular intellectual interest not met by any specific degree program available through the traditional disciplines, making use of existing courses from any graduate area of the university.

Under the second approach, students may a more specific major in Women's studies.

These themes provide a somewhat more specialized focus while maintaining the interdisciplinary nature of the program. Each theme generally requires a common core of courses closely related to the area of interest, with provision for inclusion in the program of a number of electives drawn from several disciplines. In developing programs under these themes, students still must meet the general requirements for the interdisciplinary studies degree outlined above. Prospective students should note that in all cases the degree awarded upon completion of the program is a Master of Science with a major in interdisciplinary studies. This approach is not the same as pursuing a degree with a major in a specific discipline.