James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College

Interdisciplinary Studies Track - West Campus

The Interdisciplinary Studies Track is designed to create an integrative, holistic education experience that empowers a global and diverse perspective.

Students who complete the requirements of the Interdisciplinary Studies track will be able to:

Apply principles of dialogic argument in written and verbal communication.
Compare, contrast, and explain the significance of different historic ages.
Compare, contrast, and integrate knowledge of diverse cultures and disciplines.

The Interdisciplinary Studies Honors curriculum (IDH) covers 24 hours of the student's general education requirement by integrating the disciplines of English, humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences. Students can take all or part of the program.

Interdisciplinary Studies is team-taught by four faculty members from several academic disciplines, and provides students with a strong background for further college work. Courses in the IDH Program are offered in Fall Term and Spring Term each year.

This program provides an exciting opportunity for students to see the connections between branches of knowledge and to see the exchange of ideas that take place between the arts and the sciences. Emphasis is placed on students' critical thinking abilities – their ability to read, write, speak and analyze effectively and on their ability to think creatively.

Track Requirements

Course Requirements: Students must complete a total of 24 credits of honors coursework, at least 18 of which must be in three of the following IDH courses:

IDH1110 – Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education I (6 credits) OR IDH1112
IDH1111 – Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education II (6 credits)
IDH2120 – Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education III (6 credits)
IDH2121 – Interdisciplinary Studies in General Education IV (6 credits)

Co-curricular Component: Students will be required to participate in a minimum of 15 hours of approved co-curricular activities each term of enrollment (excluding summer). This may include international travel experience, field trips to cultural locations, colloquia, reading circles, speaker series, and/or service to the Honors College.

Interdisciplinary Studies Curriculum
24 Semester Hours
of general education requirements

IDH 1110/1112
6 hours

IDH 1111
6 hours

IDH 2120
6 hours

IDH 2121
6 hours

3 hrs. English Comp. I credit 1110
OR
3 hrs. Humanities credit (Gordon Rule)
AND
3 hrs. Humanities credit (Humanities Elective)

3 hrs. English Comp. II credit and

3 hrs. Natural Science credit

3 hrs. Humanities credit (Writing Reinforcement Course) and

3 hrs. Social Science credit

3 hrs. Humanities credit (Writing Reinforcement Course) and

3 hrs. Natural Science credit

INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES IN GENERAL EDUCATION I - HONORS
Introduction to process of rational thought and how people have organized process to define human values and physical universe. Focuses on Greek contributions to process, compares them to modern culture and integrates disciplines of physics, mathematics, language, rhetoric, psychology and humanities. Gordon Rule course which requires 6,000 words of writing. Honors program permission required. Minimum grade of C required for successful completion and/or to satisfy Gordon Rule and/or general education requirements. (Equivalent to non-Gordon Rule humanities course, three hours; and ENC 1101, Freshman Composition I, three hours.)

INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES IN GENERAL EDUCATION II - HONORS
Examination of change in thinking process as result of scientific revolution of 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Focuses on process itself and impact this process has on modern culture. Integrates information from astronomy, physics, mathematics, biology, psychology, economics, communications and humanities. Gordon Rule course which requires 6,000 words of writing. Honors program permission required. Minimum grade of C required for successful completion and/or to satisfy Gordon Rule and/or general education requirements. (Equivalent to ENC 1102 Freshman Composition II, three hours; and science non-laboratory course, three hours.)

INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES IN GENERAL EDUCATION III - HONORS
Examination of new cosmology which emerged in early 20th century as result of relativity and quantum theory. Focuses on changing attitudes toward physical world and its impact on contemporary human values. Integrates physics, politics, mathematics, psychology, sociology, communications and humanities. Gordon Rule course which requires 6,000 words of writing. Honors program permission required. Minimum grade of C required for successful completion and/or to satisfy Gordon Rule and/or general education requirements. (Equivalent to Gordon Rule humanities course, three hours; and social science course, three hours.)

INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES IN GENERAL EDUCATION IV - HONORS
Examination of new awareness of universe which resulted from new astronomical discoveries about "time" and "space" in past 15 years. Focuses on how discoveries are forcing re-examination of values in light of present day knowledge. Integrates astronomy, mathematics, biology, sociology, psychology, politics, communications and humanities. Gordon Rule course which requires 6,000 words of writing. Honors program permission required. Minimum grade of C required for successful completion and/or to satisfy Gordon Rule and/or general education requirements. (Equivalent to Gordon Rule humanities course, three hours; and science, non-laboratory course, three hours.)

Additional General Education Program Requirements
- 3 hrs. SPC 1608 or SPC1608H
- 3 hrs. POS 2041 or POS2041H
- 6 hrs. Gordon Rule Math (Area 3 General Education requirements)

Valencia College provides equal opportunity for educational opportunities and employment to all. Contact the Office of Human Resources and Diversity for information.

James M. and Dayle L. Seneff Honors College