Individually Designed Major
Director: Associate Dean Marjorie Levine-Clark
Faculty advisor: Brandon Mills
Overview
The Individually Designed Major (IDM) allows students to be creative with their educational experiences by going beyond the boundaries of traditional disciplines. Students can choose from two different options that best suit their needs. The Interdisciplinary Studies Option allows students to combine coursework from two, three, or even more academic units to explore a particular theme. Students who pursue Interdisciplinary Studies tend to have a focused interest they seek to investigate. The Integrated Health Studies Option is designed for students who are interested in health from the perspective of the liberal arts and sciences and who seek interdisciplinary training focused around particular health topics. The IDM provides students with the opportunity to explore their academic interests with intention and imagination.
Honors
Liberal arts students interested in graduating with Latin honors in the Individually Designed Major program should confirm with their CLAS advisor and IDM Faculty Advisor that they meet eligibility requirements. Students who successfully complete the IDM honors program will have the appropriate Latin honor designation placed on the University of Colorado diploma and transcript.
- To participate in the IDM honors program, CLAS students must meet each of the following eligibility requirements:
- have a declared IDM major with an approved option and course contract
- possess a minimum 3.2 cumulative University of Colorado GPA
- possess a minimum 3.5 GPA on all completed University of Colorado course work in the IDM contract
- Eligible IDM students must complete submit their capstone research project to the IDM Faculty Advisor. The level of Latin honors awarded is determined by the IDM Faculty in consultation with other relevant faculty. Upon submission of the written research project report to the honors committee, the level of Latin honors will be determined by the following criteria:
- cum laude-awarded upon completion of project report
- magna cum laude-awarded by honors committee based on successful project report
- summa cum laude-awarded by honors committee based on excellence in project report
Interdisciplinary Studies Option Course Contracts:
In order to declare the Interdisciplinary Studies Option, students are required to submit a course contract. Interdisciplinary Studies students must also submit a proposal form which describes the major they propose to design. Copies of completed Interdisciplinary Studies course contracts must be filed with the Individually Designed Major Faculty Advisor and with your CLAS Academic Advisor.
- The Interdisciplinary Studies course contract must include:
- A list of the courses in your chosen clusters as well as potential alternate courses. You should work closely with the Individually Designed Major Faculty Advisor and faculty advisors in your chosen clusters to create your course contract.
- Signatures from your Individually Designed Major Faculty Advisor, from any Faculty Advisors from minors used in your contract, and from your CLAS Academic Advisor.
- The Interdisciplinary Studies proposal form must include:
- a name for the theme of your major.
- a 400-word description of the major you propose to construct.
- a description of the major theme which explains the disciplinary or interdisciplinary clusters you will be including in your course of study, how they relate to each other, and how they form a coherent body of knowledge.
- approval from your Individually Designed Major Faculty Advisor.
- Integrated Health Studies does not require a proposal form or course contract.
Individually Designed Major (IDMA)
IDMA 1500 - Introduction to Interdisciplinary Learning (3 Credits)
This course introduces the theories, methodologies, and practices of interdisciplinary studies through a specific theme that will focus on how to learn in an online environment and how interdisciplinary scholars combine the theories and methods of a variety of fields. Students who have earned credit for ISMA 1500 will not earn credit for IDMA 1500. Term offered: fall, spring, summer. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
IDMA 2840 - Independent Study (1-3 Credits)
Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Students who have earned credit for ISMA 2840 will not earn credit for IDMA 2840. Repeatable. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 3.
IDMA 3000 - Special Topics (1-3 Credits)
Special classes for faculty-directed experiences examining issues and problems not generally covered in the curriculum. Students who have earned credit for ISMA 3000 will not earn credit for IDMA 3000. Max hours: 9 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 9.
IDMA 3100 - Learning Across Disciplines (3 Credits)
Examining a compelling issue, students will learn what kinds of questions require thinking beyond a single discipline, how interdisciplinary scholars combine a variety of fields, and how to approach the challenges of interdisciplinary writing. Students who have earned credit for ISMA 3100 will not earn credit for IDMA 3100.Term offered: fall, spring. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
IDMA 3500 - Interdisciplinary Experiential Learning (3 Credits)
In this course, students will the knowledge from their chosen clusters to bear on an experiential opportunity. Choosing an internship, community-based project, or job extension, students will collaborate with peers to design projects in this highly student-driven course. Prereq: IDMA 1500 with a C- or higher. Students who have earned credit for ISMA 3500 will not earn credit for IDMA 3500. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Prereq: IDMA 1500 with a C- or higher
IDMA 3840 - Independent Study (1-3 Credits)
Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Students who have earned credit for ISMA 3840 will not earn credit for IDMA 3840. Term offered: fall, spring, summer. Department consent required. Repeatable. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 3.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
IDMA 3939 - Internship (1-3 Credits)
Designed experiences involving application of specific, relevant concepts and skills in supervised employment situations. Prereq: Students must have junior standing and at least a 2.75 GPA and must work with Experiential Learning Center advising to complete a course contract and gain approval. Students who have earned credit for ISMA 3939 will not earn credit for IDMA 3939. Term offered: fall, spring, summer. Repeatable. Max hours: 9 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 9.
Prereq: Junior standing or higher and at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
IDMA 4500 - Interdisciplinary Learning Capstone (3 Credits)
This course brings together students who have been working on individualized majors to share a capstone experience. The goal is for students to integrate knowledge from their cluster and apply it to a project relevant to their field of interest. Prereq: IDMA 3500 with a C- or higher. Students who have earned credit for ISMA 4500 will not earn credit for IDMA 4500. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Prereq: IDMA 3500 with a C- or higher.
IDMA 4840 - Independent Study (1-3 Credits)
Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Students who have earned credit for ISMA 4840 will not earn credit for IDMA 4840. Department consent required. Repeatable. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 3.
IDMA 4880 - Directed Research (1-6 Credits)
Students will engage in original research projects supervised and mentored by faculty. Students must work with faculty prior to registration to develop a proposal for their project and receive permission to take this course. Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Students who have earned credit for ISMA 4880 will not earn credit for IDMA 4880. Term offered: fall, spring, summer. Repeatable. Max hours: 6 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
IDMA 4900 - Interdisciplinary Studies Capstone (3 Credits)
Students will be guided through the research process as they complete interdisciplinary capstone projects. They will receive feedback during each stage of the project's development and consultation from discipline specific faculty advisors. Prereq: COMM 2500 or HEHM 3100 or IDMA 3100 or PBHL 2001 or SOCY 3440 with a C- or higher. Students who have earned credit for ISMA 4900 will not earn credit for IDMA 4900. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade