Degree Overview

Interdisciplinary Studies is a flexible degree program, which enables motivated students to design a major that directly reflects their own personal, educational, and professional goals. It allows students to pursue the inter-relationships among separate disciplines, potentially including courses from both professional programs and fields in the Liberal Arts & Sciences.  Interdisciplinary Studies majors work directly with a faculty advisor to develop a personal plan of study that integrates several related fields of particular interest into a coherent program.  In addition to coursework in each area, students also further explore the inter-relationships among disciplines through a senior Capstone project, which are designed and created by the student in collaboration with a faculty mentor.  As a culmination of the program, Interdisciplinary Studies thus provides students with the opportunity to work one-on-one with a faculty sponsor to produce an original piece of work: a research/analysis paper or presentation; a professional internship; a performance, exhibition, or other creative product. 

Requirements

The Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies requirements include:

• Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) requirements (48 semester hours); and
• A minimum of 36 semester hours of course work for the major in at least three different fields of study, with a college-approved minor within one of the three fields, and a minimum of nine semester hours in each of the other two fields of study (defined by disciplines, not departments);and
• A common core of three Liberal Arts and Sciences interdisciplinary courses (9 semester hours): IDIS 1800 Global Issues; and MUSC 2000 Commonwealth of the Arts or MUSC 2100 Commonwealth of the Ancient Arts; and PHIL 1100 Logic or PHIL 2600 Philosophy of Human Nature or PHIL 3340 Contemporary Philosophy or PHIL 4430 Marxism; and
• A senior-year “Capstone” that will integrate the three clusters of the student’s major curriculum. This may take the form of an independent study or an internship (3-15 semester hours); and
• Electives (24 semester hours)—may be fewer, depending on number of credits taken in above categories.
  
  Total for degree 120 credits

Career Opportunities

The potential career opportunities with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies are endless, since the students design individual programs of study in subjects that reflect their personal interests and career goals.  In today's ever-changing global marketplace, students will need to understand complex relationships between the many layers of their responsibilities, not just their particular job-related skills.   The unique, self-directed nature of the Interdisciplinary Studies program fosters these creative and critical thinking skills, as well as awareness across disciplines, eras, and cultures, which are vital to success in our globalized society.

HOW TO APPLY

For more information and to apply, go to www.fitchburgstate.edu/admissions.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Office: Conlon Fine Arts Building, Room 263 (Humanities)
Phone: (978) 665-3276
Email: alima4@fitchburgstate.edu