Program Overview

Interdisciplinary Concentration, BA

Introduction

The Fairhaven College Interdisciplinary Concentration provides an opportunity for developing an individually designed major for the Bachelor of Arts. It allows maximal flexibility in formulating a program to meet personal and career goals, bringing together each student’s vital interests from more than one discipline into a cohesive whole.

The self-designed concentration process allows students to work with a faculty committee to articulate a sound rationale for their area of study and to develop a plan including courses, independent study projects, senior projects and, where applicable, internships and apprenticeships. Students are assisted in completing the concentration by faculty and other advisors and by the FAIR 303A, Concentration Seminar course. The Concentration Proposal rationale statement and accompanying Concentration course list form the plan of study for the Interdisciplinary Concentration major, after approval by the student’s Concentration Committee and filed in the Fairhaven College Records Office. As part of this plan of study, a minimum of three quarters of coursework, completing a minimum of 36 credits, is required AFTER the concentration filing quarter.

At the conclusion of the degree program, a senior project and a concentration summary and evaluation help each graduate to evaluate their own work and to look toward the future.

Concentrations have been developed in a wide range of areas not available through traditional majors. The Fairhaven College office can provide further information pertaining to the concentration, its possibilities and prospects.

Why Consider an Interdisciplinary Concentration at Fairhaven College?

Fairhaven College offers a unique opportunity for students wanting to be fully engaged in the process of designing their college education.

Student Resources

• Career Services Center: Connect major to a career
• Sample Careers: With an interdisciplinary degree the options are wide-ranging. Examples of careers of Fairhaven alumni include: university professor, independent filmmaker, corporate executive, writer, tribal government leader, social entrepreneur, visual artist, medical doctor, organic agriculture entrepreneur, human resource professional, non-profit leader, social worker, community activist, lawyer, judges in the Washington Court of Appeals, and entrepreneur.

Admission Process

Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies has selective admission and enrolls first-year students, transfer students, and students from other WWU programs fall, winter, and spring quarters. New applicants to Fairhaven and to the University complete the WWU Undergraduate Application. Indicate interest in Fairhaven College on your WWU application.

In addition to the WWU application, Fairhaven requests a personal statement and two letters of recommendation.

Students currently enrolled in other University programs may apply to transfer to Fairhaven’s program by the quarterly application deadlines. Current WWU students applying to Fairhaven do not need to submit transcript test scores or the WWU Undergraduate Application.

Grade Requirements

A grade of ‘S’ in Fairhaven courses or C- or better in courses in other departments is required for this degree.

Fairhaven Core Curriculum

Exploratory Studies (Stage One)

• FAIR 101A - An Introduction to Interdisciplinary Study At Fairhaven College
• FAIR 201A - Critical and Reflective Inquiry
• FAIR 202A - Core: Humanities and the Expressive Arts I
• FAIR 203A - Social Relationships and Responsibility: Theories and Critiques
• FAIR 206A - Core: Science and Our Place on the Planet I
• FAIR 301A - Writing & Transition Conference
• One upper-division course in each of the following areas, with the specific course in each area, selected from a listing of approved courses found in the Fairhaven College website.
  • Humanities and the Expressive Arts II
  • Society and the Individual II
  • Science and Our Place on the Planet II

Concentrated Studies (Stage Two)

• FAIR 303A - Core: Interdisciplinary Concentration Seminar
• FAIR 401A - Core: Senior Project
• Coursework as approved by the student’s individual concentration committee

Additional Requirements - Advanced Studies (Stage Three)

• FAIR 403A - Core: Advanced Seminar

Fairhaven Graduation Requirements

• Fairhaven Core Curriculum
• Completion of at least 25 credits at Fairhaven and 50 credits outside Fairhaven
• 180 Minimum Total Credits
• 60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
• Residency Requirement
• Final Quarter Requirement
• Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)