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Obtaining an Interdisciplinary Specialization

A Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization involves two or more graduate programs at least one of which must be outside of the student’s home graduate program. Students wishing to pursue an official Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization must follow the procedures for access outlined below.

1. In conjunction with their advisers, graduate students should determine the appropriateness of pursuing a graduate interdisciplinary specialization and how best to incorporate it into their program of study.

2. Graduate students must complete the Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization Program Form, including obtaining your adviser’s signature. This form serves as the application to enroll in an interdisciplinary specialization. The form can be obtained from any graduate program involved in offering the specialization. This Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization Program Form lists the required and/or elective courses that must be completed to obtain the specialization.

3. Copies of the completed Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization Program Form are given to the Graduate School and the Graduate Studies Committee Chair from the graduate student's home graduate program. The coordinating graduate program offering the specialization will keep the original copy on file. Completed Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization Program Forms can be turned in during the first two weeks of every quarter.

4. Upon receipt of the completed Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization Program Form, the Graduate Studies Chair of the graduate program coordinating the specialization will send the graduate student an acknowledgment indicating whether or not the request is approved. A copy is sent to the Graduate School and the student's home GSC.

5. Upon receipt of the acknowledgment from the graduate program coordinating the specialization, the Graduate School will send the student an acknowledgment letter.

6. Graduate students must adhere to the curriculum for the graduate interdisciplinary specialization as indicated on the approved Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization Program Form. If changes in the approved curriculum are necessary, the graduate student must complete and submit a new Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization Program Form and obtain approval. (See steps 1-5 above.)

7. Upon completion of the interdisciplinary specialization, the graduate student must complete the Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization Transcript Designation Form and submit it to the Graduate School for processing.

8. The Graduate School will match the courses completed with those in the approved graduate interdisciplinary specialization. Departures from the approved graduate interdisciplinary specialization program can lead to a loss of transcript designation.

9. A review will be conducted by the Graduate Council, in conjunction with the Council on Academic Affairs, of approved graduate interdisciplinary specializations five years after the specialization is first officially in place and periodically thereafter.