Plaza Building, Health Center closed due to a water main break.

Decorative Image of Rowdy the Roadrunner at Graduation

Student Information

Information about the Individualized Degree Program (IDP) process, requirements, and more

IDP Student Information
professor teaching his class

Faculty Information

Information about the roles of IDP Faculty Advisors, IDP Faculty Associates, and more

IDP Faculty Information
Decorative Image for Faculty Designed IDP Banner I

Faculty Designed IDPs

Explore IDP options designed by MSU Denver Faculty

Faculty Designed IDPs

Why pursue interdisciplinary studies through an Individualized Degree Program major or minor?

Students come to IDP to pursue their interests that cannot be met by existing major or minor programs. Students work with an IDP specialist to customize interdisciplinary studies degrees to match their skills and experience with their education, and/or to find an efficient path to graduation.  

Interested in General Studies Degree or Multidisciplinary Studies Degree options?

IDP also offers a pathway similar to General Studies or Multidisciplinary Studies Degree options offered at other institutions. However, there are some restrictions. An IDP Specialist can help you create a meaningful major or minor by combining courses you’ve already taken and ones that you would like to take. 

Who are Individualized Degree Program students?

The majority of IDP students are non-traditional: They are over 25 years old and/or often arrive at MSU Denver with a considerable number of transfer credits.  

Quick facts about MSU Denver’s Individualized Degree Program (IDP)

  • Established in 1976 as the “contract major” program 
  • Number of majors graduated since 1976: 3,417 
  • Number of minors graduated since 1976: 1,532 
  • 75+ IDP majors and minors graduate every year 
  • IDP offers a concentration in International Studies, B.A. 

Recent Student Designed Interdisciplinary Studies Degrees

IDP students work with their IDP Advisor, IDP Faculty Advisor, and signing Department Chair to craft a unique title that captures their interests in interdisciplinary studies.  

Decorative Image of Downtown Denver from Auraria Campus

Recent Individualized Degree titles:

  • Cultural Influences and Persuasion  
  • Election Campaigns  
  • Environmental Communications  
  • Holistic Community Health  
  • Language Structure and Teaching  
  • Latino Arts and Community Engagement  
  • Movement Studies  
  • Organizational Leadership in Sport and Society  
  • Sustainable Food Systems

There are restrictions on IDP titles. Talk to an IDP Specialist for more information.

Faculty Designed Interdisciplinary Majors and Minors

CIL also works with faculty members to create innovative, interdisciplinary programs that can either be a test run for a catalog major or minor or an ongoing IDP major or minor. IDP Faculty Designed programs include: 

  • Asian Studies Minor 
  • Translation Studies Minor 
  • Aerospace Systems Technology, B.S. 
  • Educational Studies, B.A. 
  • Advanced Manufacturing Options, B.S. 
  • Social Documentary, B.A. 

Students: Schedule a meeting with an IDP Specialist for more information.

Faculty: Contact the CIL Director, Sara Jackson Shumate, Ph.D., if you are interested in proposing a new interdisciplinary program.  

Decorative Image for Faculty Designed IDP Banner I

Donate to CIL Scholarship Fund

Interested in supporting Individualized Degree Program (IDP) students and Interdisciplinary Studies? The Center for Individualized Learning is seeking to raise over $50,000 to provide scholarships for IDP students.

Contact the Center for Individualized Learning

Campus Location:
CIL is currently in the process of moving to our new location, Central Classroom Room 223. We will be Central Room 223 starting on November 11th.

Mailing Address:
Campus Box 50, MSU Denver PO Box 173362 Denver, CO 80217-3362

Phone:
303-615-0525

Email:
[email protected]