Interdisciplinary studies

How to apply

 
 

Come to UAF and earn your graduate degree! Combine two or more disciplines to investigate an interdisciplinary topic of your choice.

We strongly encourage you to contact the graduate school, using the 1:1 request form to the right,  to discuss your application prior to submission. The application process has four distinct steps; first confirm your eligibility, second Identify a faculty member, third develop a study plan, and fourth submit an application. 

 

Step 1: Confirm eligibility

Interdisciplinary master's degree (M.A. and M.S.)

To be eligible, applicants must have:

  • A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
  • TOEFL = 80 (Internet-based exam), 213 (electronic exam) or 550 (paper exam) is required if an applicant is not a citizen of the U.S. and requires an F-1 visa.  The IELTS may be substituted in some cases. Minimum score is 6.5.
  • The Interdisciplinary masters degree can be completed with thesis or project, but cannot be completed by coursework.

Interdisciplinary Ph.D. degree 

To be eligible, applicants must have:

  • A master's degree from an accredited institution.
  • TOEFL = 80 (Internet-based exam), 213 (electronic exam) or 550 (paper exam) is required if an applicant is not a citizen of the U.S. and requires an F-1 visa. The IELTS may be substituted in some cases. Minimum score is 6.5.

 

Step 2: Identify faculty member(s) and program(s)

Graduate degrees are a partnership between a student and a faculty member who will serve as your graduate advisor. Your graduate advisor will serve as the chair of your graduate advisory committee. You will need to identify a faculty member  who is able to work with you over the course of your degree. If you don’t know a faculty member you can start by identifying programs at UAF that are in the disciplines you wish to  combine in your Interdisciplinary studies. 

You can review our colleges, schools and institutes and locate the departments and research groups where our faculty work. You can find the biographies and interests of our faculty at the UAF Experts site.

Once you identify a program and a faculty member, please contact them and introduce yourself and your interests. The faculty may agree to be your graduate advisor and chair your graduate committee or they may recommend an alternative advisor. You and the faculty member will need to work together on the application.

Applicants for the Master’s program should identify one faculty member who will serve as your advisor and chair your graduate advisory committee. 

Applicants for the PhD program should identify two faculty members from two separate programs or departments.  One faculty member should be willing to serve as your advisor and chair your graduate advisory committee. The other should be willing to serve on your  committee.

 

Step 3: Developing a plan

Review the classes offered in the areas of interest and work with faculty member(s) to develop a graduate study plan. The (s) courses should provide the foundational knowledge and skills you need to complete your degree. The courses should reflect the disciplines you are combining, and no more than half of the courses should come from any one discipline.

  • Minimum of 30 credits for an interdisciplinary master's from two or more disciplines, of which 21 must be at the 600-level (including a max of 12 credits of F699 or a max of 6 credits of F698 depending on whether you are pursuing a thesis or project).
  • Your coursework should include no more than half of the credits from any one discipline.
  • Minimum of 36 credits. At least 18 must be F699 thesis credits and at least 9 credits must be coursework.  The remaining 9 credits can be either thesis or course work or a mix of both.
  • Your coursework should include no more than half of the credits from any one discipline.

 

Step 4: Submit an application

Students applying to an Interdisciplinary Master's program must submit the materials typically required for all graduate programs, as well as some additional program specific materials. The materials should all be uploaded through the admission portal.

General Graduate Materials (6 items):

  1. An application for admission via the Admissions Portal by March 1st for the following fall semester and October 1st for the following spring semester .
  2. Request two letters of reference that address the academic qualifications for the degree program to which you are applying. Reference letters must be dated not earlier than one year prior to the date of application to the INDS program.
  3. Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended,
  4. Current curriculum vitae or resume,
  5. A statement of academic goals of two to four pages (500 - 1000 words, double spaced, one inch margins) that includes the following:
    1. Introduce yourself, your academic interests, and motivations for pursuing an INDS degree.
    2. Identify the disciplines you wish to combine and why your degree cannot be done under an existing disciplinary program.
    3. Summarize your relevant experience (e.g., undergraduate, graduate, professional career).
    4. Describe any support you require to be successful.
    5. List the faculty members you plan to work with.

Program Specific Materials (3 items):

  1. A proposed Graduate Study Plan (GSP) The courses proposed in the GSP must reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the degree, with at least two distinct disciplines. Your GSP must be signed by your proposed committee chair and one other committee member, and the department head and dean of your proposed committee chair.
  2. A research prospectus (in addition to the Statement of Academic Goals) of no more than 4 pages (1000 words, double spaced, one inch margins) that includes the following:
    1. Tentative title of the research study: Give a working title for your thesis/project. This does not have to be your final title.
    2. Interdisciplinary nature of research: Explain how the research is interdisciplinary in nature. Identify the disciplines it draws on.
    3. Rationale and significance: What question(s) do you hope to answer. Describe how this research is important and how  this research will contribute to our knowledge. Identify who will be affected by the new knowledge from this research. 
    4. Literature cited: Include references to previous work as appropriate.
  3. One Letter of endorsement from your proposed committee chair.

Students applying to an Interdisciplinary PhD program must submit the materials typically required for all graduate programs, as well as some additional program-specific materials. The materials should all be uploaded through the admission portal.

General Graduate Materials (6 items):

  1. An application for admission via the Admissions Portal by March 1st for the following fall semester and October 1st for the following spring semester .
  2. Request two letters of reference that address the academic qualifications for the degree program to which you are applying. Reference letters must be dated not earlier than one year prior to the date of application to the INDS program.
  3. Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended,
  4. Current curriculum vitae or resume,
  5. A statement of academic goals of two to four pages (500 - 1000 words, double spaced, one inch margins) that includes the following:
    1. Introduce yourself, your academic interests, and motivations for pursuing an INDS degree.
    2. Identify the disciplines you wish to combine and why your degree cannot be done under an existing disciplinary program.
    3. Summarize your relevant experience (e.g., undergraduate, graduate, professional career). 
      1. Describe any support you require to be successful.
      2. List the faculty members you plan to work with.

Program Specific Materials (4 items):

  1. A proposed Graduate Study Plan (GSP) The courses proposed in the GSP must reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the degree, with at least two distinct disciplines. Your GSP must be signed by your proposed committee chair and one other committee member, and the department head and dean of your proposed committee chair.
  2. A research prospectus (in addition to the Statement of Academic Goals) of no more than 4 pages (1000 words, double-spaced, one-inch margins) that includes the following:
    1. Tentative title of the research study: Give a working title for your dissertation. This does not have to be your final title.
    2. Interdisciplinary nature of research: Explain how the research is interdisciplinary in nature. Identify the disciplines it draws on.
    3. Rationale and significance: What question(s) do you hope to answer.  Describe how this research is important and how this research will contribute to our knowledge. Identify who will be affected by the new knowledge from this research. 
    4. Literature cited: Include references to previous work as appropriate.
  3. Letter of endorsement from your proposed committee chair.
  4. Letter of endorsement from a committee member (not the chair).

Any questions?

Please contact the Graduate School at uaf-grad-school@alaska.edu or request an appointment using the link below.

Schedule a 1:1 Appointment