Interdisciplinary Studies
Your degree, your way.
The Major in Interdisciplinary Studies allows students to organize their own academic interests around a central theme or focus. See Program Details for examples of study.
This B.A. program is housed in the Faculty of Arts, and is overseen by the Interdisciplinary Studies Committee, consisting of three faculty members from the Faculty of Arts Council. Each student will design his or her own program with the guidance of the Committee. The Committee will ensure that each student has a supervisor who will direct the independent study project at the 4000-level, and serve as the student’s academic advisor. The student’s individualized course map will be approved by the Committee, reviewed annually, and revised if necessary.
Academic Advisor
Dr. Sara Burke, Vice-Dean, Faculty of Arts
Telephone: (705) 675-1151, ext. 4201
Email: sZMacDonald@laurentian.ca
Office: Laurentian University Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6 Office - A254

EXAMPLE 1: Literature and Geography: The Migration of Cultural Production (42 cr)
Arts Discipline 1: English (12 cr)
ENGL 2656EL Northern Ontario Literature
ENGL 2676EL Popular Literature and Culture I
ENGL 3305EL Postcolonial Literary Studies
Arts Discipline 2: Geography (12 cr)
GEOG 1027EL Introduction to Human Geography
GEOG 2216EL Cultural Geography
GEOG 3297EL Selected Topics in Human Geography
GEOG 4217EL Population and Development
Arts Discipline 3: Anthropology (12 cr)
ANTR 2046EL World Ethnology: Peoples of the World
ANTR 2005EL Child Rearing Across Cultures
ANTR 4056EL Advanced Topics in Social/Cultural Anthropology
Capstone Course (6 cr)
ARTS 4005EL Independent Study Project: (6 cr): Literature and Geography: The Migration of Cultural Production
EXAMPLE 2: Shakespeare and History in Popular Culture (42 cr)
Arts Discipline 1: English (15 cr)
ENGL 2005EL Literatures in English
ENGL 2676EL Popular Literature and Culture I
ENGL 3125EL Shakespeare
Arts Discipline 2: History (12 cr)
HIST 2406EL Early Modern British History
HIST 2547EL Later Medieval Europe
HIST 3476EL Crime and Punishment in England 1500-1900
HIST 4466EL Tudor Britain
Arts Discipline 3: Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies (9 cr)
WOMN 2107EL Women and Popular Culture
WOMN 3015EL Feminist Theories
Capstone Course (6 cr)
ARTS 4005EL Independent Study Project: Shakespeare’s History Plays and the Stark/Lannister Divide in the Game of Thrones
MAJOR IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
Admission Requirements:
Students in the Major in Interdisciplinary Studies are eligible for direct entry from high school, college, or other post-secondary studies. They must submit a plan of study to the Department of History, preferably in their first year of study at Laurentian University, indicating their thematic field of interest, and the three Arts disciplines that they propose to combine in the Major. The Interdisciplinary Studies Committee will review proposals in consultation with the chairs, directors, or coordinators of the academic units involved, who must sign off on the student’s plan of study before it can be approved. The student’s individualized course map will be approved by the Committee, review annually, and revised if necessary. A copy of the approved course map also will be shared with the Office of the Registrar for their records.
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Sara Burke
Vice-Dean, Faculty of Arts
Laurentian University
Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6
Office - A254
Tel (705) 675-1151, ext. 4201, sburke@laurentian.ca
Interdisciplinary Studies in Arts Committee:
Dr. Sara Burke, Department of History, Laurentian University, sburke@laurentian.ca
Dr. Aven McMaster, Department of Ancient Studies, Thorneloe University, amcmaster@laurentian.ca
Dr. Daniela Moisa, Department of Culture and Communication, University of Sudbury, dmoisa@usudbury.ca
Application Form:
Click here to download the application form.
For Current Students
The degree options listed below are for the upcoming academic year, not the current academic year. If you are a current student looking for which courses to take in order to complete your degree options from a previous academic year's curriculum, please consult with an academic advisor.
Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
Total 120 credits
Students must follow these regulations in order to meet graduation requirements for the BA or B.Sc.
Major in Interdisciplinary Studies (ALSO OFFERED ONLINE)
12-18 cr from first Arts discipline
9-12 cr from second Arts discipline
9-12 cr from third Arts discipline
ARTS 4005 EL - Independent Study Project (6 cr)
* The 42 credits for the Major in Interdisciplinary Studies must include at least 6 cr at the 3000 level, and no more than 6 cr at the 1000 level. Students may choose to combine any three disciplines available within the B.A.
Notes:
- In order to get a BA, students must include 6 credits in linguistic awareness, 6 credits of Indigenous content, and 6 credits in the Sciences if not part of the other minor or second major. Eligible courses are available at the 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 levels and students should take them at the appropriate time in their studies.
- Students must complete a minimum of a minor (24 credits) or a second major (42 credits) from among their elective credits.
- Students may not exceed 42 credits at the 1000 or 9100 level in their degree program.
With guidance from a faculty supervisor, you can design your own major around a
central theme, combining courses from 3 different Arts disciplines.
Complete a capstone project in your fourth year of study.
Independent Study Project
List of Faculty Members
Individualized Thematic Studies Committee
Dr. Sara Burke, Department of History, Laurentian University
Dr. Aven McMaster, Department of Ancient Studies, Thorneloe University
Dr. Daniela Moisa, Department of Culture and Communication, University of Sudbury