2025-2026 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies (BCOIS)
About the College
BCOIS Administration
Dean: Mark Schaub
Interim Associate Dean: Julia Mason
Assistant Dean: Kate VanDerKolk
Website
Mission
The Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies provides Grand Valley and the community with experiences, expertise, and programming that deepen our understanding of the world around us. The college does this through its innovative curriculum and by providing students with high-impact learning experiences like service-learning projects, study abroad opportunities, internships, living and learning communities, and intensive writing and research opportunities. The mission of the Brooks College is cultivating engaged global citizens through innovative interdisciplinary programs and diverse community partnerships.
Program Information
The Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies challenges students to tackle the important issues of the day by integrating the perspectives, knowledge, and methodologies of multiple fields of study. The college offers majors in environmental and sustainability studies; global studies and social impact; integrative studies; professional innovation; leadership and business fundamentals; and women, gender, and sexuality studies. Minors are available in African/African American studies; digital studies; East Asian studies; environmental and sustainability studies; human rights; Latin American and Latino/a studies; LGBTQ studies; Middle East studies; religious studies; and women, gender, and sexuality studies. The college also offers certificate programs in sustainable food systems, Latino/a studies, and leadership, as well as a badge in intercultural communications. Most of these academic programs have social justice components to them.
The centers, initiatives, service units, and university-wide programs in Brooks College provide the expertise of highly qualified faculty and staff to Grand Valley and the West Michigan communities, helping people to become more skilled and experienced with internationalism, intercultural communication, sustainability, local history, social justice, creative problem-solving, and the goals of a liberal education.
What is interdisciplinarity? Interdisciplinarity is the integration of knowledge and methodologies from across the university to better understand the world around us. The most complex issues of the world - environmental stewardship, human rights, poverty, and the migration of people, to name a few - can only be addressed effectively if we pose questions, test hypotheses, and apply knowledge from different perspectives. In an interdisciplinary program, the focus is on improving critical thinking skills by prompting students to integrate knowledge from among the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, performing arts, and the professional programs. The interdisciplinary courses and programs in Brooks College are taught by faculty whose own research is interdisciplinary, as well as by teams of faculty from across the disciplines who are skilled at helping students see different fields of study as parts of a whole. The goals of our classes and programs are to help students integrate perspectives from a variety of disciplines in order to problem-solve in a global context, take action in their communities, and connect learning to their future professions.
Academic Units
The School of Interdisciplinary Studies, housed in Brooks College, offers a variety of academic programs that are clustered around a variety of themes. These include:
Area and Global Studies Programs
The Area and Global Studies Department includes interdisciplinary programs that focus on the history, politics, geography, and culture of various world regions as well as on current global issues such as human migration, climate change, and changing economies. The following programs are offered:
- Global studies and social impact (B.A., B.S.)
- Africana studies (minor)
- East Asian studies (minor)
- Latin American and Latino/a studies (minor) and a Latino/a studies certificate
- Middle East studies (minor)
- Religious studies (Minor)
- Human rights (minor)
Digital Studies Program
The digital studies minor provides students with skills to understand and use digital technologies. Regardless of their specialized major, today's students will work in areas that increasingly rely on digital tools and platforms to create and share information. Through theory and practice, the minor provides opportunities to gain experience in using digital tools and develop a complex understanding of the cultural, social, and ethical dimensions of a digitized world. Visit gvsu.edu/ds.
Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program
Environmental and sustainability studies draws upon a variety of disciplines - arts and humanities, physical and life sciences, and economic and policy studies - to develop a holistic, place-based, and solutions-oriented understanding of environmental and sustainability challenges. While all aspects of human interaction with the environment may be relevant to environmental and sustainability studies, areas of particular interest include sustainable food systems, energy and climate change, water quality, and the cultural and built environment. The program combines academic foundations in various disciplines with practical experience in interdisciplinary research and problem-solving, to prepare graduates to work effectively in business, nonprofit, civic, or governmental roles that support sustainability and environmental responsibility. For more information, visit gvsu.edu/ens. The following programs are offered:
- Environmental and sustainability studies (B.A., B.S.)
- Environmental and sustainability studies (Minor)
- Sustainable food systems (certificate)
Integrative Studies Programs
The integrative studies programs provides students with the opportunity to design programs that suit their specific interests, talents, and career aspirations utilizing courses throughout the university. The program begins with a core of required courses. Then, with the help of a faculty advisor, students develop a major area of study based on a specific theme, issue, problem, or career interest. Students interested in exploring the integrative studies option might begin by taking one of the core courses in conjunction with the Grand Valley State University general education requirement or one of the integrative or interdisciplinary electives. Interested students are invited to write or meet with any integrative studies faculty member. The department also offers a certificate and a badge in intercultural training, giving students skills to interact effectively with people who differ from themselves in values, culture, and life experiences.For more information, visit gvsu.edu/int. The following programs are offered:
- Integrative studies major (B.A., B.S.)
