IS3D Program Overview

Housed in Faculty Advancement and Student Success, IS3D serves students from across campus. We are a major focused on linking interdisciplinary knowledge with career preparedness. Our program is uniquely student driven: IS3D majors choose which three disciplines to include as part of their custom plan. They take two lower division courses in each discipline for a total of 18 credits, unless otherwise specified by the discipline (e.g. Biology, Math, Computer Science). In addition, they take three Upper Division classes in each discipline for a total of 27 credits. This coursework is supplemented by the following three class sequence:

1.  In our introductory course Gen S 300 Interdisciplinary Processes students learn how wicked problems can be addressed through interdisciplinary knowledge. They engage in a semester-long project creating a resume, attending career fairs, and learning how to apply their unique knowledge in the career market. 
2.  In our internship course, Gen S 400 Professional Experience and Community Service, students engage in an internship in order to apply their coursework to the real-world; 
3.  In our capstone course, Gen S 490 Undergraduate Research, students develop the ability to articulate their long-term career and intellectual goals and create a project that brings together their unique interdisciplinary background.

Students cannot complete Gen S 300, Gen S 400, and Gen S 490 within the same semester. It is essential to start with Gen S 300 to build the foundational knowledge to succeed in the later courses. It is highly recommended to follow with Gen S 400 and then Gen S 490, though Gen S 400 and Gen S 490 may be taken concurrently if necessary for graduation purposes.

Our program believes that careers will change over time, and students with intellectual agility and an interdisciplinary skill-set will be well prepared to be lifelong learners and leaders in their chosen career.