Interdisciplinary Studies

Design Your Own Degree Program

The increasing complexity of global issues often requires that problems be approached from multiple perspectives. Emerging career paths may require greater flexibility in course selection than is available within a single discipline. The Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) program is an exciting and dynamic degree program that allows students to combine coursework from various disciplines while designing a curriculum that meets their academic and career goals.

Students also may choose to participate in the Three-Plus-One Program, which allows them to earn a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree by completing 90 hours at USC Upstate and 30 semester hours (one year) of coursework at an approved, accredited professional school like Sherman College of Chiropractic. The IDS major is available to students at all levels of their academic careers including freshman and transfer students. Currently, more than 250 students are choosing to major in IDS.

The Center for Interdisciplinary Studies also offers the Nonprofit Administration Minor.  

Interdisciplinary Studies degree requirements for previous academic years may be found on the academic catalog page.

Student Learning Outcomes


1. Students will demonstrate the ability to address an issue from an interdisciplinary perspective.

1.1 Students will demonstrate the ability to develop an original thesis that addresses a topic using at least two disciplines.

1.2 Students will be able to apply library research methods to locate academic information from at least two disciplines to adequately address a research thesis.


 2. Students will demonstrate the ability to engage in critical thinking.

2.1 Students will be able to integrate information and ideas from at least two disciplines.

2.2 Students will be able to draw inferences from source information.

3. Students will demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills.

3.1 Students will demonstrate the ability to establish a clear purpose and an appropriate awareness of audience in both written and oral formats.

3.2 Students will demonstrate effective organization and coherence of content using both written and oral delivery methods.

3.3 Students will demonstrate correct use of sources with clear attribution and accurate documentation using a conventionally accepted style (e.g., APA, MLA, AMA, Turabian).

3.4 Students will demonstrate the ability to make appropriate use of vocabulary,  grammar, syntax, and punctuation. 

Technology and Communications

Engineering Technology Management Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

ETMG 320: Engineering Cost Analysis   4 Credit Hours
ETMG 330: Engineering Work Analysis  4 Credit Hours
ETMG 410: Engineering Teams Theory and Practice  4 Credit Hours
ETMG 420: Engineering Project Management  4 Credit Hours

 

Communications Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

JOUR 303: Law and Ethics of the Mass Media 3 Credit Hours
JOUR 328: Fundamentals of Public Relations 3 Credit Hours
JOUR 450: Women in the Media  3 Credit Hours
JOUR 480: Diversity in the Media 3 Credit Hours
SPCH 301: Theories/Principals of Human Communication 3 Credit Hours
SPCH 303: Ethics in Human Communication 3 Credit Hours
SPCH 310: Interpersonal Communication 3 Credit Hours
SPCH 448: Organizational Communication 3 Credit Hours
Technology and Management

Engineering Technology Management Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

ETMG 320: Engineering Cost Analysis  4 Credit Hours
ETMG 330: Engineering Work Analysis 4 Credit Hours
ETMG 410: Engineering Teams Theory And Practice 4 Credit Hours
ETMG 420: Engineering Project Management 4 Credit Hours

 

Business Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

ACCT 347: Legal Environment of Business 3 Credit Hours
MKTG 350: Principles of Marketing 3 Credit Hours
MKTG 351: Consumer Behavior 3 Credit Hours
MGMT 371: Principles of Organizational Management 3 Credit Hours
MGMT 374: Management of Human Resources 3 Credit Hours
Communication and Management

Business Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

ACCT 347: Legal Environment of Business 3 Credit Hours
MKTG 350: Principles of Marketing 3 Credit Hours
MKTG 351: Consumer Behavior 3 Credit Hours
MGMT 371: Principles of Organizational Management 3 Credit Hours
MGMT 374: Management of Human Resources 3 Credit Hours

 