- University studies (US) 1-credit courses
- Interdisciplinary studies (IDS- prefix) courses
Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
The Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGS) Department at Grand Valley (gvsu.edu/wgs) offers an interdisciplinary major and minor based on the study of women, gender, and sexuality, WGS has close relationships across all other majors and minors in Brooks College as well as the working closely with the Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity, Milt Ford Legacy Collective: The Rainbow Resource Center, and Office of Multicultural Affairs to cosponsor a variety of speakers, events, and internships. More than 40 faculty members across the campus support WGS through teaching, research, and service. The following programs are offered:
- Women, gender, and sexuality studies major (B.A., B.S.)
- Women, gender, and sexuality studies minor
- LGBTQ studies minor
Leadership and Professional Innovation Programs
The programs offered here allows students to pursue a flexible array of customizable emphases as part of a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree (B.A.S.). It is designed to recognizes the value of technical skills earned at the associate level while guiding you to build interdisciplinary knowledge and strengthen core academic skills.The following programs are offered:
- Leadership and business fundamentals major (B.A.S.)
- Professional innovation major (B.A.S.)
- Intercultural competence and communication certificate and badge
- Leadership certificate
Advisory Boards and Councils
Sustainable Practices
Digital Studies
Global Studies and Social Impact
Kutsche Office of Local History
Latin American and Latino/a Studies
Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil Discourse
Sustainable Agriculture Project
Frederik Meijer Honors (FMH) College
The Frederik Meijer Honors College provides academically talented students from all majors with the opportunity to work with excellent teaching faculty in a small college environment. The mission of the college is to provide a challenging interdisciplinary liberal education and a living/learning environment that prepares students to be intellectually curious lifelong learners and leaders in their communities and a changing world. Additional information is available in the Meijer Honors College section of the catalog. Honors courses are team-taught, blocked sequentially, and offer an interdisciplinary approach to general education. For more information, visit gvsu.edu/honors.
Kutsche Office of Local History
The Kutsche Office of Local History fosters dialogue, understanding, and empowerment through local history. Guided by its mission, "giving voice to diverse communities through history," the Kutsche Office supports local history and cultural heritage institutions, organizations, and practitioners in West Michigan through expertise, networking, and collaborative projects. This is done in a variety of ways including, but not limited to, interdisciplinary research and teaching initiatives; serving as a resource to more fully document, preserve, and make known the histories of underrepresented/marginalized groups in West Michigan; supporting high impact practices (e.g., internships, research assistantships) for Grand Valley students; an internship program that places Grand Valley students in opportunities both on and off campus; and annual programming that supports the office's mission and connects Grand Valley faculty and students with community members around areas of common interest. Current programs include the annual Local History Roundtable, digital program series, Engaging the Community Series, and Youth Leadership Initiative. Information about programs and upcoming events can be found on the Kutsche Office website at gvsu.edu/kutsche.
Brooks College Advising Center
The Brooks College Advising Center offers a variety of programs and resources to fully engage students in their lifelong educational journeys and assist them in making connections between school, work, and other spheres of their everyday lives. The advising center provides support services and coordinates and assists in providing services and resources supporting academic advising for students majoring or minoring in Brooks College academic programs
Office of Sustainability Practices
The Office of Sustainability Practices supports Grand Valley administration, faculty, staff, students, and community members to foster a culture of sustainability by designing and implementing programs, while supporting policies to encourage sustainable behaviors and responsible global citizen-stewards. Social responsibility, cultural values, economic prosperity, and environmental stewardship are the core values of sustainability, aimed at the preservation of society for future generations. The Office of Sustainability Practices helps to ensure projects are informed by sustainable best practices through advocating for awareness, education, and engagement in all topics related to sustainability, including water, energy, transportation, purchasing, and others. To learn more, visit gvsu.edu/sustainability.
Sustainable Agriculture Project
The Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP) is a collaborative initiative to seed sustainable practices, foster leadership and learning, and grow community. Housed in the Brooks College, the SAP serves the entire campus community by providing a farm on the Allendale Campus to stimulate experiential education, where faculty, staff, students, and community members are invited to get hands-on involvement in all aspects related to sustainable agriculture. Environmental stewardship, efficient production, food justice, and food literacy are core components to the SAP's philosophy. To learn more about opportunities for internships, research grants, class visits, tours, and purchasing produce from the farm, visit gvsu.edu/sustainableagproject.
Student Services and Campuswide Programs
Fred Meijer Center for Writing and Michigan Authors
The Fred Meijer Center for Writing and Michigan Authors provides all university writers with the resources and services they need to meet their writing goals. Students, faculty, and staff can receive feedback on any writing project, at any stage of the writing process. The center's well-trained peer consultants can help brainstorm ideas, organize content, integrate research, and/or polish a draft. The goal of these writing consultations is to help writers help themselves, not just with that single piece of writing, but also to become better writers overall. Information regarding writing center services can be found in the Undergraduate Information section of the catalog or online at gvsu.edu/wc.
Supplemental Writing Skills Program
The Supplemental Writing Skills (SWS) program is a pedagogical component of the Grand Valley general education requirements. SWS courses are writing-intensive, meaning the development of writing skills through critique and revision is a major component of course assignments and grading. Grand Valley requires students to complete two SWS courses to graduate. Specific courses are listed as SWS. Additional information regarding SWS requirements can be found under Academic Policies and Regulations or at gvsu.edu/sws.
Community Resources
- Kutsche Office of Local History
- Office of Sustainability Practices
- Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil Discourse
- Sustainable Agriculture Project