The interdisciplinary studies graduate programs (Master of Arts, Master of Science, and PhD) are designed for highly motivated students whose career or educational goals do not fit into one of The University of Alabama’s existing programs, but are a good match for UA’s broad-ranging fields of expertise.
There is no such thing as a typical student for an interdisciplinary graduate program. Students vary widely in both age and interests. They may pursue their interdisciplinary graduate degree just after graduation, or when considering career changes or advancement at a later stage. Students may pursue these degrees on either a full-time or part-time basis. The Interdisciplinary Studies PhD program is an on-campus program; the Interdisciplinary Studies master’s can be pursued either online or on campus, depending on the subject area and availability of courses.
Applicants who propose to combine two or more academic disciplines should outline their goals and rationales in a statement of purpose, submitted with the application. Applicants should ensure that they demonstrate coherence among the different disciplines, in terms of the individual’s overall personal and professional goals, as well as outlining how those disciplines will be blended in the final thesis, project or dissertation.
Funding
Unlike other programs at The University of Alabama, the Interdisciplinary Studies Masters and Doctoral programs are administered directly by the Graduate School, not an academic department. Consequently, there is not a pool of research or teaching assistantships available to students in the program. Many full-time Interdisciplinary Ph.D. student do receive assistantship funding from their home department (usually through their advisor). Interdisciplinary Studies students are eligible for Graduate School fellowships. Please see financial assistance page in this catalog for more details.
Courses
A workplace-based internship or practicum during which the principles learned in Interdisciplinary Master's coursework will be integrated into a real-world setting, to solve a problem (the "capstone project"). Under the supervision of the advisory committee, students will develop and present the results of their Capstone Project in both written and oral form.
This independent research course partially fulfills required research hours toward a Plan I interdisciplinary master’s degree. A minimum of 6 thesis research hours are required, at 1-6 hours per semester. The course is conducted under the guidance of the primary advisor, with support from the advisory committee. Material covered will be of an advanced nature aimed at providing students with an understanding of the latest research and current developments within the field. Discussion and advisor guidance will be focused on readings of research articles and development of research methodology, with the aim of producing an original thesis evidencing research capacity, independent thought, integration of the disciplines represented in the plan of study, and the student's ability to interpret research materials in the student’s field.
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The Preparing Future Faculty & Scholars course is designed to provide Doctoral and MFA students with a series of topics, discussions, and activities that expose them more fully to the realities of post-graduate life inside and outside of academia. Through participation in coursework, workshops, online training, and/or mentoring, this course increases students' awareness of expectations for pre-tenure faculty performance, in addition to the foundational information needed to find, sustain, and enhance their future in academia and/or non-academic careers.
Dissertation Research.
Resources
Each Interdisciplinary Studies student is assigned a home department. It is the intention of the Graduate School that this student is given the same access to departmental resources as any other student in that department. In addition to the traditional departmental resources, it is intended that all Interdisciplinary Studies students take full advantage of professional development resources offered through the Graduate School and other units on campus.