Honours Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (INS)

Starts in January, May, September

PGWP-eligible Program

Campus

Newnham

Delivery

Flexible

Duration

8 Semesters (4 Years)

Study Option

Full-time & Part-time

Credential

Honours Bachelor Degree

School

School of Arts & Science

Your experience counts at Seneca

If you have prior work experience in a related field, you may be eligible for course credit, a reduced course load or accelerated learning. Attend our spring Open House on Saturday, April 11 at Newnham Campus for personalized, on-the-spot advising to explore your eligibility.

Courses

Delivery: At Seneca, courses are delivered in four formats: online, in-person, hybrid (an online, in-person combination) or flexible (offered in-person and online at the same time).

The chart below outlines the delivery options available for each course in this program. For some academic terms, there may be more than one delivery option available. You’ll be able to choose your preferred options when you select classes to build your course schedule. Selection for preferred course delivery will be considered on a first come, first served basis.

International students: The impact of studying from outside of Canada and Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility differs significantly based on when you start your program. Please review the PGWP eligibility before choosing your program and course delivery.

Advanced Placement

Students beginning the Honours Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (INS) degree program directly from high school or with no transferable postsecondary credits will begin in semester one. All two-year Ontario diploma and three-year Ontario advanced diploma graduates are guaranteed advanced placement in the INS program to begin in the program's third year (semester 5).

Semester 1 – 4

Course Code	Course Name	Winter	Summer	Fall
Beginning September 2025, the first two years of the Honours Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies will feature a structured curriculum for direct entry students. In addition to completing foundational interdisciplinary courses, students will complete 12 courses from two applied areas of study including Business, Community and Health, Communications and Media, and Data Analysis. Please contact the Semester 1 INS Program Co-ordinator, found on the Contact Us page, to plan your curriculum.

Semester 5

Course Code	Course Name	Winter	Summer	Fall
INC299	Personal and Professional Portfolio	Online	Online	Online
	Learning extends beyond the classroom. In INC299, students leverage academic, personal, and professional experiences to consider their academic journey in Interdisciplinary Studies (INS) and how to present themselves to different audiences. During this applied, interactive course, students will focus on professionally highlighting and organizing their lived experiences and achievements. Students are encouraged to draw from experiences beyond previous jobs, volunteer work, certifications and training, to include foreign credentials, military and other service learning, Indigenous and other community-based learning, travel, and special hobbies. Students are taught to emphasize storytelling through dynamic and creative mediums, while applying project management strategies and communication skills to effectively complete collaborative and individual tasks. Before the course is over, students will have identified and documented formal and informal learning and have the option to propose a custom degree learning plan to confirm their path to program completion in the INS program and beyond. By the end of the course, students will have developed a professional digital portfolio and a strategic career plan supported by reflective practice and storytelling techniques.
IND300	Principles of Interdisciplinary Studies	Flexible	Flexible	Flexible
	This course supports students in applying interdisciplinary ways of thinking and problem solving. Students will use content from the Humanities as well as additional relevant disciplines, such as Social Sciences and the Sciences, to analyze the multiple dimensions of complex social problems and propose solutions. Throughout this course students will also self-assess and develop their individual skills in areas such as critical thinking, collaboration, and communication.
IND500	Writing Across Disciplines	Flexible	Flexible	Flexible
	This course will focus on developing critical thinking skills essential to analyzing and personally engaging with content from multiple disciplines. In this course, students will also develop their research skills, including practice generating research questions to inform strong academic writing. Students will apply different theoretical lenses to enhance their understanding of modern media and social issues.
INS100	Power and Human Behaviour	Flexible	Flexible	Flexible
	This course provides a foundation for further study in the social sciences by introducing students to their basic subject matter and theory. It is designed for students in the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies, forming a basis for upper level courses in any of the relevant social sciences. The course is unified via a focus on a central theme or themes of relevance to all the social sciences, such as power and human nature. Through lectures, readings, discussions, and assignments, this course will offer a comprehensive interdisciplinary introduction to these central issues, integrating diverse social science approaches to the topic. The course emphasizes the development of critical thinking and writing skills, facilitates the practical application of student learning, and promotes the integration of social science insights into students broader understanding of themselves and their world.
LSP500	Ethics and Social Responsibility	Flexible	Flexible	Flexible
	Ethics or moral philosophy is the philosophical exploration and consideration of the values and principles we use to make moral judgments. Thus, answers to the fundamental questions of ethics provide guidelines for how we should lead our lives. This course will introduce students to the major ethical theories and consider the practical implications and applications of these theories for conduct in the business world.

