Our majors include Psychology and Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences with an individually-designed option.
Our curriculum in Psychology is designed to prepare students for careers in human services, community service, human resources and for graduate school for students who plan to work as professional psychologists.
We value interdisciplinarity, being able to combine and use skills and knowledge across disciplines.
Undergraduate Program
Division of Social, Behavioral and Human Sciences
424 West Coast Grocery Building
253-692-4450 ias@uw.edu
Program of Study: Major: Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
Program Overview
Provides broad exposure to key areas of knowledge within the arts and sciences, while stressing their interconnectedness. Emphasizes interdisciplinary skills and thinking needed to function successfully in a rapidly changing society and world.
This program of study leads to the following credentials:
Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences (Individually Designed)
Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
Completion Requirements
To be eligible for graduation with the bachelor of arts degree, each student enrolled in the program must complete the following program requirements:
Complete all general education requirements not met with transfer courses. See advisor for details.
Complete a minimum of 45 credits of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences course work. Some majors or concentrations may require more.
Complete a minimum of 45 credits of upper-division course work, including transfer courses and UW Tacoma courses.
Complete 5 credits of English composition with a minimum 2.0 grade. This must be completed in a student’s first two quarters at UW Tacoma.
Complete the requirements for a major or concentration (minors are optional).
No more than 15 elective credits can be taken for a Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory grade. See advisor for details.
Meet with an advisor to complete a graduation application no later than the second week of the quarter in which the student plans to graduate.
Additional requirements specified below.
Additional Completion Requirements
Major specific requirements
In addition to completing the university graduation requirements, the major in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences requires 67 completed credits in total from the following lists.
Foundational/Core Courses: 22 credits
5 credits from One of the following four courses (List A):
T HIST 150
T HIST 151
T HIST 200
T HIST 201
5 credits from one of the following courses (List B):
TESC 102
TESC 201
5 credits from one of the following courses (List C):
T ARTS 200
T FILM 201 (formerly T FILM 272)
T LIT 101 (formerly T LIT 200)
5 credits from one of the following courses (List D):
TECON 101
TPSYCH 101
TPOLS 202
Required: 2 credit course
TIAS 305
Elective Courses: 45 credits
At least 35 credits must be upper division, 20 credits of which must be 400 level.
15 credits (from Lists E/F) - at least 5 credits from each category:
Scientific Thinking/Humans (List E)
Their Environment (List F)
15 credits (from Lists G/H) - at least 5 credits from each category:
History or The Human Past/Society and Culture (List G)
The Human Present (List H)
15 credits from (Lists I/J) - at least 5 credits from each category:
Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences (Individually Designed)
Credential Overview
This concentration is an individually-designed option for those who wish to create a program of study by combining selected courses from within UW Tacoma’s range of programs. You design your study under the guidance and supervision of an SIAS faculty member, an SIAS advisor, and the concentration coordinator.
Admission Requirements
To propose an individually-designed concentration, students must do the following:
Consult with the concentration coordinator to ensure you understand the requirements of the individually designed concentration. Continue working with the coordinator throughout the proposal process.
Identify the unifying interdisciplinary theme of your concentration. Consider what faculty would be appropriate as mentors and consult with them as needed during development phase.
Identify the courses taken or planned. The list should comprise of 55-credits, plus the 5-credit thesis. Meet with your IAS staff advisor for assistance. This is essential for transfer students.
Draft a 2-3 page proposal that includes:
a brief descriptive title
the rationale for the proposed concentration
a general description of the concentration
a rationale and discussion of the interrelationships among the courses chosen
a complete course list (must include 55-credits plus the senior thesis)
Secure the support of at least one IAS faculty member to be your sponsor for the concentration. The faculty sponsor attests to the intellectual soundness of the proposal and agrees to provide whatever guidance s/he and the student may jointly decide is needed. The faculty sponsor may also suggest changes in the previously approved written proposal or list of courses.
Choose one IAS academic advisor to work with you to help keep track of your progress toward graduation.
Add the Agreement and Declaration page to the proposal and have it signed by the faculty sponsor and academic advisor.
Once your proposal has been approved, continue working with the concentration coordinator, your faculty sponsor and your academic advisor to ensure your concentration is completed appropriately. Submit the proposal for approval to the concentration coordinator by the end of the junior year.
Completion Requirements
To be eligible for graduation with the bachelor of arts degree, each student enrolled in the program must complete the following program requirements:
Complete all general education requirements not met with transfer courses. See advisor for details.
Complete a minimum of 45 credits of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences course work. Some majors or concentrations may require more.
Complete a minimum of 45 credits of upper-division course work, including transfer courses and UW Tacoma courses.
Complete 5 credits of English composition with a minimum 2.0 grade. This must be completed in a student’s first two quarters at UW Tacoma.
Complete the requirements for a major or concentration (minors are optional).
No more than 15 elective credits can be taken for a Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory grade. See advisor for details.
Meet with an advisor to complete a graduation application no later than the second week of the quarter in which the student plans to graduate.