B.A/B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies

Why Interdisciplinary Studies?

The capacity to reason, synthesize, and problem-solve across disciplines is highly valued by all kinds of employers, businesses, and graduate schools. Most of the important problems and crises of the 21st century require interdisciplinary approaches to resolve; for example, we cannot solve the issue of plastic pollution with science alone, nor with behavioral changes such as not littering or recycling. Instead, seemingly intractable problems will require combined approaches and the types of thinkers who can grasp the magnitude of the problems.

Interdisciplinary Degree Career Applications

About the Interdisciplinary Studies (IS) Degree Plan

Interested in more than one major and how different academic disciplines approach, investigate, and bring different perspectives to bear on similar phenomena?  The IS degree plan allows you to work with the University Advising Center, a faculty advisor, or the IS Coordinator to design a degree plan comprising coursework from at least two academic disciplines with a minimum of 45 total units (30 of which must be upper division).  

The IS degree plan provides students the flexibility to devise a uniquely integrated course of study, with an advisor, selecting at least 24 total units from at least two academic disciplines from existing programs of study (i.e., majors or minors) offered at Fresno State (including a minimum of 9 units from each discipline).  

Get more information about Interdisciplinary Studies

Program of Study

You will gain a diverse array of transferable skills that you can apply to a variety of fields and careers, while studying subjects that fascinate you.  With an academic advisor, you can identify the fields you wish to pursue and propose a custom set of classes for your major requirements, for example:

• At least 9-12 units from Major/Minor 1
• At least 9-12 units from Major/Minor 2
• Elective courses (if needed)
• Capstone Course

Educational Experiences

• Service-Learning
• Internships 
• Study Abroad
• International Student Exchange Program
• Undergraduate Research and Undergraduate Research Grant Opportunities

Interdisciplinary Studies is a great fit for …

• Students looking for a major but cannot find a “good match”
• Students who think “outside the box”
• Students who want to stay at Fresno State but major in a discipline not offered, such as Legal Studies, Nonprofit Administration, Community-based Leadership, Sustainability Policy, etc.
• Students more interested in what is IN the major (and the skill set they can develop and hone while pursuing their curriculum), not what the major is titled
• Returning students not currently enrolled in a major (still must meet all current graduation requirements).