Academic Programs
Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies
Dr. Fletcher Linder, Director
Phone: (540) 568-5260
E-mail: lindergf@jmu.edu
Location: Maury Hall, Room 118
Web site: www.jmu.edu/idls/
Dr. Steve Baedke, Area Director for Mathematics and Science
Dr. Matthew Chamberlin, Faculty Adviser and Assistant Professor
IDLS Advisement
IDLS Major and Education
IDLS requirements vary depending upon the licensure program, as outlined below. A current IDLS checksheet is available online.
In the unusual circumstance that a student exits the education licensure pre-professional program late in his/her college career, the IDLS director may permit the student to complete the IDLS degree with the addition of an appropriate minor.
Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies for Early Childhood, Elementary Education and Special Education Licensure Students
Degree Requirements
| IDLS and general education core | 53 |
| Remaining General Education | 6 |
| IDLS Upper-level concentration | 21 |
| Education Program | 35-47 |
| Elective | 5 (maximum) |
| Total | 120 |
Core Requirements
| Language Arts & Communication | Credit Hours |
| Writing | 3 |
| GWRTC 103. Critical Reading and Writing | |
| Oral Communication (Choose one) | 3 |
| GCOM 121. Fundamental Human Communication: Presentations | |
| GCOM 122. Fundamental Human Communication: Individual Presentations |
|
| GCOM 123. Fundamental Human Communication: Group Presentations |
|
| Literature (Choose one) | 3 |
| GENG 235. Survey of English Literature: From Beowulf to the 18th Century |
|
| GENG 236. Survey of English Literature: 18th Century to Modern | |
| GENG 247. Survey of American Literature: From the Beginning to the Civil War |
|
| GENG 248. Survey of American Literature: From the Civil War to the Modern Period |
|
| GENG 239. Studies in World Literature | |
| GENG 260. Survey of African-American Literature | |
| History/Social Sciences | |
| Global History (Both required) | 6 |
| GHIST 101. World History to 1500 | |
| GHIST 102. World History Since 1500 | |
| U.S. History | 4 |
| GHIST 225. U.S. History | |
| Government | 4 |
| GPOSC 225. U.S. Government | |
| Economics (Choose one) | 3 |
| GECON 200. Introduction to Macroeconomics | |
| ECON 201. Principles of Economics (Micro) | |
| Geography (Choose one) | 3 |
| GEOG 280. Human Geography: The Cultural Landscape | |
| GANTH 195. Cultural Anthropology | |
| Psychology | 3 |
| GPSYC 160. Life Span Human Development | |
| Health (Choose one) | 3 |
| GKIN 100. Lifetime Fitness and Wellness | |
| GHTH 100. Personal Wellness | |
| Mathematics | |
| Fundamentals of Math (all required) | 9 |
| MATH 107. Fundamentals of Math I | |
| MATH 108. Fundamentals of Math II | |
| MATH 207. Fundamentals of Mathematics III | |
| Natural Sciences | |
| IDLS students should select Track II in Cluster Three | |
| GSCI 161. Science Processes | 1 |
| GSCI 162. The Science of the Planets | 2 |
| GSCI 163. The Matter of Matter | 1 |
| GSCI 164. Physical Science: Learning Through Teaching | 2 |
| GSCI 165. The Way Life Works | 1 |
| GSCI 166. Environment in Context | 2 |
| Upper Level concentration requirement | |
| 21 hours in either math/science or humanities/social sciences. |
When students in IECE, ELED or EXED declare the IDLS major, they also select an upper-level concentration in either mathematics/science or humanities/social sciences. The concentration provides depth
and integration beyond the core requirements. Course requirements for each concentration are listed in the IDLS checksheet online.
Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies for Middle Education Licensure Students
Degree Requirements
| IDLS and general education core | 46 |
| IDLS Upper-level concentration | 36-42 |
| Education Program | 32 |
| Elective | 0-6 |
| Total | 120 |
The IDLS Middle Education curriculum consists of 46 hours of General Education Core requirements and 36-42 hours in the content concentrations, depending upon which concentrations are selected. Students will select two concentrations from four: science, mathematics, social studies and language arts. Mathematics and science concentrations are 18 hours. Language arts and social studies concentrations are 21 hours. Any combination of concentrations will satisfy the teacher licensure endorsement requirements for Middle Grades licensure in Virginia. The Middle Grades curriculum of IDLS is open only to Middle Grades licensure students.
