| Office: | 252 Elkins |
| Phone: | 985-448-4459 |
| Professor: | Alexander (Head), A. Davis, K. White. |
| Associate Professor: | Giguette. |
| Assistant Professors: | K. Allemand, C. Richard, Soule. |
| Instructors: | Bouzigard, R. Fontenot, J. Guenard, A. Hebert, L. Melancon, L. Richard, Temple |
Mission
The Department of Interdisciplinary Studies coordinates and fosters cross-disciplinary connections across all disciplines to help students realize their academic, personal, and professional aspirations. For those students who wish to design their own course of study, the department offers the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (B.I.S.), an interdisciplinary degree that provides a flexible course of study with a strong foundation in the liberal arts. Because students are required to demonstrate depth in an academic area and to take courses in oral and written communication and the humanities, the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies provides an interdisciplinary emphasis that prepares students for entry into postgraduate studies and the professional world with a new global focus. Additionally, the department offers a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership, an online degree coordinated through a consortium of universities in the University of Louisiana System. The department also cultivates greater opportunities for service learning and leadership initiatives across all disciplines and coordinates campus-wide development of interdisciplinary minors and activities available to all majors.
DEGREES AWARDED
The university awards three degrees in Interdisciplinary Studies: the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies, the Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership, and the Associate of General Studies. Students seeking to earn either degree must complete all University College requirements and satisfy the minimum requirements of the university and the specific requirements for the degree.
Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Degree
The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree program allows students to create an interdisciplinary course of study across academic disciplines and professional fields with the following requirements:
- A formalized plan of study approved by a departmental advisor.
- A maximum of 6 semester hours in HPED activity courses. No more than 6 hours of performance music courses may be applied toward the BIS degree (except for those students completing an approved music minor).
- A maximum of 30 semester hours of credit toward the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree taken within the College of Business Administration (excluding 3 hours of economics which may be counted as General Education).
- A minimum of 60 hours at the 200-level or above.
- At least 45 hours of courses numbered 300 or above, 9 of which must be at the 400-level.
- Demonstration of educational depth in an academic area with at least an overall C average. This depth is most easily demonstrated by way of an academic minor of at least 18 hours, 9 hours of which are at the 300-level or above. For graduation purposes, this academic depth must be approved by the Interdisciplinary Studies department head.
- Completion of either IDST 405 or IDST 410 with a grade of C or better.
Students must complete the last fifteen hours of the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Degree while registered in the Interdisciplinary Studies curriculum.
Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies
- (CLR) Computer Literacy Requirement;
- (GER) General Education Requirement;
- (OCR) Oral Communication Requirement;
- (UR) University Requirement
Suggested Course Sequence:
| YEAR* | COURSE NAME | COURSE NUMBER | REQUIREMENT | CREDIT HRS |
| 1 | ENGL | 101 | GER | 3 |
| 1 | ENGL | 102 | GER | 3 |
| 1 | Freshman Seminar Course | UR | 1 | |
| 1 | Fine Arts Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 1 | HIST Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 1 | Humanities Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 1 | MATH Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 1 | MATH Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 1 | Natural Sciences Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 1 | Natural Sciences Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 1 | Social Sciences Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 2 | Computer Literacy Elective | CLR | 2 | |
| 2 | Literature Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 2 | Humanities Elective | 3 | ||
| 2 | Humanities Elective | 3 | ||
| 2 | Natural Sciences Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 2 | Oral Communication Course | OCR | 3 | |
| 2 | Social Sciences Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 2 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 2 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 2 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 3 | Writing Intensive Course | GER | 3 | |
| 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 3 | Approved Elective | ** | 3 | |
| 4 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 4 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 4 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 4 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 4 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 4 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 4 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 4 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 4 | Humanities Elective | 3 | ||
| 4 | IDST | 405 or 410 | 3 | |
| TOTAL HOURS | 120 |
*Recommend complete as Freshman (1), Sophomore (2), Junior (3), Senior (4)
*To be chosen from the following: ART 280, 281, 282, 383, 384, 392, 480; CULA 401, 492; ENGL 326,332, 363, 410, 411, 424, 426, 427, 466, 467, 468, 475, 490, 491, 493; FNAR 301, 302; GEOG 375, 376, 401, 403; GOVT 250, 331, 355, 391, 412, 416, 421; HIST 201, 301, 307, 309, 311, 333, 334, 350, 365, 368, 382, 393, 400, 405, 416, 425, 435; HUMA 350, 351, 405, 426, 450, 451; IDST 420; MACO 355, 370, 452; MUS 407; PHIL 400; PSYC 303; SOCI 204, 324, 360, 372, 380, 390, 395, 400, 404, 405; SPCH 300, 302, 330, 363, or any foreign language elective.
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Organizational Leadership
The Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership is ideally suited for non-traditional adult learners who have previously acquired significant college credit or for those adults who have graduated from community college with an associate degree. The program is designed to:
(1) facilitate life-long learning goals of adult learners;
(2) provide an opportunity for adult learners to develop additional knowledge in the areas of leadership, organizational change, workplace development and performance;
(3) provide an opportunity for adult learners to develop further knowledge in a specific area of specialization;
(4) provide an avenue of higher education that meets the needs of adult learners for personal enrichment and/or professional advancement;
(5) provide adult learners with educational mobility options in a world where career changes are increasing;
(6) provide a relevant, flexible curriculum designed for working adult students that offers the potential to apply prior learning through course credit and work/life experiences to the degree plan; and
(7) contribute to the economic development goals of the state of Louisiana through providing a relevant degree option for working adults to earn a baccalaureate degree.
The Focus Area offered through Nicholls State University is Food Service Strategies and Operations. The purpose of the BA in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Foodservice Operations is to increase Louisiana’s workforce in the areas of Foodservice Management (restaurants, long-term care, and other institutional foodservice arenas). Nutrition principles are part of the curriculum and will help the graduates apply healthy menu planning and food preparation techniques in the food service industry or just in their personal lives. Culinary Arts and Dietetics courses will provide students with an understanding of foodservice principles and management. Individuals will learn how to eat more well-balanced diets as well as ways to increase their physical fitness and overall health for themselves and their families. Some of the electives also teach about the cuisine of the Cajun culture which adds to the continuation of the knowledge of our unique regional cuisine and heritage.
Students admitted to the program will already have completed all general education requirements. They must have accumulated at least 60 semester credit hours prior to admission to this program. The remaining 60 credit hours (essentially Years 3 and 4 of a four-year 120 credit hour curriculum) will consist of 30 semester credit hours in required Core courses in Organizational Leadership, 21 credit hours in the concentration area, and the remaining 9 credit hours in electives.
The program courses will be organized for an accelerated delivery via 5 8-week instructional terms (2 spring, 1 summer, 2 fall), thus allowing a student to accumulate 30 credit hours in an academic year. Students may take 6 credit hours within an 8-week term.
Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership
| CLR – Computer Literacy Requirement | GER – General Education Requirement |
| OCR – Oral Communication Requirement | UR – University Requirement |
Suggested Course Sequence:
| FRESHMAN YEAR | Sem. Hrs. |
| MATH (GER) | 3 |
| ENGL 101 English Composition I (GER) | 3 |
| Oral Communication Elective (OCR) | 3 |
| Natural Science Elective (GER) | 3 |
| University Studies (GER) | 1 |
| ENGL 102 English Composition II (GER) | 3 |
| MATH (GER) | 3 |
| Social Science Elective (GER) | 3 |
| Natural Science Elective (GER) | 3 |
| Computer Literacy Elective (CLR) | 1 |
| Computer Literacy Elective (CLR) | 1 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total hours for freshman year | 30 |
| SOPHOMORE YEAR | Sem. Hrs. |
| ENGL Literature (GER) | 3 |
| History Elective (GER) | 3 |
| Natural Science Elective (GER) | 3 |
| Humanities Elective (GER) | 3 |
| Fine Arts Elective (GER) | 3 |
| Social Science Elective (GER) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total hours for sophomore year | 30 |
| JUNIOR YEAR | Sem. Hrs. |
| ORGL 300 Intro to Organizational Leadership Concepts and Principles | 3 |
| ORGL 311 Professional Writing (GER) | 3 |
| ORGL 314 Diversity and Intercultural Understanding in a Global Context | 3 |
| DIET 111 Food and Nutrition | 3 |
| ORGL 317 Concepts and Technologies of Organizational Communication | 3 |
| ORGL 321 Principles of Team Leadership in Project Management | 3 |
| ORGL 324 Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis | 3 |
| DIET 200 Applied Nutrition | 3 |
| ORGL 327 Laws and Ethics Applied to Organizations | 3 |
| ORGL 334 Critical Thinking & Decision Making/Data Mining and Analytics | 3 |
| Total hours for junior year | 30 |
| SENIOR YEAR | Sem. Hrs. |
| ORGL 335 Contemporary Business Issues | 3 |
| CULA 231 Food/Beverage/Labor Cost Control | 3 |
| ORGL 337 Strategic Planning Within Organizational Cultures | 3 |
| Elective Course* | 3 |
| CULA 338 Food Service Inventory Selection, Procurement and Control | 3 |
| Elective Course* | 3 |
| Elective Course* | 3 |
| CULA 442 MENU DESIGN AND INTEGRATION AND PROMOTION | 3 |
| CULA 492 SPECIAL TOPICS IN CULINARY OPERATIONS – FOCUS CAPSTONE COURSE | 3 |
| AHSC 425 Special Topic: INSTITUTIONAL PLANNING/PURCHASING | 3 |
| Total hours for senior year | 30 |
| Total Hours Required for Degree | 120 |
*NOTE: 9 hours (3 courses) of electives must be completed. Six hours (2 courses) will be selected from among four recommended courses. The remaining 3 hours are free electives but must be chosen from 300 and 400 level DIET or CULA classes.
| Course Prefix and Number | Course Title | Semester Credit Hours | Required, Recommended or Free |
| CULA 401 | CULINARY HISTORY OF THE SOUTH | 3 hours | Recommended – Student must choose 2 of 4 recommended courses. |
| FACS 477 | COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS | 3 hours | Recommended – Student must choose 2 of 4 recommended courses. |
| MNGT 301 | MANAGEMENT | 3 hours | Recommended – Student must choose 2 of 4 recommended courses. |
| MNGT 305 | ENTREPRENEURSHIP | 3 hours | Recommended – Student must choose 2 of 4 recommended courses. |
| Any 300-400 level DIET OR CULA course | 3 hours | ||
Minors
The Department of Interdisciplinary Studies offers six minors in a variety of subject matters. Any baccalaureate degree seeking student is able to obtain a minor listed below upon graduation if specified course requirements are met.
Bayou Studies Minor
The university offers a minor in Bayou Studies after successful completion of 18 hours of courses that include content about local or regional history, literature, culture, language and geography. Nine hours must include IDST 201 (Bayou Region Field Eplorations) and ENGL 426 (Bayou Culture) as well as either ENGL 427 or HIST 371. The remaining nine hours can be chosen from the following list, with at least three of those hours coming from GEOG 375, SOCI 204, or SOCI 395:
| BIOL 215: Pirogue Biology | FREN 102: Elementary French II |
| CULA 401: Culinary History of the South | GEOG 375: Geography of Louisiana |
| CULA 279: Cajun and Creole Cuisine | HIST 371: Louisiana History |
| ENGL 326: Intro to Folklore | HUMA 303: French Literature in Translation |
| ENGL 427: Louisiana Literature | SOCI 204: Cultural Diversity of America |
| ENGL 490: Language and Culture | SOCI 395: Racial and Cultural Minorities |
| FREN 101: Elementary French I |
Students may substitute up to six hours of other special topics or themed courses that have a main focus or theme that addresses bayou studies or, more broadly, Louisiana. Approval of department head of Interdisciplinary Studies required for substitutions.
Computer Science (CMPS)
The university offers a minor in Computer Science upon the successful completion of CMPS 130, 135, 221, 312, 406, 410, and 418. A grade of C or better is required in each computer science course.
Foodservice Strategies and Operations Minor
The university offers a minor in Foodservice Strategies and Operations to prepare students for professions in the areas of Foodservice Management (restaurants, long-term care, and other institutional foodservice arenas). Nutrition principles are part of the curriculum and will help the graduates apply healthy menu planning and food preparation techniques in the foodservice industry or just in their personal lives. Culinary Arts and Dietetics courses will provide students with an understanding of foodservice principles and management. Individuals will learn how to eat more well-balanced diets as well as ways to increase their physical fitness and overall health for themselves and their families.
