What Is Interdisciplinary Studies? Majors & Careers

Interdisciplinary studies is a degree that combines two or more academic fields into one major. Instead of pursuing a single subject like biology or economics, you build a personalized program that draws on multiple disciplines to study a focused topic — corporate sustainability, bioethics, digital humanities, urban policy, or any other intersection your school’s catalog can support.

This guide explains how the degree works, when it’s a smart choice, and the trade-offs versus a traditional major or a double major.

What an interdisciplinary studies degree is

You take coursework across two or three fields, then connect them through a thesis, capstone, or integrative seminar. The degree shows up on your transcript as a single bachelor’s, master’s, or associate degree — usually labeled “Interdisciplinary Studies,” “Integrative Studies,” “Liberal Studies,” or “General Studies.”

Some schools let you design your own major (often called BLS or BIS); others offer pre-built tracks like International Studies, Environmental Studies, or Cognitive Science.

How it differs from related degrees

Path	How it works	Number of degrees
Single-subject major	One field, fixed curriculum (e.g., BS Biology)	1
Interdisciplinary studies	2–3 fields blended into one custom major	1
Double major	Full requirements of two majors, one transcript	1 degree, 2 majors
Dual degree	Two complete degrees (e.g., BA + BS)	2
General studies	Credits across many fields with no required theme	1
Liberal arts	Broad humanities core with a single concentration	1

Common interdisciplinary majors

International Business — finance, marketing, language, and political science.
Environmental Studies — biology, chemistry, geology, policy, and economics.
Cognitive Science — psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, philosophy, and computer science.
Public Health — biology, sociology, statistics, and policy.
Materials Science — physics, chemistry, and engineering.
Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies — history, literature, sociology, and psychology.
Urban Studies — geography, economics, sociology, and political science.
Digital Humanities — literature, history, media studies, and computer science.
Sports Management — business, kinesiology, communications, and law.
Bioethics — philosophy, biology, medicine, and law.
Latin American Studies (and other regional studies) — history, language, politics, and economics.
Human Biology — biology, sociology, anthropology, and ethics.

Some schools also award a custom-designed major where you propose a unique combination — for example, “Music and Cognitive Neuroscience” or “Sustainable Fashion.” The University of Central Florida advertises several thousand possible combinations through its Interdisciplinary Studies program; Auburn University at Montgomery, Liberty University, and Arizona State University all offer similar custom paths.

US schools known for interdisciplinary studies

Schools with strong, well-supported interdisciplinary or self-designed major programs:

Stanford University (Symbolic Systems, Human Biology, Earth Systems)
Carnegie Mellon University (Bachelor of Humanities & Arts, Bachelor of Science & Arts, BCSA)
Brown University (open curriculum and independent concentrations)
Harvey Mudd College (joint majors)
MIT (course 9 Brain & Cognitive Sciences, course 11 Urban Studies)
Yale (Ethics, Politics, and Economics; Humanities)
Amherst, Hampshire, and Sarah Lawrence Colleges (student-designed majors)
NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study
Wesleyan University (College of Letters, College of Social Studies)
Arizona State University (large online interdisciplinary BIS)
University of Central Florida (Interdisciplinary Studies BA/BS)
Texas A&M, University of Houston, Texas State (large IS programs)
George Mason University, Virginia Commonwealth, Florida International
Thomas Edison State University (online, adult learner-friendly)
College of the Atlantic (entire college built on Human Ecology)

When an interdisciplinary major is the right call

It’s a smart choice when:

Your career goal sits between two existing fields (sustainability consulting, science journalism, health-policy analysis, UX research, music therapy).
The exact major you want isn’t offered at your school.
You want to combine a passion with a practical track (e.g., neuroscience plus philosophy for bioethics work).
You’re a strong, self-directed student who can plan a coherent course load.
You’re an adult learner with prior credits that don’t fit one traditional major.

It’s a poor choice when:

You’re aiming at a field that requires depth — engineering licensure, accounting CPA prep, nursing, or hard-science PhDs.
You don’t have a clear theme yet. A vague mix of courses signals “couldn’t decide” to employers.
You’d benefit more from a full second major (which usually requires only 5–10 extra courses on top of an interdisciplinary path).
Your school’s program lacks a real advisor or capstone — without scaffolding, you may finish with disconnected coursework.

