Frequently Asked Questions - Interdisciplinary Concentration (IDC) Majors
1) Review the requirements listed under “Interdisciplinary Concentration Major” on the Course Info & Program page found at: http://politicalscience.yale.edu/academics/undergraduate-program/course-info-program.
2) Tentatively plan your course of study. You will need to take 7 courses total in your field of concentration. (Remember to include your senior essay course in this total.) As you begin this process, you may want to prepare a list of Political Science classes you’ve already taken (and some courses you will consider taking) that you would like to apply to your IDC. 4 of these courses must be PLSC courses. Because you can petition to count up to 3 non-PLSC courses toward your concentration, you may also want to identify which courses you have taken outside of the Department (or will consider taking) that relate to your IDC. Please see the “Interdisciplinary Concentration (IDC) Major Application” on the Forms page. This includes the “IDC Course Plan Proposal” which may help you plan your course of study as you consider this major. You will also find an example proposal there.
3) Make an appointment to meet with the DUS to discuss your interests in the Interdisciplinary Concentration major and your tentative course plan. It may help to bring a draft of your “IDC Course Plan Proposal”, but this is not necessary. In your meeting, the DUS can help you formulate ideas about which courses you may want to consider taking in the future.
4) Submit the “Interdisciplinary Concentration (IDC) Major Application” (including the “IDC Course Plan Proposal”) to the Undergraduate Registrar (Rosenkranz Hall, Room 130). You must submit hard copies. You will receive an email when your application has been approved. Your paperwork will be filed here, so you do not need to pick it up.
IDC majors need to take 12 courses total. 7 of those courses (including the senior essay) need to be taken in your field of concentration.
IDC majors may petition to have up to 3 non-Political Science courses count toward the total of 7 courses they need to complete the IDC.
IDC majors may also petition to have up to 2 DUS Approved Exceptions count toward the total of 12 courses they need to complete their major requirements. These 2 courses can help satisfy your field distribution requirement.
The “Interdisciplinary Concentration (IDC) Major Application” is due before fall recess in the final year of enrollment.
If, after the DUS approves your “IDC Course Plan Proposal,” you decide you would like to apply a different PLSC course toward your concentration, please submit the “IDC Form for PLSC Courses” found here: http://politicalscience.yale.edu/undergraduate-forms.
If, after the DUS approves your “IDC Course Plan Proposal,” you decide you would like to apply a different non-PLSC course toward your concentration, please submit the “IDC Form for non-PLSC Courses” found here: http://politicalscience.yale.edu/undergraduate-forms.
Please know that you can submit these forms after you have taken a class, while you are taking a class, or before you have taken a class. Please submit these forms (along with the appropriate syllabi if necessary) to the Undergraduate Registrar (Rosenkranz Hall, Room 130) before spring recess of your final term of enrollment. You must submit hard copies. You will only receive an email if your petition was not approved; otherwise, you can assume that it was approved. Your form will be filed here, so you do not need to pick it up.
Among the interdisciplinary concentrations pursued by students have been: Environmental Politics, Health Politics & Policy, International Security Studies, Political Economy, and Urban Studies. Please meet with the DUS who can help you create your own concentration.
No. There is no standard list from which to choose your IDC courses. Each student must prepare his or her own list of courses and have it approved by the DUS. In your meeting with the DUS, he or she can help you think about courses that may relate to your concentration.
The Department discourages students from selecting one of our 5 subfields as a concentration. Standard Majors are encouraged to take any number of courses within the Department that focus on one subfield, so long as they satisfy the requirement of taking 2 courses in 3 of the 5 subfields. The IDC major was designed to allow students to count courses from other majors toward his or her major and you can count up to 5 non-PLSC courses toward this type of major. Please also keep in mind that the IDC does not appear on your transcript or your diploma.
No. The classes that are designated toward your IDC no longer count toward your field distribution requirement. In addition to the 7 courses that you need for your IDC, you need to take 2 courses each in 2 of the fields. For example, you would need to take 2 American Government courses and 2 International Relations courses to fulfill your field distribution requirement.
No. While your IDC does not appear on your transcript, it could be something that you choose to list on your resume or talk about in interviews with prospective employers.
Yes. Please know your senior essay will count as one of your IDCs, because it needs to be written in the field of your concentration.