The University of Dayton offers individual interdisciplinary graduate programs designed by the student in cooperation with an advisor and representatives from the selected programs. Applicants must have an undergraduate degree with a general cumulative point average of 3.0 or above, and submit a formal written request for an individually designed interdisciplinary program to their faculty advisor and graduate committee.

 

The interdisciplinary program does not replace established graduate programs. Rather, it is a specific program drawn from several disciplines to meet your specific needs — frequently for job-related requirements.

 

The program you develop must produce interrelated applications of specific disciplines and skills at the graduate level. For instance, a clinical dietitian employed in a hospital may seek graduate-level expertise in counseling and education for patients with chemical dependencies and for teaching interns. Such a student finds that a Master of Science degree in the interdisciplinary program serves the special needs for a broader knowledge base encompassing physiology, communication and counseling.

 

Your degree will be either a Master of Arts or a Master of Science. Your program should involve several disciplines and be directed by one faculty member from each discipline. These faculty members constitute your advisory committee. The final program will be drawn up and approved by the advisory committee. Copies will be sent to the chairs of the departments involved.

 

The interdisciplinary program of study must be at least 30 semester hours of graduate course work: 15 may be divided between directed study and a thesis, but must be related to the interdisciplinary areas; six can be electives in more distantly related areas.

 

The formal request for an individual interdisciplinary program must include: