Mission

The Social Science Interdisciplinary Degree Program (IDP) offers undergraduate majors designed for those wishing to pursue a focused inquiry into areas
of contemporary public interest. There are six majors: Human Services, Legal Studies, Environmental Studies, Urban and Public Policy Studies, International Studies and Cognitive Science. The curricula in these majors cross traditional disciplinary boundaries and include courses from departments in the social and natural sciences as well as specialized courses developed specifically for these majors. The intent is to combine expertise in the subject area with informed knowledge of contemporary social and public policy implications. Students in IDP are encouraged to pursue internship opportunities in order to enhance their awareness of real-world connections to their academic studies. IDP majors provide excellent preparation for post-baccalaureate careers in a variety of fields in business, government, and social services, and also afford special opportunities for more advanced professional training, including the BA/MSW joint degree, which enables qualified students in the Human Service major to complete a joint degree program with UB’s School of Social Work in five years. Similarly, the IDP Human Service-Early Childhood concentration is an approved undergraduate major for admission to UB’s Graduate School of Education Teacher Education Institute (TEI) Masters level certification program for Early Childhood/Childhood teachers (Birth – Grade 6).

Check out our new IDP Study Abroad Scholarship

Last updated: February 7, 2008