Interdisciplinary Studies: Social Sciences Program

College of the Sciences
Ellensburg
Psychology Building, room 269
Mail Stop 7575
509-963-1804
www.cwu.edu/interdisciplinary-studies-socialsciences
See website for how this program may be used for educational and career purposes.

Program Academic Coordinator
Alena Yastchenko

Program Directors
Nicole Dunn, online program
Cynthia Engel, Des Moines/Pierce County
Kevin Feeney, online program
Alena Yastchenko, Ellensburg/Yakima/Wenatchee/Moses Lake

Program Information
Interdisciplinary studies-social sciences major is for students whose primary interest in the social sciences requires interdisciplinary programs and course selections which are not possible within single academic programs or established curricula. Program offers students an opportunity to devise an approved, coherent program of study with an academic advisor fulfilling academic or career goals and includes prerequisites consistent with the 300- 400-level major coursework. Since the program is a student-designed, interdisciplinary major, course selections will vary. Students in the interdisciplinary studies major must take courses in at least three disciplines within the major.

Admission Requirement
Applicants must have completed 60 credit hours of study with a minimum 2.25 cumulative GPA and be in academic good standing for admission.

Additional Degree Requirements
Application to the program must be completed at least three quarters prior to anticipated graduation. Students must earn a minimum grade of C- in each course in an approved interdisciplinary studies major plan and achieve a minimum 2.25 GPA in the major. Courses in a student’s minor or second major may not be included in the interdisciplinary studies major plan without advisor’s consent. Students will enroll in IDS 489 no earlier than 2 quarters following successful completion of IDS 289.

Program Outcomes
For information on program outcomes, please go to: www.cwu.edu/mission/assessment-improvement/slo-assessment-plans. 

Course Offerings
Frequency of course offering information can be found at the department website: www.cwu.edu/interdisciplinary-studies-socialsciences or by contacting the department directly.

Programs

• Interdisciplinary Studies-Social Sciences, BS

Courses

• IDS 289 - Introduction to the Major
• IDS 298 - Special Topics
• IDS 299 - Seminar
• IDS 305 - Surviving to Thriving: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Developing Resiliency and Coping
• IDS 311 - Don’t Lie to Me: Contemporary Profiling
• IDS 321 - Body Image, Wellness and Popular Culture
• IDS 323 - Dangerous Women: Mad, Bad or Misunderstood
• IDS 343 - Origins and Results of Food Technology: The Gluttonous Human
• IDS 354 - Bedlam to Bellevue - On Being “Mad” in the US from 1960 to Present
• IDS 357 - Race, Drugs and Prohibition in the U.S.: What Makes Drug Use Criminal?
• IDS 363 - The Simpsons: Social Institutions and National Community
• IDS 369 - Living Voices of America: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Indigenous Women in the U.S.
• IDS 373 - The Purpose of the United States
• IDS 389 - Academic and Career Exploration
• IDS 396 - Individual Study
• IDS 397 - Honors
• IDS 398 - Special Topics
• IDS 399 - Seminar
• IDS 403 - Alien Abduction and Shamanism: Close Encounters at the edge of Consciousness
• IDS 405 - Essentials of Project Funding in the Social Sciences
• IDS 416 - What did you mean by that? Exploring how differing interpretations can sabotage human interactions
• IDS 489 - Senior Portfolio Project
• IDS 490 - Cooperative Education
• IDS 496 - Individual Study
• IDS 497 - Honors
• IDS 498 - Special Topics
• IDS 499 - Seminar