Communications Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

JOUR 303: Law and Ethics of Mass Media  3 Credit Hours
JOUR 328: Fundamentals of Public Relations 3 Credit Hours
JOUR 450: Women in the Media 3 Credit Hours
JOUR 480: Diversity in the Media 3 Credit Hours
SPCH 301: Theories/Principles of Human Communication 3 Credit Hours
SPCH 303: Ethics in Human Communication 3 Credit Hours
SPCH 310: Interpersonal Communication 3 Credit Hours
SPCH 448: Organizational Communication 3 Credit Hours
Informatics and Management

Informatics Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

INFO 303: Organizational Informatics and IT Platforms 3 Credit Hours
INFO 305: Social Informatics 3 Credit Hours
INFO 307: Systematic Innovation 3 Credit Hours
INFO 345: Technical Communication and Presentation 3 Credit Hours
INFO 346: Communication and New Technology 3 Credit Hours
INFO 423: Human-Machine Interaction 3 Credit Hours

Business Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

ACCT 347: Legal Environment of Business  3 Credit Hours
MKTG 350: Principles of Marketing  3 Credit Hours
MKTG 351: Consumer Behavior  3 Credit Hours
MGMT 371: Principles of Organizational Management  3 Credit Hours
MGMT 374: Management of Human Resources  3 Credit Hours
Informatics and Communication

Informatics Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

INFO 303: Organizational Informatics and IT Platforms  3 Credit Hours
INFO 305: Social Informatics  3 Credit Hours
INFO 307: Systematic Innovation  3 Credit Hours
INFO 345: Technical Communication and Presentation  3 Credit Hours
INFO 346: Communication and New Technology  3 Credit Hours
INFO 423: Human-Machine Interaction  3 Credit Hours

 

Communications Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

JOUR 303: Law and Ethics of Mass Media 3 Credit Hours
JOUR 328: Fundamentals of Public Relations 3 Credit Hours
JOUR 450: Women in the Media 3 Credit Hours
JOUR 480: Diversity in the Media  3 Credit Hours
SPCH 301: Theories/Principles of Human Communication  3 Credit Hours
SPCH 303: Ethics in Human Communication  3 Credit Hours
SPCH 310: Interpersonal Communication 3 Credit Hours
SPCH 448: Organizational Communication 3 Credit Hours
Informatics and Technology

Informatics Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

INFO 303: Organizational Informatics and IT Platforms  3 Credit Hours
INFO 305: Social Informatics  3 Credit Hours
INFO 307: Systematic Innovation  3 Credit Hours
INFO 345: Technical Communication and Presentation  3 Credit Hours
INFO 346: Communication and New Technology 3 Credit Hours
INFO 423: Human-Machine Interaction 3 Credit Hours

 

Engineering Technology Management Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

ETMG 320: Engineering Cost Analysis  4 Credit Hours
ETMG 330: Engineering Work Analysis  4 Credit Hours
ETMG 410: Engineering Teams Theory and Practice 4 Credit Hours
ETMG 420: Engineering Project Management 4 Credit Hours
Child Advocacy and Communication

Child Advocacy Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

CAST 301: Introduction to Child Maltreatment  3 Credit Hours 
CAST 401: Child Advocacy I: System Responses  3 Credit Hours
CAST 402: Child Advocacy II: Prevention and Intervention  3 Credit Hours
CAST 499: Child Advocacy Internship 3 Credit Hours
CRJU 350: Victimology 3 Credit Hours
PSY 203: Developmental Psychology (GTC)  3 Credit Hours

 

Communications Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

JOUR 303: Law and Ethics of Mass Media  3 Credit Hours
JOUR 328: Fundamentals of Public Relations  3 Credit Hours
JOUR 450: Women in the Media  3 Credit Hours
JOUR 480: Diversity in the Media  3 Credit Hours
SPCH 301: Theories/Principles of Human Communicatio 3 Credit Hours
SPCH 303: Ethics in Human Communication  3 Credit Hours
SPCH 310: Interpersonal Communication  3 Credit Hours
SPCH 448: Organizational Communication  3 Credit Hours
Child Advocacy and Management

Business Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

ACCT 347: Legal Environment of Business  3 Credit Hours
MKTG 350: Principles of Marketing  3 Credit Hours
MKTG 351: Consumer Behavior  3 Credit Hours
MGMT 371: Principles of Organizational Management  3 Credit Hours
MGMT 374: Management of Human Resources  3 Credit Hours