Students will earn the minor upon the successful completion of the following courses:
| DIET 111 | Food and Nutrition |
| DIET 200 | Applied Nutrition |
| CULA 231 | Food, Beverage, and Labor Cost Control |
| CULA 338 | Foodservice Inventory Selection, Procurement, and Control |
| CULA 442 | Menu Design, Integration, and Promotion |
| CULA 492 | Special Topics in Culinary Operations |
Humanities (HUMA)
The University offers a minor in the Humanities upon the successful completion of at least 18 hours above GENED requirements in the following curricula:
| Fine Arts | GOVT 355 |
| History | MACO 499 |
| Humanities | Foreign Languages |
| Literature | Music (Non-performance courses) |
| Philosophy | Speech (Non-performance courses) |
The total hours in the humanities minor (18) must include courses in at least three areas of the humanities outside the student’s major with a minimum of 9 hours in courses numbered 300 or above. Three hours above degree requirements may be taken in the student’s major.
Internet Studies and Web Development (ISWD)
An innovative minor offered to students wishing to supplement their major with knowledge of the Internet while focusing on different areas including Web tools, webpage and online database creation, and other current topics. The minor consists of CMPS 125, CMPS 250, CMPS 340, CMPS 470 and 6 hours of 300-and400-level electives that address content and issues related to Internet Studies and Web Development. Preferably these 6 hours of electives will be in courses in the student’s major. These electives must be approved by the Head of the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies.
Social Sciences (SSCI)
The university offers a minor in the Social Sciences upon the successful completion of at least 18 hours above General Education requirements in the following curricula:
| Economics | Mass Communication |
| Family and Consumer Sciences | Psychology |
| Geography | Sociology |
| Government |
The total hours in the social sciences minor (18) must include courses in at least three areas of the social sciences outside the student’s major with a minimum of 9 hours in courses numbered 300 or above. A maximum of 9 hours of travel-study courses in any of these curricula may be selected for the minor. Three hours above degree requirements may be taken in the student’s major.
Entry into the Major and the Associate of General Studies Degree
In support of University College’s commitment to serve the needs of exploratory students, the Associate of General Studies Degree has been designed to prepare students for entry into one of the many baccalaureate degree programs offered by the university. The AGS degree validates the importance of general education as a foundation for academic achievement in the selected baccalaureate degree and for future professional advancement. Students may be accepted into the A.G.S. degree program (GSAS major) before completing 61 hours of coursework. All GSAS majors are advised as though they are exploratory students.
The university awards the Associate of General Studies Degree to a student who, in addition to satisfying the university’s minimum requirements for graduation, meets the following requirements: No more than 2 semester hours of H&PE activity courses and no more than 6 hours of performance music courses may be applied toward the A.G.S. Degree. 6 hours of a two-course sequence in a physical or a biological science and 3 hours in a natural science area other than that selected for the sequence as specified in the GER Requirements for the Baccalaureate Degree.
Associate of General Studies Degree in General Studies
- (CLR) Computer Literacy Requirement;
- (GER) General Education Requirement;
- (OCR) Oral Communication Requirement;
- (UR) University Requirement
Suggested Course Sequence:
| YEAR* | COURSE NAME | COURSE NUMBER | REQUIREMENT | CREDIT HRS |
| 1 | ENGL | 101 | GER | 3 |
| 1 | ENGL | 102 | GER | 3 |
| 1 | Freshman Seminar Course | UR | 1 | |
| 1 | HIST Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 1 | Humanities Elective | 3 | ||
| 1 | MATH Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 1 | MATH Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 1 | Natural Sciences Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 1 | Natural Sciences Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 1 | Social Sciences Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 1 | Social Sciences Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 2 | Fine Arts Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 2 | Computer Literacy Elective | CLR | 2 | |
| 2 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 2 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 2 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 2 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 2 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 2 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 2 | Literature Elective | 3 | ||
| 2 | Oral Communication Course | OCR | 3 | |
| TOTAL HOURS | 60 |
*Recommend complete as Freshman (1), Sophomore (2), Junior (3), Senior (4)