General Education Core Requirements for IDLS Middle Education
Students follow the General Education check sheet for their catalog year, and complete these specific IDLS core requirements:
Cluster 2: Must select GHIST 102 from Group One
Cluster 3: Must select Track 2 (the GSCI 16X series); must complete the series
with GSCI 166; must take MATH 108 in addition to MATH 107
Cluster 4: Must select GECON 200
Cluster 5: Must select GPSYC 160
Middle Education Concentration Options
ME students will complete the required courses for any two of the four areas: science, mathematics, language arts, social studies.
| Concentration | Credit Hours |
| Science | 18 |
| ASTR 301. Searching for Life in the Universe | |
| BIO 366. Plants and the Environment | |
| CHEM 280. Practical Applications in Chemistry for Teachers | |
| GEOL 301. Earth Science for Teachers | |
| ISAT 495. Technology in our World | |
| Social Science | 21 |
| HIST 350. Virginia History | |
| ANTH 368. Modern American Culture | |
| GEOG 280. Human Geography: The Cultural Landscape | |
| Choose one: | |
| ANTH 327. Ancient North American Civilizations | |
| HIST 453. Patterns of Global History | |
| Choose one: | |
| REL 305. Islamic Religious Tradition | |
| REL 310. Hindu Traditions | |
| REL 312. Religions of East Asia | |
| REL 320. Judaism | |
| REL 385. Buddhism | |
| HIST 339. Selected Themes, when topic is American Religious History | |
| POSC 240. Comparative Politics | |
| IDLS 400. Seminar in Liberal Studies* | |
| Mathematics | 18 |
| MATH 207. Fundamentals of Mathematics III | |
| MATH 304. Principles of Algebra | |
| MATH 305. Principles of Geometry | |
| MATH 306. Principles of Analysis | |
| MATH 307. Principles of Probability and Statistics | |
| Choose one: | |
| Mathematics elective | |
| Language Arts | 21 |
| Choose one: | |
| ENG 421. Traditional English Grammar | |
| ENG 422. Modern English Grammar | |
| Choose one: | |
| ENG 325. Romantic Poetry | |
| ENG 331. Modern Poetry | |
| ENG 332. Contemporary Poetry | |
| ENG 362. African American Poets | |
| ENG 367. Women's Poetry | |
| Choose one: | |
| ENG 299. Writing about Literature | |
| WRTC 340. Teaching about Writing | |
| ENG 396. Advanced Composition | |
| Choose one: | |
| ENG 440. Texts for Teachers I (poetry or drama) | |
| ENG 441. Texts for Teachers II (fiction or nonfiction) | |
| Any upper level English elective | |
| Choose one: | |
| ENG 456. Shakespeare's Tragedies and Romances | |
| ENG 457. Shakespeare's Comedies and Histories | |
| Choose one: | |
| ENG 330. The Nineteenth Century Novel | |
| ENG 355. Southern Literature | |
| ENG 356. Modern American Novel | |
| ENG 357. Contemporary American Fiction | |
| ENG 361. African American Fiction Writers | |
| ENG 368. Women's Fiction | |
| IDLS 400. Seminar in Liberal Studies* | |
*Students who select endorsements in Social Science and Language Arts will take IDLS 400 once, and then a 300-400 elective in one area. The IDLS 400 is an interdisciplinary course drawing upon materials from language arts and social science disciplines. As such, the course is suitable for students coming from an LA endorsement concentration, SS endorsement concentration, or both.
IDLS Advisement
The IDLS major is assigned two advisers. One adviser is the adviser for the education pre-professional licensure program who will guide the student through the licensure program requirements. The other adviser is the IDLS adviser who will guide the student through the IDLS major requirements. Students should plan on consulting both advisers regularly. Typically, the education adviser is assigned when the student meets with the head of his or her licensure programs and elects the licensure program. This may be as early as the first semester of the first year. The IDLS adviser is assigned when the first year student advising folders are transferred to the IDLS office (second semester, first year). Students are required to check with advisers regularly to ensure timely graduation. IDLS Major and Education Pre-Professional Programs
Licensure Area: Integrated Early Childhood Education PreK-3
Degree Required: Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Major Field of Study: IDLS with early childhood education pre-professional program
Licensure Area: Elementary Education PreK-6
Degree Required: Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)
Major Field of Study: IDLS with elementary education pre-professional program
Licensure Area: Middle Education Grades 6-8
Degree Required: Master of Arts In Teaching (M.A.T.)
Major Field of Study: IDLS with middle education pre-professional program
Licensure Area: Special Education Grades K-12
Degree Required: Master of Education (M.Ed.)
Major Field of Study: IDLS with special education pre-professional program