 

Child Advocacy Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

CAST 301: Introduction to Child Maltreatment  3 Credit Hours
CAST 401: Child Advocacy I: System Responses  3 Credit Hours
CAST 402: Child Advocacy II: Prevention and Intervention  3 Credit Hours
CAST 499: Child Advocacy Internship  3 Credit Hours
CRJU 350: Victimology  3 Credit Hours
PSY 203: Developmental Psychology (GTC)  3 Credit Hours
Nonprofit Administration and Communication

Nonprofit Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

NPAD 301: Nonprofit Sector in U.S.  3 Credit Hours 
NPAD 302: Nonprofit Leadership  3 Credit Hours
NPAD 303: Nonprofit Financial Administration  3 Credit Hours
NPAD 304: Fundraising for Nonprofit Organisations   3 Credit Hours
NPAD 401: Topics in Nonprofit Leadership  3 Credit Hours

 

Communications Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

JOUR 303: Law and Ethics of Mass Media  3 Credit Hours
JOUR 328: Fundamentals of Public Relations  3 Credit Hours
JOUR 350: Social and Emerging Media  3 Credit Hours
JOUR 480: Diversity in the Media  3 Credit Hours
SPCH 301: Theories/Principles of Human Communication  3 Credit Hours
SPCH 303: Ethics of Human Communication  3 Credit Hours
SPCH 310: Interpersonal Communication  3 Credit Hours
SPCH 448: Organizational Communication 3 Credit Hours
Nonprofit Administration and Management

Nonprofit Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

NPAD 301: Nonprofit Sector in U.S.  3 Credit Hours
NPAD 302: Nonprofit Leadership  3 Credit Hours
NPAD 303: Nonprofit Financial Administration  3 Credit Hours
NPAD 304: Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations  3 Credit Hours
NPAD 401: Topics in Nonprofit Leadership 3 Credit Hours

 

Business Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

ACCT 347: Legal Environment of Business  3 Credit Hours
MKTG 350: Principles of Marketing  3 Credit Hours
MKTG 351: Consumer Behavior  3 Credit Hours
MGMT 371: Principles of Organizational Management 3 Credit Hours
 MGMT 374: Management of Human Resources 3 Credit Hours
Nonprofit Administration and Informatics

Nonprofit Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

NPAD 301: Nonprofit Sector in US  3 Credit Hours
NPAD 302: Nonprofit Leadership  3 Credit Hours
NPAD 303: Nonprofit Financial Administration 3 Credit Hours
NPAD 304: Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations 3 Credit Hours
NPAD 401: Topics in Nonprofit Leadership 3 Credit Hours

 

Informatics Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

INFO 303: Organizational Informatics and IT Platforms 3 Credit Hours
INFO 305: Social Informatics 3 Credit Hours
INFO 307: Systematic Innovation 3 Credit Hours
INFO 345: Technical Communication and Presentation 3 Credit Hours
INFO 346: Communication and New Technology 3 Credit Hours
INFO 423: Human Machine Interaction 3 Credit Hours
Nonprofit Administration and Child Advocacy

Nonprofit Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

NPAD 301: Nonprofit Sector in US  3 Credit Hours
NPAD 302: Nonprofit Leadership  3 Credit Hours
NPAD 303: Nonprofit Financial Administration  3 Credit Hours
NPAD 304: Fundraising for Nonprofit Organization 3 Credit Hours
NPAD 401: Topics in Nonprofit Leadership  3 Credit Hours

 

Child Advocacy Courses and Credit Hours (Choose from:)

CAST 301: Introduction to Child Maltreatment  3 Credit Hours
CAST 401: Child Advocacy I: System Responses  3 Credit Hours
CAST 402: Child Advocacy II: Prevention and Intervention  3 Credit Hours
CAST 499: Child Advocacy Internship  3 Credit Hours
CRJU 350: Victimology  3 Credit Hours
PSY 203: Developmental Psychology (GTC)  3 Credit Hours