Pros and cons

Pros	Cons
Customize your coursework to fit a specific goal	Less depth than a single-subject major
Strong fit for cross-functional careers	Some employers and grad programs view it as less rigorous
Builds critical thinking and synthesis skills	Requires more self-direction and advising effort
Helps adult learners apply transfer credits	Limited preparation for licensure-driven careers (engineering, accounting, nursing)
Often features a capstone that doubles as a portfolio piece	Less obvious labor-market signal than a recognized major

Degree types you might earn

BA in Interdisciplinary Studies — most common; humanities or social-science weighted.
BS in Interdisciplinary Studies — sciences combined with another field.
BFA in Interdisciplinary Arts — performing or visual arts plus another discipline.
Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) — broader, less thematic version.
Bachelor of Liberal Studies (BLS) — common in adult-learner programs.
Master of Liberal Arts (MLA / ALM) — Harvard Extension, Stanford, and many state universities offer this graduate version.
MA / MS in Interdisciplinary Studies — research-focused graduate degree.

What a typical bachelor’s program looks like

General education (~30–40 credits) — same as any other bachelor’s.
Concentration coursework in field 1 (~18–24 credits).
Concentration coursework in field 2 (~18–24 credits).
Optional third concentration (~12–18 credits).
Integrative seminar — required at most schools to teach you how to synthesize across fields.
Capstone or thesis — original project that ties the fields together.
Defense — present the project to faculty.

Careers that hire interdisciplinary studies graduates

Employer perception varies, but specific career paths are well served by an interdisciplinary degree when paired with a clear theme. According to Data USA, common roles include:

Elementary and middle school teachers
Education administrators
Managers and operations leads
Public relations specialists
Human resources professionals
Financial advisors
Sales managers
Registered nurses (when paired with nursing prerequisites)
Dietitians and nutritionists (with science emphasis)
Social and community service managers
Sustainability and ESG analysts
UX and product researchers
Health policy analysts
Nonprofit program officers

For graduate school, interdisciplinary degrees feed well into law school, MBA programs, MPH, MSW, public-policy master’s, MAT (teaching), and many MA programs. Research-focused PhDs in single fields prefer applicants with a more conventional major.

Traits of students who do well

Self-directed — you’re driving your own program with advisor support.
Strong writers — most assessment is essay-based.
Curious across fields — you genuinely want to connect ideas.
Disciplined planners — fewer guardrails, so you must track requirements yourself.
Comfortable defending choices — capstone reviews and job interviews require you to articulate why your unusual program prepared you for the role.

FAQs

Is interdisciplinary studies the same as general studies?

No. General studies allows credits from many fields with no required theme; interdisciplinary studies requires a coherent integration of two or three fields around a topic. General studies is the broader, less directed option.

Will an interdisciplinary degree hurt my job prospects?

Sometimes. Recruiters in technical fields (engineering, accounting, finance) often prefer specialists. In sustainability, public health, education, communications, nonprofit, and policy, interdisciplinary majors are competitive or preferred. The strength of your capstone, internships, and articulated theme matters more than the major label.

Can I get into law school or medical school with an interdisciplinary degree?

Yes. Law schools care about GPA and LSAT, not major. Medical schools require specific pre-med prerequisites — bio, chem, organic chem, physics, biochem, statistics — which you can complete inside an interdisciplinary degree as long as your concentrations include the sciences.

How long does an interdisciplinary degree take?

Same as a traditional bachelor’s — four years for full-time students, longer if you add a third concentration or an internship semester. Online and adult-learner programs (Thomas Edison State, ASU Online, Liberty Online) can be completed faster with transfer credits.

Can I switch into interdisciplinary studies as a junior?

Most schools allow it. Bringing in 60-plus credits from prior coursework often fits well into an interdisciplinary BLS or BIS program because the credits don’t have to follow a fixed sequence.

Is the degree available online?

Yes. ASU Online, Liberty University Online, Thomas Edison State, Penn State World Campus, and Florida International all run online interdisciplinary studies programs aimed at working adults.

How much does it cost?

Same as any other bachelor’s at the same institution. Public in-state: $10,000–$28,000 a year. Public out-of-state: $25,000–$45,000. Private: $40,000–$80,000. Online programs at public schools can be far cheaper.

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