Interdisciplinary Studies master’s degrees
The interdisciplinary studies program offers students a high degree of flexibility in designing a program of study that cuts across disciplinary boundaries. Applicants to the master’s program can pursue one of two approaches — either a self-styled plan or a recognized concentration. Under a self-styled plan, students design a program to address a particular intellectual interest or study a multidisciplinary issue that combines existing courses from any graduate area of the university. Applicants should contact the Graduate School to discuss their intention to seek a self-styled plan. A recognized concentration provides more structure in the courses taken and is built around a defined interdisciplinary theme. For either approach, the degree awarded upon completion of the program is a Master of Arts or Master of Science with a major in interdisciplinary studies.
General requirements
In the self-styled approach, either the Master of Science or the Master of Arts degree program must include two separate fields of study with at least 6 hours in each field for a maximum of 24 hours between the two fields. INSD 5110 and INSD 5940 (for the MA) or INSD 5941 (for the MS) are also required for the self-styled degree. A faculty advisory committee may be formed to help the student develop the degree plan and supervise progress.
For those pursuing the self-styled degree, only STEM-based fields of study will be possible for the MS degree; either STEM or non-STEM-based fields of study are permissible for the MA.
Students may choose the non-thesis option and complete at least 30 semester hours for a Master of Arts or Master of Science. The thesis option requires 24 semester hours plus 6 hours of thesis, for a total of 30 hours.
For any non-thesis degree, the student will successfully complete a capstone seminar.
Admission requirements
Applicants for admission to the degree in interdisciplinary studies must submit the following:
- A completed Graduate School application form.
- Transcripts from all colleges attended.
- A non-refundable application fee.
- A current resume or curriculum vitae.
- Two letters of recommendation.
After students are accepted into the program, but before they can begin taking classes, they will work with an academic advisor in the Toulouse Graduate School, the director of a concentration (if applicable) and the faculty advisory committee to develop a plan of study for the interdisciplinary program.
Applicants seeking admission to the recognized concentrations should consult with the concentration’s director for concentration specific admission requirements.
University Courses (UCRS)
University courses are interdisciplinary in nature and are available to students working toward the master’s degree with the interdisciplinary major.
Concentrations
Students pursuing the master’s in interdisciplinary studies additionally may request admission to one of the available concentration programs.
Applied analytics concentration
The concentration in applied analytics is designed to prepare you for a wide variety of employment opportunities, such as data analyst, operations research analyst, quantitative marketing specialist, predictive analyst, research and modeling analyst, statistician and the like. Potential places of employment could include retail and investment banks, healthcare providers, insurance providers, e-commerce portals, airlines, market research firms, sport consulting, telecommunications firms, petroleum and renewable energy industries, institutions of higher education and government agencies, including the FBI and the CIA.
The applied analytics concentration in the interdisciplinary studies master’s program could include courses from, but not limited to, offerings in the College of Business and the College of Arts and Sciences. Students will formulate a degree plan that reflects their academic and career goals. Courses for credit must be approved by the program coordinator, and the coordinator will provide a list of recommended courses in business analytics, economics, etc.
Both thesis and non-thesis options are available for completion of the degree. Students will develop a degree plan with the aid and approval of the program coordinator, the concentration director and a three-member faculty advisory committee composed of representatives from their three primary areas of study. This committee will also serve to evaluate the thesis, portfolio or project.
For further information about applied analytics at UNT, please contact the interdisciplinary studies program coordinator, Toulouse Graduate School, Chestnut Hall, Room 103; 1155 Union Circle #305459, Denton, TX 76203-5017; 940-565-4495; insd@unt.edu.
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