Interdisciplinary Studies (IDST)

Ed Pohl
Dean of the Graduate School and International Education
213 Gearhart Hall
479-575-7434

Ed Bengtson
Associate Dean
Chair of Interdisciplinary Studies
Ozark Hall 213
479-575-5092
Email: gradinfo@uark.edu

Degrees Conferred:

M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (IDST)
M.S., Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology (CEMB)
M.S., Ph.D. in Environmental Dynamics (ENDY)
M.S., Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering (MEPH)
Ph.D. in Public Policy (PUBP)
M.S., Ph.D. in Space and Planetary Sciences (SPAC)
M.S. in Statistics and Analytics (STAN)

Graduate Certificates (non-degree) offered:

Cross-Sector Alliances (CSAL)
Sustainability (SUST)

Graduate MicroCertificate (non-degree) offered:

Preparing for the Professoriate (PROF)

The Graduate School offers a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies to students with evaluation on a case-by-case basis looking a variety of factors including the appropriateness of current faculty and resources to the student interests.

Also housed in the Graduate School and International Education, the Interdisciplinary Studies unit is the home department for the cross-college interdisciplinary graduate programs: Graduate Certificates in Cross-Sector Alliances and Sustainability; Graduate MicroCertificate in Preparing for the Professoriate; M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Cell & Molecular Biology; M. S. and Ph.D. degree in Environmental Dynamics; M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Materials Science and Engineering; Ph.D. degree in Public Policy; M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Space & Planetary Sciences; and M.S. in Statistics and Analytics. It is also the home for courses that relate to preparing students for graduate education. The unit also offers a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies.

The common feature of these interdisciplinary programs is that their faculty members have voluntarily associated themselves with that academic community while being appointed faculty in our traditional departments. Each program operationally reports directly to the Associate Dean of the Graduate School as the Chair of Interdisciplinary Studies, but works closely with the traditional departments that house actively participating program faculty members.

Requirements for M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies

Admission Requirements: All prospective students are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, looking at a variety of factors including GPA, statement of purpose, and the appropriateness of our current faculty and other resources to student interests. Graduate work at the master’s level presupposes an undergraduate degree with at least a 3.0 GPA on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. GRE scores are not required to apply.

Applicants to the M.A. program in Interdisciplinary Studies must apply through the Graduate School. Students must submit a statement of purpose describing their goals in graduate study along with official transcripts of all prior academic work completed. Applications are considered on a rolling basis and are due by August 1 for Fall semester start, December 1 for a Spring semester start, and April 15 for a Summer semester start. Details can be found on the program website.

Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree (Thesis Option): Students seeking the Master of Arts degree through the thesis option must complete at least 30 hours of coursework at the 5000-level and above. The primary and secondary focus areas must be created from courses offered by different academic departments and must be approved by the program director.

The courses for the thesis option should include:

GRSD 51103	Introduction and Methods of Interdisciplinary Inquiry	3
GRSD 6000V	Master's Thesis	6
Graduate Coursework in primary focus area		12
Graduate coursework in secondary focus area		9
Total Hours		30

Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree (Non-Thesis Option): Students seeking the Master of Arts degree through the non-thesis option must complete at least 30 hours of coursework at the 5000-level and above. The primary and secondary focus areas must be created from courses offered by different academic departments and must be approved by the program director.

The courses for the non-thesis option should include:

GRSD 51103	Introduction and Methods of Interdisciplinary Inquiry	3
GRSD 52003	Capstone Seminar in Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies	3
Graduate coursework in primary focus area		12
Graduate coursework in secondary focus area		9
Graduate electives in any area		3
Total Hours		30

Only three hours of independent study/directed readings may be counted towards the degree.

Master’s candidates pursuing the thesis option must complete and satisfactorily defend a master’s thesis as judged by a panel of approved graduate faculty. Master's candidates pursuing the non-thesis option, upon completion of 30 hours of coursework, must pass a comprehensive examination. This examination is part of the Capstone Seminar course. Completion of GRSD 52003 Capstone Seminar in Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies with at least a B or better will fulfill the comprehensive examination requirement.

Students should also be aware of Graduate School requirements with regard to master's degrees.

Courses

GRSD 50003. The Professoriate: Teaching, Learning and Assessment. 3 Hours.

Designed to introduce the future academic professional to the expectations of the faculty teaching role in higher education. Topics include techniques of effective teaching and learning, dealing with a variety of institutional expectations, course management issues, and using models of effective teaching across a broad spectrum of class sizes and levels. (Typically offered: Spring)

GRSD 5020V. Special Topics in Graduate Education. 1-3 Hour.

Seminar on selected topics for those anticipating a career teaching in higher education. (Typically offered: Irregular) May be repeated for up to 6 hours of degree credit.

GRSD 50303. Preparing for the Professoriate: Fundamentals. 3 Hours.

Focuses on topics of interest to future academic professionals beyond those related to teaching. Topics include developing a research statement, strategies for securing an academic position the general nature of employment and service expectations in higher education, research ethics, and funding issues, including grant proposal writing. (Typically offered: Fall)

GRSD 50501. Research Reproducibility and Replicability. 1 Hour.

Introduction to the research, tools and strategies used in reproducible and replicable research, as well as the ethics and norms of research transparency. Provides an overview of the concepts and tools necessary to achieve research transparency; to organize data and to report research in a reproducible manner. Explains the benefits of author disambiguation and of protecting intellectual property. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

GRSD 50901. Topics in Graduate Education. 1 Hour.

Special topics course on professionalization topics in Graduate Education (Typically offered: Irregular) May be repeated for up to 12 hours of degree credit.

GRSD 51001. Introduction to Graduate School. 1 Hour.

A small-group, peer-led, extended-orientation program for first-semester graduate students. Designed to promote a positive student experience through social interaction, familiarization with campus resources, and peer mentorship. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

GRSD 51103. Introduction and Methods of Interdisciplinary Inquiry. 3 Hours.

Serves as an introduction to interdisciplinary inquiry through an analysis of major research trends and methods at the graduate level. Provides tools to create an interdisciplinary research agenda to support transition to the capstone seminar/thesis project and create an integrative program of study. Required of all Interdisciplinary MA students. (Typically offered: Fall)

GRSD 52003. Capstone Seminar in Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies. 3 Hours.

Capstone research seminar for graduate students pursuing the non-thesis option in seeking the Interdisciplinary Master of Arts degree. Emphasis on the synthesis, analyzation, and production of original research from knowledge and experience gained from previous coursework in the program as well as creating a final research project. Required for all students not pursuing a thesis project. (Typically offered: Spring)

GRSD 6000V. Master's Thesis. 1-6 Hour.

Master's Thesis research. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer) May be repeated for degree credit.