Graduate School

Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs

Approved by Graduate Faculty Council (GFC) 2014.

Program Characteristics

Inquiries

Forwarded to Graduate Program Director and Graduate Program Assistant

Applications

  • Initial processing by Graduate School (as for all programs)
  • Forwarded to Graduate Program Director for review
  • Graduate Program Assistant assists with processing
  • Review conducted based on procedures developed by Graduate Program Director and Graduate Program Steering Committee and approved by relevant Chair(s)/Dean(s) and Graduate Dean
  • Funding decisions made based on procedures developed by Graduate Program Director and Graduate Program Steering Committee and approved by relevant Chair(s)/Dean(s) and Graduate Dean

Admissions

  • Graduate Program Director responsible for final decisions
  • Graduate Program Assistant assists with processing
  • Graduate School issues official letter of admission (as for all programs)

Student Advising

  • Graduate Program Director serves as temporary advisor for incoming students
  • Graduate Program Director and Graduate Program Steering Committee primarily responsible for program management with assistance of Graduate Dean and relevant Chair(s)/Dean(s) if necessary
  • Graduate Program Steering Committee collaborates with Graduate Program Director to oversee day-to-day program management
  • Graduate Program Steering Committee membership is representative of the academic home units of faculty members participating in the program
  • Students reassigned to permanent advisor in home unit as soon as possible
  • Students “live” (e.g., get mail, have office [if possible]) in same academic unit as advisor
  • Students “count” toward enrollment in advisor’s home academic unit (where advisor has office and primary appointment)
  • Graduate Program Directors meet as a group on a regular basis with Graduate Dean to promote communication/collaboration/continual improvement.
  • Expectations for completion of milestones for degrees developed by Graduate Program Director and Graduate Program Steering Committee and approved by relevant Chair(s)/Dean(s) and Graduate Dean
  • Graduate Program Assistant assists with all aspects of student support, ensuring appropriate level of enrollment (e.g., full-time), processing required forms, scheduling events, entering information into Banner (as for all programs)
  • In cases of conflict, Graduate Program Director and Graduate Steering Committee address issues (as is done in other programs), with the Graduate School becoming involved when resolution at the program level is not possible

Curriculum

Core

Goal of core is to develop commonly agreed upon required body of knowledge, facilitate
cross-disciplinary communication and collaboration among faculty and students; highlight
relevant recent research outcomes in relevant discipline(s).

  • Minimum of one regularly scheduled (can be online) course
  • Minimum of one seminar/journal course

Additional Courses

  • Must conform to relevant rules for graduate programs at relevant level
  • Must promote interdisciplinary themes while providing opportunity to build students’ expertise in a particular area.

Changes to Curriculum or Program

  • Addressed through changes to Program policies and procedures (to be reviewed and approved by Graduate Dean in consultation with relevant Department Chair(s)/Dean(s)
  • Addressed through Graduate School Binder Process

Graduate School Hierarchy

  • Dean, Graduate School - All faculty supervised by Graduate School Dean. Graduate program policies and procedures (written document, available on the web) reviewed on a five-year basis by Graduate School Dean. Review Includes requests for input from relevant Department Chair(s)/Dean(s).
    • All interdisciplinary Graduate Program Directors will meet as a group on a regular basis with Graduate Dean to promote communication/collaboration/continual improvement.
  • Graduate Program Director - The Graduate Program Director reports to the Graduate School Dean for program-related issues. Rotating three-year term.
  • Graduate Program Assistant - In Program Director's Unit.
  • Graduate Program Steering Committee - three to five member voting body; representation of department/schools of participating faculty.
  • Graduate Program Faculty - Nominated by Graduate Program Steering Committee, approved by relevant Department Chair/Dean, approved by Graduate School for Adjunct Faculty Status in Program. Authority to serve as primary advisor to students.