Help with colleges/universities offering bachelors degrees in "Interdisciplinary Studies".

October 6, 2008 10:28 AM

Help with colleges/universities offering bachelors degrees in "Interdisciplinary Studies".

I am basically looking for a place of learning where I have the ability to build my own major. Prefer not distance learning. Open to abroad.

Any personal experience with these programs would also be helpful.

posted by Nillocsoc to education (10 comments total)

Evergreen is supposed to be just terrific. I have a number of friends who went there and a good friend who teaches there now.
posted by cachondeo45 at 10:39 AM on October 6, 2008

UC Berkeley's Interdisciplinary Studies Field Major comes to mind.

Or schools like Hampshire, Evergreen, and Bennington.

But many, many liberal arts colleges will also let you create your own major.
posted by liketitanic at 10:41 AM on October 6, 2008

OSU has a Personalized Study Program that allows you to construct a major program.
posted by demiurge at 10:42 AM on October 6, 2008

Carnegie Mellon University's interdisciplinary programs: Bachelor of Computer Science and Arts, Bachelor of Science and Arts, Bachelor of Humanities and Arts.

I hold the latter degree and had a very good experience with the program.
posted by ludwig_van at 10:49 AM on October 6, 2008

When I was an undergrad at NYU, all the kids at Gallatin raved about it.
posted by saladin at 10:52 AM on October 6, 2008

The vast majority of selective and elite liberal arts institutions have the option of build your own major. Hampton and Evergreen are places where everyone builds their own major.
posted by hworth at 11:26 AM on October 6, 2008

I was in one at a non-selective, non-elite state school and loved it.
College Scholars at The University of Tennessee
posted by 100watts at 12:34 PM on October 6, 2008

I did the Inter-College Program at the University of Minnesota and thought it worthwhile and flexible. They actually also have some other DIY major options in the College of Liberal Arts.
posted by substars at 2:29 PM on October 6, 2008

Go down to your local library and look in the reference section for the Book of Majors. On page 1282 (of the 2009 edition) is a list of schools offering "student-designed majors," grouped by state. 4 pages worth. Sadly, does not appear to be available online, even at the collegeboard.com site.

If you have a specific state in mind, I might be willing to transcribe a short list into my next answer (I'm sitting in a library that has that book until 8pm tonight).
posted by timepiece at 2:49 PM on October 6, 2008

My Alma-Mater: Murray State University has their BIS program online.
posted by deezil at 5:25 PM on October 6, 2008