Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies??

[LisaR]

Does anyone understand what a degree in interdisciplinary studies really is? I notice that more and more colleges are offering this or something like a "create your own program." I am not sure I understand it or the benefits. One thing I notice is they all say that you pick your "concentrations." Those might include art, history, psychology, etc. I don't get why you wouldn't just major in one of those things? I am sure I am just missing something but I haven't figured it out yet. Can anyone enlighten me?

 

[PenguinWaiters]

It sounds similar to a program in "General Studies" - basically it is a more flexible program that would allow someone who has a mixed academic background (multiple past schools with different requirements, multiple previous majors, etc..) to maximize their already earned credits into a degree program.

As to why they wouldn't just major in the focus area, my guess is that it would take them longer to do so - either the classes required are difficult for that person to complete (either time or location-wise) or they are not a good fit with that person's already completed coursework.

My school offers a General Studies program for the reasons stated above. We also have a student-designed major, but that is more to allow students to pull classes from multiple departments together into a new program, such as Mass Communication and Arts classes together making up a self-designed major in Photojournalism. This type of major tends to be more about planning up front to take classes from multiple areas while General Studies tends to be more about fitting together what has already been taken.

Hope this helps!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My dh has one. He could not get thru the math to get a computer science degree.

His degree was 3 minors. Computer Science, Sociology, and Management.

 

[erincon23]

Actually, at the college my DS will be attending, it's a way to combine various interests into a personalized major. For example, my ds wants to major in music, but he wants to combine some theater and contemporary vocal music with instrumental performance, sound recording and music business. Sounds like a mess, I know, but within a framework he'll set up with his advisor, he can take classes across a couple of programs and be set up to go into working possibly as a talent rep and performer.

If you wanted to combine, say, art with social work, that might be difficult to do in a traditional program, but they do have a real value together. With an interdisciplinary degree, you would have less trouble taking classes in the fine arts school and the liberal arts for the social work, and not have to take some of the classes that would have less value. It works out to be more than a minor, but allow you a real interworking of interests toward a specialized degree. I think many kids today have a much more specific idea of what they want to do than some of us oldies did when we went to college, thanks to better career counseling and exposure to more careers through internet research. The traditional degree has a place, but that place may be getting smaller and smaller over the coming years.

 

[LisaR]

erincon23,
That sounds really great! Thanks for the explanation. I am in the camp of the old timers that only think about traditional degrees. It is nice to see that this generation has some different options.

 

[alisonwonderland64]

erincon23 gave a really great answer so I'm not sure if you're still looking for clarification on this, but I'd like to chime in as well here. I'm actually in one of these Interdisciplinary programs right now (at my university there's an entire school dedicated to Interdisciplinary Studies, as opposed to just a major in it), and I think it's a really great program to be in. I initially chose the school because I knew that what I wanted to study didn't really fit into most typical programs (I'm primarily interested in theatre history, along with media studies/journalism and some other things), and the flexibility of the program really allows me to pursue all of my interests in the way that's most beneficial to me. By creating my own program (along with guidance from my advisor, of course), I can, unlike most students at my university, take classes in most of the departments/schools within the university, and also pursue studies either on my own or with other students (or through internships/outside classes). It forces you to be much more independent and driven than other programs (and I know many people who prefer the structure of traditional majors, so it certainly isn't for everyone), but I really love being able to be exposed to a wide variety of subjects and classes, while also being able to focus in on exactly what I'm interested in learning. The program often gets an unfair stereotype from others that people in my school are just in it to slack off and study something easy, but all of the students that I've been in class with have all been really dedicated, driven, intelligent, and passionate students who either are really passionate about a lot of different things (or passionate about one thing that encompasses several different subjects) or who have very specific goals and want to make their own approach to achieving them.

 

[PatsGirl]

When I completed my Bachelors in 2003 the school offered this and I considered it to be similar to a liberal arts degree for those that were going on to earn a Masters. I think it was fairly new at the time.

 

[dakcp2001]

Does anyone understand what a degree in interdisciplinary studies really is? I notice that more and more colleges are offering this or something like a "create your own program." I am not sure I understand it or the benefits. One thing I notice is they all say that you pick your "concentrations." Those might include art, history, psychology, etc. I don't get why you wouldn't just major in one of those things? I am sure I am just missing something but I haven't figured it out yet. Can anyone enlighten me?

My college had a BDIC program or Bachelors Degree with Individual Concentration. This allowed you to essentially create any major you wanted. Some of the more popular combinations were " Art Therapy" or " Music Therapy" where people combined Music or Art with Psychology. Some others were "Sport Nutrition" "and "Athletic Training with a Concentration in Nutrition"," Native American Archeology" etc etc. You can read previous BDIC proposals and what types fo classes they took.

I thought it was awesome, you essentially combine the classes to make up exactly what you want to study, and it has to go through an apprval process & you write a thesis. I think that would look fantastic on a resume. You have to be super focused to do this, and know exactly what you want to do.