Interdisciplinary Studies Schools and Programs in The United States

Interdisciplinary Studies Studies in The United States

Interdisciplinary studies is a degree in which students combine courses from two or more academic fields around a theme or question, instead of following the programme of a single department. According to EducationUSA, the U.S. Department of State's advising network, undergraduate education in the United States is based on the liberal arts and sciences, and bachelor's degrees are flexible enough to sometimes let students create their own programme. SpainExchange lists 42 colleges and universities in the United States with programmes in interdisciplinary studies.

How the degree is organised

There is no national curriculum and no single degree title. The main choice is between an individualised major, designed by the student, and a structured programme built around a theme. At Illinois State University in Normal, the Individualized sequence of the Interdisciplinary Studies major lets a student design, with a faculty sponsor, a specialised programme that the university does not otherwise offer. Recent themes include East Asian Studies, Classical Civilization, Three-Dimensional Design, International Public Administration and Theatre Management. Graduates earn a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science. Wright State University in Dayton also offers Interdisciplinary Studies as a BA or a BS, with a focus on critical thinking, writing, ethics and interpersonal communication.

Thematic programmes are more structured. The University of Dayton states that it created the first undergraduate human rights studies programme in the country, in 1998; students choose three elective courses from different disciplines. Arcadia University in Glenside offers a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Science built on a core of biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics. At The University of Texas at Austin, the Plan II Honors Program offers small, discussion-based courses and ends with a senior thesis.

A bachelor's degree usually takes four years of full-time study, and each institution sets the number of credits needed to graduate. The two main graduate degrees are the master's degree, which usually takes two years, and the doctorate.

Admission and language

Each college sets its own admission requirements. In general, applicants must have completed high school and be at least 17 years old. Teaching is in English, and universities require an English proficiency test before admission. EducationUSA advises starting the search 12 to 18 months before the academic year you want to begin.

Students usually declare a major at the end of the second year. Some individualised majors are only open to students already enrolled: at Illinois State, students can apply after completing 15 semester hours of coursework at the university.

For a full degree, international students need an F student visa, which is for study at an accredited college or university. Once accepted by a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), the student receives a Form I-20 from its international student office to present in the visa application.

Costs

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), average tuition and fees at 4-year institutions in 2022-23 were $9,800 at public institutions and $40,700 at private nonprofit institutions. For public institutions NCES uses the lower in-state rate, so international students should check the rate each college charges non-residents.

Where to study interdisciplinary studies

Programmes are spread across the country. Baltimore has three schools in this directory (Johns Hopkins University, Coppin State University and UMBC, The University of Maryland, Baltimore County), and Dayton has two (Wright State University and the University of Dayton). Other examples include large public universities such as The University of California at Berkeley, Purdue University and Florida State University; private universities such as the University of Southern California and The University of Chicago; and smaller colleges such as Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, and Hope College in Holland, Michigan.

Recognition of the qualification

An interdisciplinary degree is a regular bachelor's or master's degree of the college that awards it, so its value depends on the college's accreditation. EducationUSA notes that a school certified by SEVP to admit international students may not hold national or regional accreditation, and that the recognition of credits and degrees by other institutions and by employers is linked to accreditation. Students who plan to work or study further in another country should check how that country recognises a U.S. degree.

Careers

There is no single career path, because the content of the degree depends on the fields the student combines. Universities present it as preparation for work that needs broad skills: Wright State mentions careers that value adaptability, problem-solving and strong communication. A well-chosen theme can also lead to graduate school; at Illinois State, students focused on health and wellness have combined courses from health sciences, kinesiology, sociology, psychology and philosophy to apply to medical, dental or physical therapy schools.

Frequently asked questions

Can I design my own major at a U.S. university?

At some universities, yes. EducationUSA notes that bachelor's degrees are flexible and sometimes allow students to create their own programme; at Illinois State, for example, students design an individualised major with a faculty sponsor.

Is an interdisciplinary studies degree a full bachelor's degree?

Yes. It leads to a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science of the awarding college, like any other major. Check that the college is accredited, because recognition by other institutions and employers depends on it.

Can international students work while studying?

With permission from the international student office, international students may work on campus up to 20 hours a week in their first year, according to EducationUSA.