You entered the working world without completing college, and you've done all right so far. But now you want more. More chances to move up. More skills that enable you to grow in different directions. And a degree that makes you competitive in a rapidly changing market.
Interdisciplinary studies was designed for people like you: adult transfer students who have work experience and some previous college credit. This program allows you to integrate your existing knowledge and experience with a second area of study that extends or enriches it.
There are two interdisciplinary majors:
The interdisciplinary nature of learning is emphasized through the Interdisciplinary Studies Core courses. Students culminate their university experience by engaging in integrative research. They both design and complete a senior thesis or a capstone project. Interdisciplinary Studies majors can expect the following learning outcomes:
- Ability to demonstrate foundational skills in reading, writing, oral communication, information literacy, and refinement of critical reflection and thinking.
- Ability to demonstrate self-directed, lifelong learning skills.
- Ability to explore complex questions by engaging in interdisciplinary inquiry.
- Ability to apply content learning in a professional environment.
The IDS major requires a minimum of 48 credits, including 12 credit hours taken from the IDS Core plus 36 credit hours taken in at lease two integrated academic disciplines.
What You'll Learn
In this program, you will focus on two major subject areas instead of just one and use the methodologies of both subject areas to:
- Build a broad, integrated knowledge base
- Become a more powerful, creative problem-solver
- Become a more self-directed learner
- Gain a new perspective on your career
- Equip yourself for a promotion or career transition
As a professional studies major, you'll become adept at the kind of interdisciplinary thinking that the work world demands. Along the way, you will also acquire foundational skills in:
- Speaking
- Writing
- Reading
- Critical/Reasoned thinking
- Information literacy
Go Broader and Deeper with Two Study Tracks
After taking a series of professional studies core courses, you will choose two subject areas, or tracks that reflect your past experience, current interests or future goals.
You can also choose from many majors offered through the Center for Lifelong Learning:
- Accounting
- Behavioral sciences
- Communication
- Marketing
- Leadership
- Public administration
- Public policy
Another track might be the area in which you already have work experience and/or college credit. If we don't offer the track you want, you can always design your own.
Your Adviser: A Valuable Resource
Are you concerned about managing your academic career because of your work and family commitments? Not to worry. Like every professional studies major, you will have an adviser to help you along the way.
Your adviser can help you design a study track that matches your interests, whatever they might be. He or she will also make sure you know the range of career options that fit with the tracks you choose.
The Capstone Project
By the last year of the program, you'll have the skills and subject area knowledge you need to tackle challenging research scenarios. You will spend your last two terms as a professional studies student designing, researching and completing a special project or thesis -- the capstone to your education.
For more information about the professional studies major, please contact us at (614) 236-6996.