New majors in history, writing and Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences

The University of Washington Tacoma is adding three new majors in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences this fall.

Students can now earn a bachelor’s degree in history, in interdisciplinary arts and sciences, or in writing studies with an emphasis in creative writing.

The new degrees were developed in response to student and public interest.

The history major provides a foundation in American and world history, and allows students to choose additional courses in one of three tracks: U.S. history, Asian history or European history. If students’ interests lie elsewhere, they may custom design a thematic track of their own choosing, such as environmental or religious history. 

Interdisciplinary and self-designed history majors are not typically offered at the undergraduate level. This one provides students with an unusually diverse yet integrated set of options, said Larry Knopp, director of the university’s interdisciplinary arts and sciences program.

“There’s been a longstanding demand and interest among our students for a history major,” Knopp said. “We have superb historians here who themselves have strong interdisciplinary backgrounds. They are exceptionally well positioned to deliver our distinct, innovative history major.”

Likewise, students and Tacoma-area community members were clamoring for the writing studies degree. The program will teach how to write effectively in a range of genres while providing a well-rounded liberal arts education in the sciences and humanities.

Writing students can choose to specialize in one of at least two tracks. The creative writing track is in place this year. A professional/technical writing track is anticipated to begin next year, Knopp said.

The creative writing track focuses on literary and popular forms of creative writing from faculty who are published writers in various genres. Students will also be exposed to professional/technical writing courses for preparation in a variety of fields.

The third new major, interdisciplinary arts and sciences (IAS), targets students who want an extremely broad exposure to key areas of knowledge within arts and sciences. The major stresses the connections between environmental science, social science, humanities and other areas of study.

The major is part of a revamping of degrees in the IAS program, Knopp said. In the past, students majored in IAS with a concentration in a particular field of study, such as communication. Now the IAS concentrations are being phased out and have been replaced by majors.