Special Information for IDS Majors

Requirements for the Major

Students are responsible for meeting the IDS requirements in effect at the time they enter the major. Should any of these requirements change after that time, students may elect to follow the new requirements or continue under the old ones. Students who elect to follow new requirements must follow them in their entirety; old and new requirements cannot be mixed. Students readmitted after an absence of three or more years must conform to the requirements in effect at the time of readmission.

Academic Records

If students need to check on past enrollment, juniors and seniors can check out their files at the College of Social Science 's Student Affairs Office in 201 Berkey Hall. First-year students and sophomores may check out their files in their Undergraduate University Division office. Transcripts can be ordered (for a fee) in Room 150 of the Administration Building. Copies of IDS "Graduation Checklists" and "Remaining Requirements" forms may be obtained at the IDS office in 302 Berkey Hall. Students may also gain access to their records via "STUINFO," a service available in MSU's Public Instructional Microcomputer Laboratories, as well as by modem. LINK TO STUINFO? Further information about accessing records may be obtained from an IDS advisor or from the MSU Computer Laboratory, 305 Computer Center, 353-1800.

Minimum Grade Point Average

To graduate, students must have at least a 2.0 grade point average (gpa) in the major as well as in their university course work overall.

IDS Newsletter and Electronic Mail

Students receive the IDS Newsletter through their MSU e-mail accounts. The IDS Newsletter contains summary information on items that concern all IDS majors and is distributed at least twice during the academic year. Special mailings, called IDS NEWS BRIEFS, continually post more specific messages to students grouped according to their concentrations (i.e., Human Resources and Society, International Studies, et al.) throughout the fall and spring semesters. The IDS Newsletter and IDS NEWS BRIEFS are a convenient and efficient way for the IDS advisors and staff to provide students with up-to-date news about the IDS major, opportunities and programs at MSU, study abroad programs in the social sciences, awards and scholarships, internships, and other timely items. To receive this information, all IDS students must open their MSU e-mail accounts. If you need assistance in opening your account, please see one of the IDS advisors or one of the staff at 305 Computer Center.

Awards and Scholarships

Each year, a number of IDS students receive awards and scholarships that recognize their academic achievement and/or community service. Awards that recognize high academic achievement include Dean's List citation for semester (minimum of 12 credits) grade point average (gpa) of 3.5 or better and graduation with honor (cumulative gpa of 3.5) or with high honor (cumulative gpa of 3.8). Freshman and sophomore students who have established strong academic records at MSU may apply for membership in the Honors College. Students in their junior and senior years may be eligible for membership in several national honor societies, including Phi Beta Kappa , Phi Kappa Phi , Phi Beta Delta , Sigma Iota Rho , and others. Other awards include membership in MSU's chapters of Tower Guard, Mortar Board, and Golden Key honor societies. Some awards provide recognition for outstanding academic accomplishment and community service and are college-wide, university-wide, state-wide, or national in scope. IDS students compete for these awards very successfully. For more information about available awards and scholarships for which you may qualify and how you might best prepare for them, please see your advisor.

Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) Courses

Students may enroll in only one elective course each semester on a credit/no credit basis, and may count no more than twenty such credits toward graduation. CR/NC courses at MSU are exclusively elective courses; they cannot be used to satisfy any university, college, or IDS course requirements. Please consult an advisor before taking courses CR/NC.

Major Change

Students who want to change their majors to IDS should contact the offices listed below in the indicated sequence.

No Preference First-Year Students and Sophomores:

1. Undergraduate University Division

2. College of Social Science, 201 Berkey Hall

3. IDS office, 302 Berkey Hall

All Other First-Year Students and Sophomores

1. Undergraduate University Division

2. Department office of current major preference

3. College of Social Science, 201 Berkey Hall

4. IDS office, 302 Berkey Hall

Juniors and Seniors with a major outside the College of Social Science

1. Student Affairs Office of current college

2. Department office of current major

3. College of Social Science, 201 Berkey Hall

4. IDS office, 302 Berkey Hall

Juniors and Seniors in the College of Social Science

1. College of Social Science, 201 Berkey Hall

2. Department office of current major

3. IDS office, 302 Berkey Hall

IDS majors who want to declare a different major (outside IDS):

First-year Students and Sophomores: Start at the Undergraduate University Division

Juniors and Seniors: Start at 201 Berkey Hall

Athletic Certification

Athletes needing an advisor's signature on their Athletic Certification forms must make an appointment with Nicolas Gisholt to discuss scheduling and to obtain the necessary signature. Mr. Gisholt will not sign forms without meeting with students. Students should schedule an appointment in advance of their forms' due dates.

Handouts

Handouts designed to assist IDS majors are available in the IDS office. These handouts provide information on such topics as internships, employment strategies (resumes, interviewing, cover letters, and more), letters of recommendation, calculating major gpa's, and career follow-up information about our graduates. Catalogs and bulletins of graduate and professional school programs are also available. Please speak with the IDS receptionist if you have questions about any of these materials. Several bulletin boards are located in the lobby and in hallway areas near the IDS office. These have posted information about graduate and graduate-professional study, employment opportunities, and internships and field experience.

Copies of a new handout, " Beyond the East Lansing Classroom: A Portfolio Approach to your Undergraduate Education," are available in the IDS office. This handout provides suggestions on how to develop a systematic approach to incorporating extra-classroom experiences into your college education. Get a copy and read about opportunities for service-learning, internships, study abroad, student activities and organizations, and career development.