Interdisciplinary majors offered by the College of Arts & Sciences provide options for those who have not chosen a specialized major. They offer opportunities to create individual fields of emphasis for people who want to pursue multidisciplinary solutions to today’s complex problems.

Despite the popularity of specialized majors, employers have a growing recognition that individuals who are broadly trained, have knowledge of a culture other than their own, think well and analyze logically, and express themselves clearly and persuasively both in writing and speaking are highly desirable employees.

These students also are readily accepted in graduate and professional programs. It is important, however, for students to focus their programs somewhat. Consequently, the College of Arts & Sciences offers the following four interdisciplinary majors: humanities, life science, physical science and social science.

Social science is a branch of learning that examines society’s institutions — their structures, theoretical foundations, evolution and interrelationships — and how they affect and are affected by human behavior. The social science disciplines include American ethnic studies, anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, sociology and women’s studies.

A student works closely with a social science advisor to determine a plan of study with a thematic emphasis. This theme includes a minimum of 12 hours of courses in the major. In general, only one course outside the stipulated social science disciplines may be used to count toward the major, if the course fits the student’s theme.