Graduate Minors and Graduate Interdisciplinary Specializations

The Graduate Minor and the Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization (GIS) are two options that facilitate the access of graduate students to interdisciplinary study and provide formal recognition of such study on the student’s transcript. In addition, these options recognize and benefit faculty interested in developing interdisciplinary courses/clusters as part of the Graduate School’s effort to support interdisciplinary scholarship. Individual students may not create their own minors and interdisciplinary specializations. These are offered instead by graduate programs or groups of graduate programs. Detailed information, including criteria, procedures for development, and operating procedures for Graduate Minors and Graduate Interdisciplinary Specializations are available from the graduate programs involved or the Graduate School.

Program of Study. All academic aspects of the Graduate Minor and the Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization (e.g., program of study, examination requirements) are subject to approval by the graduate programs that offer the minor and interdisciplinary specialization. 

Graduate Minors. graduate minor involves one program outside a student’s major graduate program. A graduate minor requires a minimum of 10 hours of graduate-level course work in at least three courses. Twenty hours of graduate level courses is the maximum allowance for graduate minors. The student must receive a grade of “B” or better or “S” in each course comprising the graduate minor. The completed graduate minor will appear on the student’s transcript after the student has completed the transcript designation form available through GRADFORMS.

Graduate Interdisciplinary Specializations. A GIS involves two or more graduate programs outside the student’s major graduate program. A GIS requires a minimum of 10 hours of graduate-level course work in at least three courses. Twenty hours of graduate-level courses is the maximum allowance for a GIS. Nine hours taken for the GIS must be completed outside of the student’s home program in at least three courses. The student must receive a grade of “B” or better or “S” in each course comprising the GIS. The completed GIS will appear on the student’s transcript after the student has completed the transcript designation form available through GRADFORMS.