The University of British Columbia is a public research university with campuses in Vancouver and Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, UBC is British Columbia's oldest university. The university is ranked among the top 20 public Universities worldwide and among the top three i…
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No, an Interdisciplinary Degree is not useless! Many find it to be a great way to get what they want out of their education. Perhaps you want to explore Legal Administration, but there is no major for that. Under Interdisciplinary Studies, you may combine courses from Paralegal Studies, Political Science and Business.
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
Interdisciplinary studies, broadly defined, is the process of answering a question, solving a problem, or addressing a problem that is so broad or complex that it cannot be addressed through a single discipline or field. In higher education in the United States, interdisciplinary studies are conducted through individual courses, ...
The goal of most interdisciplinary courses and programs is to integrate the contributions of different academic disciplines or fields of study so that topics, problems, and phenomena under study are better understood . ( Disciplines have traditionally have been defined as specializations within the arts and sciences;
A distinction is often made between multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary courses, although the difference is more likely one of degree . In multidisciplinary courses, instructors present disciplinary perspectives, often one at a time, without special attention to integrating those perspectives or examining their assumptions. In contrast, instructors in interdisciplinary courses not only examine the underlying assumptions of the disciplines that contribute to the course, but also assist students in integrating the separate disciplinary contributions that have been brought to bear on a topic into an inclusive understanding.
During the 1930s and 1940s, war again influenced interdisciplinary curricula as institutions developed area studies programs designed to provide knowledge about foreign cultures and peoples involved in World War II.
As a result, advocates argue, interdisciplinary study is excellent preparation for the role of citizen and worker in a pluralistic, technological, and democratic society. Proponents such as James R. Davis, William H. Newell, and William J. Green also claim that interdisciplinary curricula are more engaging, capturing students' intellectual ...
Collaboration among faculty teaching interdisciplinary courses can involve course planning, content integration, teaching, and assessment. All members of the faculty team may be involved in planning a course or a single individual can take primary responsibility for this role. Responsibility for instruction can also vary.
These include skills in problem solving, critical thinking, evaluation, synthesis, and integration. In addition, interdisciplinary courses are believed to develop the ability to see ...
An Interdisciplinary Studies degree does just that: it involves covering a broad range of practical and relevant subjects necessary for developing a breadth of understanding of learning and society.
OPS offers several bachelor's degree completion programs online as well as a number of master's degree programs. The bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from California Baptist University works well in an online, in-person, or hybrid course format and allows students to complete their coursework around their own schedule.
CBU is now accepting applications for the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies degree online. To apply or find out more information, please visit the Interdisciplinary Studies online program page, or contact Admissions at 877-CBU-3608.
Interdisciplinary studies, broadly defined, is the process of answering a question, solving a problem, or addressing a problem that is so broad or complex that it cannot be addressed through a single discipline or field. In higher education in the United States, interdisciplinary studies are conducted through individual courses, including independent studies; in specific programs of study such as major or minor concentrations; as part of a student's general education requirements; through practica, internships, and other educational experiences that focus on the application of theory and knowledge to the workplace and society; and occasionally through honors programs. In a few cases entire colleges or universities are organized in interdisciplinary units that replace discipline-or field-based departments or divisions.
Interdisciplinary major and minor programs take a number of organizational forms, but three forms are prominent: (1) established programs with permanent staffs and program budgets; (2) interdepartmental committees, programs, or colleges with defined curricula but no faculty members appointed solely to the unit; and (3) individually designed majors or other programs that permit students to design, with faculty guidance, customized degree programs to meet their educational needs.
The first interdisciplinary courses in U.S. colleges and universities were part of the general education , or core, requirements of the undergraduate curriculum. (General education is that component of the undergraduate curriculum intended to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and values required for life as a contributing member of society.) Although general education has a long history in higher education, interdisciplinary general education courses in the United States did not appear until the twentieth century when World War I prompted U.S. colleges and universities to institute general education courses designed to strengthen Americans' sense of cultural and national identity and responsible citizenship. These comprehensive survey courses, which relied on a number of disciplines for their subject matter, attempted to sustain the content and values of Western civilization. The courses required instructors who could effectively synthesize knowledge and make it accessible to undergraduates and therefore highlighted the need for interdisciplinary approaches to education. Despite concerns about disciplinary fragmentation and academic overspecialization, only a few institutions offered more than a handful of interdisciplinary survey courses; the Experimental College at the University of Wisconsin, which lasted only from 1928 to 1932, is perhaps the most famous example of an institution committed to an extensive interdisciplinary general education.
