Interdisciplinary Studies Doctorate

The Interdisciplinary Studies Doctorate (ISLD) program at Western Michigan University offers flexibility to students with interests that exceed the boundaries of any one of WMU’s other existing academic departments/programs. The ISLD degree is appropriate only for students whose needs cannot be met by any one of WMU’s other graduate departments/programs. This self-designed degree is developed by the student with input from at least four faculty mentors who will comprise the student’s dissertation committee. Certificate programs are not applicable. The degree is housed within the College of Arts and Sciences and must include required coursework from at least two declared degree-granting departments/programs. At least one of these departments/programs must be housed within the College of Arts and Sciences, while the others may be housed either within another academic college or within the College of Arts and Sciences. Each of the two declared degree-granting departments/programs must offer graduate coursework. The resulting transcript and diploma will indicate Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Western Michigan University.

Admission Requirements

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. To start your graduate application, see https://wmich.edu/grad/apply. The following requirements/application materials are needed for regular admission into the Interdisciplinary Studies Doctorate program: 

  1. Bachelor’s or master’s degree with a minimum grade point average of 3.25 out of 4.00.

  2. Current curriculum vitae or resumé

  3. Three letters of recommendation addressing the applicant's academic qualifications for the degree program.

  4. Copies of all transcripts as required by Western Michigan University.

  5. Statement of purpose (1500 words maximum): Describe your proposed plan for coursework, goals for independent research, and rationale for applying to the ISLD program. Be sure to include each of the following elements in the order below:

a. Discuss your plans for independent research, explain why you need an interdisciplinary studies program to accomplish your stated study/research aims, and justify why the ISLD program is the most appropriate fit for you rather than any other WMU doctoral program.

b. List the official names of the two main departments/programs that would house your degree and explain how the approaches and methods in each of these two departments/programs would contribute to your proposed plan of study and research. For a list of all of WMU’s Graduate Programs:  https://wmich.edu/academics/graduate.

c. Identify the names and department/program homes of each of the four or more faculty members who have agreed to serve on your dissertation committee and explore the connections between their specific areas of expertise and your proposed study/research plan. For more information about dissertation committee members, please see 6a below. 

d. Outline your proposed coursework plan, identify at least two specific graduate courses you would take in each of the two main departments/programs housing your degree, and explain how each course would strengthen your ability to meet your study/research aims. Additionally, mention any graduate credits you would like to have considered for transfer credit. For a complete list of graduate courses offered at WMU, consult the most updated Graduate Catalog: https://wmich.edu/registrar/catalogs.

e. Explore how your background education and professional experience have prepared you to embark upon the specific doctoral program of study you have outlined here.

f. Address your potential career placement after program completion and explain how the ISLD degree would enhance your career and professional trajectory.

6. Documentation of written consent: Faculty members and their respective chairs/directors must provide written agreement for faculty and departmental involvement. There must be at least one faculty member in each of the two main departments/programs housing the prospective student’s degree, with a minimum of one faculty member from a department/program within the College of Arts and Sciences. At least one of these four faculty members must consent to serving as the dissertation committee chair, or two as co-chairs. An external member from outside WMU may be included. Each faculty member must have graduate faculty status. They may apply for it using the Graduate Faculty Nomination Form (available on the Graduate College website).

Unlike many other doctoral programs, where the dissertation committee is formed after admission, the ISLD program requires students to form a dissertation committee from the outset. This enables committee members to provide applicants and future students with guidance on course selection for the program of study. Agreement by faculty to serve on the ISLD dissertation committee is understood as an indication of their willingness to include applicants in the research culture of their departments/programs, including department mailing lists, invitations to seminars and social functions, and access to research facilities. The following documentation must be on file before the application is submitted: 

a. Written consent from at least four faculty members. This may be in the form of emails from the faculty members addressed to the applicant indicating their agreement to serve on the committee.

b. Before this, faculty members must obtain the written consent of their department chair/director, such as via email, before agreeing to participate in the supervision of the ISLD applicant.  

c. Prospective students must provide this documentation to the ISLD Director (contact information below) in the form of a combined attachment (preferred) or attachments to a single email. No applications will be reviewed before this email is received. 

7. It is highly recommended, but not required, for applicants to include as part of their application a writing sample demonstrating their ability to produce scholarly work connected to the applicant’s prospective area of independent research. Faculty members who are asked to be part of your dissertation committee or other members of the applicant’s committee may request such a writing sample or other documentation of the applicant’s skills and readiness for doctoral study. 

Admission decisions will be made by an Admissions Committee who will review the application before providing their decision in written form. In addition, the chairs/directors from each of the departments/programs of proposed study must agree to the admission. If an applicant has been dismissed from another doctoral program at WMU before applying for the Interdisciplinary Studies Doctorate program, a review of their credentials will include an evaluation of evidence of personal and academic improvements since the dismissal.

Program Requirements

The Interdisciplinary Studies Doctorate program (ISLD) has the following degree requirements:

  1. At least 60 credit hours with a GPA of 3.0 or better. 
    1. Students with a relevant master’s degree may petition the College of Arts and Sciences to transfer a maximum of 18 credits on their Permanent Program of Study Form.
  2. At least 30 credits plus 12 dissertation credits taken after admission to the ISLD program. 
    1. Of the 42 credits taken after admission, at least half of these must be 6000-level or above. 
  3. At least six hours of 6000-level coursework in each of at least two departments/programs is required after admission to the ISLD program. 
  4. Overall, the coursework must include the following:
    1. A minimum of 32 credit hours of subject knowledge, including at least two classes from each of two or more departments/programs. 
    2. At least 15 credit hours of training in research methodology, including relevant research method courses offered by departments or graduate research independent study credits (this may include classes such as A-S 7350, REL 6000, SOC 6800 etc), and demonstrated proficiency in two research tools.
    3. 12 hours of dissertation credits (A-S 7300 or a department equivalent, such as PSY 7300, HIST 7300, ECON 7300).
  • All students must complete the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) course requirement offered through WMU’s Graduate College (or equivalent). For more information on RCR, see https://wmich.edu/grad/current-students/responsible-research 

  • Supervision of the program of study and research project by a dissertation committee consisting of at least four members from at least two different departments/programs, including the dissertation committee chair or co-chairs. There must be at least one faculty member in each of the two main departments/programs housing the prospective student’s degree, with a minimum of one faculty member from a department/program within the College of Arts and Sciences. At least one of these four faculty members must consent to serving as the dissertation committee chair, or two as co-chairs. An external member from outside WMU may be included. Each faculty member must have graduate faculty status. They may apply for it using the Graduate Faculty Nomination Form (available on the Graduate College website).

  • The student and the dissertation committee will meet at least annually to review the student’s progress. 

  • Successful completion and oral defense of a research proposal and other requirements for a comprehensive exam, as determined by the committee members, for advancement to candidacy. 

  • Completion of a dissertation involving original research across disciplines.

  • Successful oral defense of the dissertation and approval by the dissertation committee.

The program handbook provides additional information for prospective students, current students, and faculty involved in mentoring ISLD students. The handbook is currently being updated. If there are any discrepancies between the Handbook and the information provided on this CAS Webpage, please defer to the CAS webpage or WMU Graduate Catalog, which reflects the current and official policies.

Contact: Dr. Alisa Perkins, Director, Interdisciplinary Studies Doctorate alisa.perkins@wmich.edu