2012–2013 UNIVERSITY CATALOG - Florida Institute of Technology

cumulative GPA of 2.5, demonstrate competence in all 12 Florida
Education Accomplished Practices, pass all of the Florida Teacher
Certification Examinations (General Knowledge, Professional
Education and Subject Area) and earn a minimum 3.0 grade point
average for 18 credit hours of student teaching.
Teacher preparation programs in the state of Florida are required
by Title II, section 207, of the Higher Education Act to make public
their Institutional Report Cards. Florida Tech’s report card may
be found online at www.fit.edu/education and in the department’s
student handbook.
UNDergraDUaTe Degree PrograMs
Interdisciplinary Science, B.S. __________________
Major Code: 7035 Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science
Age Restriction: N Admission status: undergraduate
Delivery Mode/s: classroom only Location/s: main campus
Program Chair
Laszlo Baksay, Ph.D.
Because of the increasing importance of science and technology
in our daily lives, Florida Tech has recognized the need for an
interdisciplinary program in the sciences that allows a student
to enroll in a wide variety of science and engineering courses,
supplemented by certain core courses and carefully chosen
electives. The most important characteristics of this degree are it is
flexible, tailored to the individual student’s needs and emphasizes
broad training in science. The graduate will have a well-rounded
expertise in science and its place in society, and will have acquired
specific tools for his or her career. Because of the freedom to
customize the program, most students graduate with one or more
minors in addition to the bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary
science.
The bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary science is intended for
students who plan graduate study in professional fields, those who
are interested in a broad-based degree oriented toward the sciences
or engineering, former science and engineering students who want
a degree with wider scope and students seeking military careers.
Graduates normally seek employment opportunities in aerospace,
environmental science and managing the environment, medicine
and health technology, personnel administration, purchasing,
development, management, the military, social work or marketing;
in general, a wide variety of positions requiring an interdisciplinary
background, as well as opportunities for advanced study, especially
in the professional fields.
Because of the great flexibility of the interdisciplinary science
program, it is important that a student plan his or her program with
an adviser as soon as possible. The student’s capstone committee
will be composed of those faculty deemed most appropriate to the
student’s goals and objectives. A committee normally consists of
three members, including the adviser.
The basic requirements of the degree are given below, followed by
a sample four-year program. The interdisciplinary science courses
are chosen by the student to conform to his or her program plan.
These courses must have the approval of the student’s adviser.
Each four-year program is tailored to the student’s specific needs
and developed during the first semester. If the objectives change,
modifications of the plan of study will be allowed if approved by the
student’s adviser. During the final semester, as part of the capstone
experience, the student is required to write and present a paper.
Degree Requirements
General (1 credit hour)
ASC 1000 University Experience (transfer students may substitute one
credit of interdisciplinary science)
Communication (9 credit hours)
COM 1101 Composition and Rhetoric
COM 1102 Writing about Literature
COM 2223 Scientific and Technical Communication or COM 2370 Speech
Computer Science (3 credit hours)
CSE 1502 Introduction to Software Development/C++ or CSE 1503
Introduction to Software Development/FORTRAN
Humanities (12 credit hours)
HUM 2051 Civilization 1
HUM 3351 History of Science and Technology: Ancient and Medieval
HUM 3352 History of Science and Technology: Renaissance to Present
Plus one 3-credit HUM course from the humanities core course list.
Mathematics (8 credit hours)
MTH 1001 Calculus 1
MTH 1002 Calculus 2
Interdisciplinary Science (43 credit hours)
At least 21 credit hours must be 3000/4000-level courses.
Liberal Arts Electives (12 credit hours)
At least six credit hours must be 3000/4000-level courses, and six
credit hours in a foreign language.
Physical or Life Science Electives (8 credit hours)
Technical Electives (22 credit hours)
At least three credit hours must be 3000/4000-level courses.
Free Electives (6 credit hours)
Capstone Seminar (1 credit hour)
Usually completed during the senior year.
Curriculum
The interdisciplinary science curriculum is extremely flexible since
many students enter this major after several semesters at Florida
Tech. Although program plans are designed on a student-by-student
basis to meet individual needs and interests while fulfilling all
degree requirements listed above, the following provides a general
model that may be followed by students.
Freshman Year
FALL CREDITS
ASC 1000 University Experience ............................................................. 1
COM 1101 Composition and Rhetoric ...................................................... 3
MTH 1001 Calculus 1 ............................................................................... 4
Physical/Life Science Elective ................................................ 4
Technical Elective ................................................................... 4
16
SPRING
COM 1102 Writing about Literature ......................................................... 3
MTH 1002 Calculus 2 ............................................................................... 4
Physical/Life Science Electives ............................................... 4
Technical Elective ................................................................... 4
15
Sophomore Year
FALL CREDITS
COM 2223 Scientific and Technical Communication ............................... 3
HUM 2051 Civilization 1 ........................................................................... 3
Interdisciplinary Science Courses ........................................... 6
Technical Elective ................................................................... 3
15
Degree Programs—College of Science 199