A distinction is often made between multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary courses, although the difference is more likely one of degree . In multidisciplinary courses, instructors present disciplinary perspectives, often one at a time, without special attention to integrating those perspectives or examining their assumptions. In contrast, instructors in interdisciplinary courses not only examine the underlying assumptions of the disciplines that contribute to the course, but also assist students in integrating the separate disciplinary contributions that have been brought to bear on a topic into an inclusive understanding.
That trait will serve you well as you’re connecting different fields and planning out your course schedules, because part of an interdisciplinary studies program is forging new connections between disciplines.
Interdisciplinary studies is great for students who have specific interests that won’t necessarily be met through a traditional degree. For example, maybe you have a deep interest in linguistics and biology and the ways that the two intersect.
Berkeley also requires a minimum of three fields in your interdisciplinary studies program. The program should be designed to answer a specific research question, but the question can be approached in a multitude of ways, including regional, comparative, and historical approaches.
Interdisciplinary studies requires that you adhere to a different set of standards than traditional degrees. That means you’ll be guiding yourself, a lot of the time—though you’ll likely work out a plan with your advisers and instructors, you’ll be the one in charge of properly executing it.
Difficult to transition between subjects because work may not necessarily be connected. It’s a specialized degree, so some jobs may not know what to make of it. May be difficult to get into grad school. Jobs may not understand what your degree is.
You can effectively create your own major by choosing two areas of interest and combining them into one degree program that you’ll specialize in. For example, say you love psychology and art. You might combine an art program with a psychology program to create your own art therapy degree.
You might take linguistics courses and biology courses to get your degree, but the two may not typically cross over in traditional degree programs. If you study those fields as part of an interdisciplinary program, you’ll be designing your major specifically to understand the relationships between the two fields.
An interdisciplinary studies program brings two different academic worlds together under the same umbrella.
She worked with a professor to capture her interests in multiple academic fields in a global public policy major, housed in the college's Center for Interdisciplinary Studies.
While that is an option at some colleges, such as Davidson, other programs may be more rigid, meaning that offerings will vary by institution.
Interdisciplinary studies programs can be vulnerable to campus budget cuts, says Dellner, explaining that such programs are occasionally in the crosshairs of college administrators when looking to trim expenses and meet financial goals. Even so, Dellner foresees good years ahead for interdisciplinary studies programs.
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The University of Missouri Columbia (MU, or Mizzou) is recognized as one of the most comprehensive schools in the United States. The University offers a choice of over 300 accredited academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate ...
Bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies (General Studies) Interdisciplinary Studies and General Studies are sometimes used interchangeably, but they are slightly different. Interdisciplinary Studies (or Integrated Studies) programs tend to be career-focused. This option can give you the chance to combine multiple disciplines, ...
An Interdisciplinary Studies degree will require you to design your own academic program, communicate with faculty and advocate for yourself.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, graduates with Bachelor of Science degrees in Interdisciplinary Studies earn annual median salaries ranging from $49,300 to $121,220 . But again, these graduates might work in virtually any field, so there will be a tremendously wide range of salaries.
The most popular career choice for Interdisciplinary Studies graduates is education, with most choosing to teach at the elementary or secondary level. But depending on the field of study you choose, you might become an Executive Director, a Social Worker or a Journalist – nearly anything!
A Liberal Arts degree is also interdisciplinary and can give you opportunities to explore multiple subjects. Rather than having a single area of expertise, it can help you develop a more varied perspective. You may learn to apply critical thinking skills and bring together concepts from a wide array of subjects.
Your studies as an Interdisciplinary Studies student can help you learn how to communicate effectively, think critically and work well within a team. These are valuable skills that can be applied in a number of fields!
Since you will need to plan and advocate for your program, being a passionate learner will also be beneficial. General Studies, on the other hand, is like an education “sample platter.”. It can give you the opportunity to explore a variety of subjects without having to focus on their relationships to one another.