Semester 6

Course Code	Course Name	Winter	Summer	Fall
BMT855	Leadership for Managers	Flexible	Flexible	Flexible
	In this course, three themes of leadership will be explored: the personal side of leadership, the evolution of leadership theory, and the social side of leadership. For each, a variety of experiential learning techniques including personal reflection, simulations, and problem-solving will engage the students as theory is introduced. Students will develop personal effectiveness skills that will assist them in their group and leadership roles.
INC300	Professional Identity in a Digital World	Flexible	Flexible	Flexible
	Every day, millions of people share their opinions with a global audience via Tweets, #s, blogs, wikis, videos, likes, tags, text messages and online comments. Digital spaces and mobile technologies allow us to be connected to our personal and professional networks and communities 24/7. In what ways does this hyper-connectivity impact the ways in which people regard their place in the world and define themselves? In this course we will analyze the social, ethical, political and cultural ramifications of societies that are increasingly mobile and digital. The impact of new genres and forms of expression on our identities will be explored as we actively participate in online networks and create materials for social media.
INS200	Political Science and Economics	Flexible	Flexible	Flexible
	This course provides a foundation for further study in the social sciences by introducing students to their basic subject matter and theory, focusing in particular on political science and economics. It is designed for students in the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies, forming a basis for upper level social science courses. It will also serve as a Liberal Studies course to introduce social science topics to the broader body of Seneca College students. The course is unified via a focus on central themes relevant to all the social sciences, such as power and human nature. Through lectures, readings, discussions, and assignments both online and in-class, this course offers a comprehensive interdisciplinary introduction to these central issues, integrating diverse social science approaches to different topics in social science. The course emphasizes the development of critical thinking and writing skills, facilitates the practical application of student learning, and promotes the integration of social science insights into students broader understanding of themselves and their world.
INX301	Navigating Natural Disasters	Flexible	Flexible	Flexible
	Recognizing that Earths processes work together as an interactive self-sustaining system, this course explores natural phenomena such as earthquakes, landslides and volcanic activity and the ways in which these are experienced by humans who have also developed a system of interconnectedness that is growing ever more dependent on what is considered a stable, and safe environment.
WTP200	Work Term Preparation	Online	Online	Online
	This Work Term Preparation course is designed to empower students with the tools, skills, and strategies needed to navigate the modern job market and achieve long-term career success. Through self-assessment, career exploration, helping students to identify and leverage skills from their existing experiences, students will develop a deep understanding of their personal strengths, values, personality, interests and goals. The course covers essential topics such as crafting professional résumés and cover letters, mastering interview techniques, and building a strong personal brand, including an online presence. Students will learn how to research career pathways, evaluate job market trends, and create actionable career plans tailored to their aspirations. Emphasis is placed on professional communication, networking, workplace readiness, and adapting to diverse organizational cultures. Additionally, the course provides insights into negotiating job offers, managing career transitions, and professional growth. With a focus on lifelong learning and continuous improvement, this course equips students with the confidence and resources to pursue fulfilling careers while remaining adaptable in a dynamic and competitive workforce. Ideal for students preparing to enter the job market or those seeking to refine their career trajectory, this course fosters self-awareness, professional readiness, and strategic career planning.
plus: Liberal Studies Course (1)

Work-Integrated Learning Term

Course Code	Course Name	Winter	Summer	Fall
INS881	Interdisciplinary Studies, Work Term	Hybrid Online In-person	Hybrid Online In-person	Hybrid Online In-person
	This work term will provide students with a college-approved work experience within an organization that supports the declared career goals of the student. In this course, students will apply skills learned in the academic setting as well as gain new workplace skills. Students will interact with industry professionals while developing and expanding their critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills in a professional work environment. Through the work experience, students will gain an understanding of workplace accountabilities for their role, the role of team members and leaders in the workplace. The work experience will also provide the student with a variety of situations and opportunities to further develop their listening and communication skills, both oral and written, as pertinent to the job function and industry requirements.

