Interdisciplinary Studies

Hello, and welcome to the Interdisciplinary Studies Program at Appalachian State University.

Addressing the complex problems of the 21st century often requires the integration of knowledge from many sources. In the Interdisciplinary Studies Program students pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in one of six possible major concentrations, all supported by a common core of courses focusing on interdisciplinarity.

Most IDS majors choose the Individually-Designed concentration and work with an adviser to select courses that integrate several areas of study to achieve their academic goals. Students can also choose a pre-designed interdisciplinary major concentration in American Studies, Environmental Policy and Planning, Internet Studies, Labor Studies, or Liberal Studies: Modern. The Interdisciplinary Studies program also offers minors in Black Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, Internet Studies, Labor Studies, and a new minor or certificate in Non-Profit Management.

Students and parents often ask us, "What is Interdisciplinary Studies?" The mandala, our program symbol, evokes many web-like patterns, for example, atomic structure, bureaucratic organization, cyber networks, food webs, grassroots movements, to mention only a few. In doing so, it reminds us that what we know about the world is contextual and interrelated. As my predecessor, Richard Carp puts it: "Interdisciplinary Studies gives students more than one point of view on the same topic, and by comparing and contrasting, connecting and separating the information provided by separate disciplines, new dimensions of information appear."

I strongly urge you to pursue the new dimensions of knowing and acting that interdisciplinary studies makes possible. Please explore our website, contact us with any questions, take our courses, and better still major or minor in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Ray Miller
Interim Director for IDS
millerrf@appstate.edu