ÁÔÆæÖØ¿Ú

Program Information

• 1. Submit an Initial Inquiry

  Before beginning a formal application, prospective students must submit an Initial Inquiry Statement to help determine whether their proposed program is feasible and appropriately interdisciplinary.

  Email your materials to interdisciplinary@mso.umt.edu with the subject line:
  M.I.S. Initial Inquiry – [Your Name]

  Your statement should be 1–2 pages and include:

  • Proposed title or theme of your interdisciplinary focus

    • If unknown: Draft a working title using keywords (e.g., “Community Health & Data Ethics”). You can refine this later.

  • Statement of purpose describing your academic and professional goals and why an interdisciplinary approach is necessary

    • If you’re still exploring: Briefly explain the questions or problems you want to solve and why a single existing program doesn’t fully fit.

  • Disciplines or departments you plan to integrate

    • If unknown: Use UM’s website to explore:

      • Department and program pages (to see degree offerings and course lists)

      • Faculty directories (to scan research interests)

      • Recent course schedules (to confirm regular offerings)

    • List 2–3 likely departments (it’s fine if these are tentative).

  • Explanation of how the disciplines connect to form a cohesive program

    • If you’re unsure: Write 3–4 sentences explaining what each discipline contributes (methods, theories, tools) and how they’ll work together in your plan of study.

  • Potential faculty mentors (if known)

    • If unknown: Include 3–5 possible names you found on department pages or faculty directories and a one-line note on fit (e.g., “policy analysis,” “science communication,” “GIS methods”). We’ll help you refine outreach.

  • Relevant academic background and experience

    • If limited: Highlight transferable skills (research, writing, data analysis, community engagement, creative production) and any coursework or projects related to your focus.

  • Intended start term (e.g., Fall 2026)

    • If flexible: Provide a preferred term and an alternate (e.g., “Prefer Fall 2026; could start Spring 2027”).

  Optional: You may also include a résumé/CV or unofficial transcript for context and request a consultation meeting with the Graduate School.

  Once your materials are reviewed, the Graduate School will contact you regarding next steps and guidance on identifying faculty for your graduate committee.

• 2. Admissions requirements

  Application Deadlines

  To ensure full consideration, all application materials must be received by the Graduate School by:

  • April 1 – for Fall semester admission

  • November 15 – for Spring semester admission

  
  Committee Formation & Plan of Study

  Before beginning your application, you must identify faculty committee members and develop a Plan of Study that outlines your proposed interdisciplinary program.

  • Your graduate committee must include at least three (3) ÁÔÆæÖØ¿Ú faculty members, each representing one of the disciplines involved.

    • When contacting faculty, include the details from your initial inquiry statement from step 1 above. 

  • Work with your committee to design a Plan of Study that integrates coursework from each discipline and reflects your academic and professional goals.

  • Your Plan of Study must first be reviewed and approved by your committee. Once approved, schedule a meeting with your committee chair and the Graduate School to discuss the viability of your program. If approved, you can proceed to step 3: Submit Application.

  Minimum Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
  • Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
  • For international applicants: official TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or MELAB scores

  Recommendation

  We strongly encourage prospective students to spend at least one semester enrolled at the ÁÔÆæÖØ¿Ú before formally applying to the M.I.S. program. Enrolling as a non-degree graduate student or within an existing graduate program allows you to build valuable connections with faculty and departments, which is essential for creating an interdisciplinary plan of study and forming a graduate committee.

  Experience has shown that it is very difficult to identify committee members and design a program of study from a distance. Spending time on campus helps you get to know professors, explore courses, and develop an academic network that supports your proposed degree.

  Enrolling as a graduate non-degree student offers several benefits:

  • You can take graduate-level courses and earn credit while exploring potential disciplines for your M.A./M.S. degree.

  • Up to nine (9) credits earned in non-degree status may be applied toward a future degree program (with approval from your graduate committee chair).

  However, please note:

  • Financial aid is not available to graduate non-degree students.

  • If you plan to pursue ÁÔÆæÖØ¿Ú residency for in-state tuition, refer to the Residency Qualifications page for details.

    • Registering for more than seven (7) credits per semester establishes a strong presumption that you are in ÁÔÆæÖØ¿Ú for educational purposes, which may disqualify you from residency eligibility.

• 3. Submit Application

  Before applying, your committee compostition and Plan of Study must already be approved by the Graduate School. If approved, you are ready to submit your

  *All required materials constitute your admission file and must be made available to your prospective graduate committee before submission, except for the recommendation letters.

  The required materials for application include the following:

  1. Plan of Study form (upload in online application)

  2. Letter of Intent should explain how the selected disciplines connect and what you aim to accomplish through your interdisciplinary degree.

  3. Resume or CV

  4. Official transcripts

  5. Standardized test scores (if applicable)

  6. Three recommendation letters from faculty who have agreed to serve on the committee

  • Once you complete the online application, each committee member will receive an email request to submit their letter electronically.
  • Each letter should include the faculty member’s willingness to serve on your committee, approval of proposed plan of study, and an explanation of why they recommend you for the M.A./M.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies.
• 4. Master’s Program Requirements

  Students must choose from the following options:

  30 credit Thesis option

  Students must complete 30 credits of G- and UG- coursework; students must do the graduate increment of the UG- classes. Students will complete thesis proposal (format to be determined by the student’s graduate committee) approximately one year after beginning the program. Students must satisfactorily complete an oral defense of the thesis.

  36 credit non-Thesis option

  Students must complete 36 credits of G- and UG- coursework; students must do the graduate increment of the UG- classes. Students must satisfactorily complete:

  1. Comprehensive exam, format to be determined by the student’s graduate committee; AND
     
     
  2. One of three options:
     
     
     1. Professional paper – a publishable quality paper, which consists of an article-length, monographic study based substantially on primary sources.
     2. Three (3) short critical papers or products that show creative work – merit to be judged by your graduate committee.
     3. A paper submitted to a nationally recognized journal

  
  After Admission

  Once admitted, your graduate committee will serve as your de facto department. The Director of Interdisciplinary Studies Program functions as your department chair.

  • Meet regularly with your committee to discuss progress and next steps.

  • Any changes to your approved Plan of Study must be communicated to the Program Manager via a memo from your committee chair or co-chairs, with agreement from the full committee.