Semester 7

Course Code	Course Name	Winter	Summer	Fall
INC350	Negotiation and Conflict Resolution	Flexible	Flexible	Flexible
	Negotiation and Conflict Resolution empowers students to develop practical, hands-on skills in conflict management and ethical decision-making. Through a combination of theoretical learning and real-world applications, students will develop essential skills in conflict management and ethical decision-making, with practical applications in community mediation, professional settings, and legal contexts. The course emphasizes the interpersonal, interdisciplinary, and cultural dynamics that impact successful conflict resolution. Students experience will include hands-on learning through role play, case studies, and real-world scenarios to prepare students for various negotiation, mediation, and dispute resolution challenges. By the end of the course, students will be able to assess and apply negotiation strategies, communicate effectively across cultural and interpersonal contexts, and resolve conflicts with a focus on mutual gain.
IND600	Capstone Research Methods	Flexible	Flexible	Flexible
	The overarching purpose of the INS capstone is to complete an independent research project that is original, systematic and clear. In doing so, you will contribute novel ideas and theories that advance your chosen field of research. In this course, students will transform a topic of interest into a research question and, in turn, a research proposal for the INS capstone.
INX500	Strange New World: Science, Society and Technology	Flexible	Flexible	Flexible
	This course will look at how Canadian society will be shaped by technologies that are at the cutting edge of current research. These may include self-driving autos, crispr gene editing, social media engineering, and auto-diagnostic artificial intelligence. We will focus on the proven accomplishments in these fields and expert opinion on the likely course of development, using sociological concepts to draw conclusions about how Canadian society will be impacted.
plus: Liberal Studies Course (2)

Semester 8

Course Code	Course Name	Winter	Summer	Fall
IND800	Capstone Final Project	Online	Online	Online
	In this course, students will continue the work started in IND600 and complete an independent research project that is original, methodologically sound and clear. To do so, they will collect and organize data according to the tenets of their chosen methodology and assemble their final capstone document(s) in accordance with the expectations of their chosen communication genre. Upon completion students will contribute novel ideas and theories that advance their chosen of research.
IND850	Change Leadership	Flexible	Flexible	Flexible
INH302	Political Ideology: Theory and Practice	Flexible	Flexible	Flexible
	In this course, students will explore the philosophical and theoretical foundations of contemporary political ideologies. Students will examine how various ideologies shape political agendas and influence policy development and implementation across multidisciplinary topics such as healthcare, immigration, economic policy, climate change and education. At the end of this course, through analysis and research, students will design policy solutions to current and complex issues, integrating interdisciplinary perspectives and considering diverse stakeholder viewpoints, potential unintended consequences, and the limitations of existing knowledge.
SMB701	Global Sustainability: Sustainable Development Goals	Online	Online	Online
	This course adds a global dimension to a students repertoire of sustainable development managements tools. Students examine global economic an environmental concerns and approaches being pursued given the local and national contexts of different countries. While considering the effects of globalization, in Canada and elsewhere, students use business management tools such as Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) that support companies in achieving sustainable business goals, including the impacts of their supply chains. Students analyze differences between traditional economic models and current models that incorporate sustainability measures.
plus: Liberal Studies Course (1)

Program Learning Outcomes

Learn more about program learning outcomes for this program.

Archived Program & Course Information

To find details on programs or courses from prior academic years, browse our archive of program information.

Seneca has been granted consent by the Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security to offer this degree for a seven-year term starting Oct. 9, 2020. In conformity with the Minister's criteria and requirements, Seneca will submit an application for the renewal of the consent for this program 12 months prior to the expiration of the consent. Seneca shall ensure that all students admitted to the above-named program during the period of consent will have the opportunity to complete the program within a reasonable time frame.