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Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, BA

Today's employment landscape is evolving into one that values expertise in an increasing number of specialized fields. Combine courses across the arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences to develop invaluable skills that prepare you for diverse careers and a fulfilling life shaped by your passions.

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Students engage in classroom discussion, reflecting interdisciplinary learning in ASU's Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, BA program.

Quick facts

Courses

120 credit hours
Math intensity: General program math intensity general
First required math course: MAT 114 - College Mathematics
or any math course that meets the MATH designation
View more details

Additional facts

STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Degree description

Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences degree description

In the Bachelor of Arts program in interdisciplinary arts and sciences, you build a flexible, customized degree that is specific to your career goals.

You tailor your program to emphasize interdisciplinary study combined with a specific focus area (e.g., business, communication studies, English, gerontology, history, psychology, preprofessional studies). For example, a focus area that blends business with arts and performance can lead to employment opportunities that aren't as easily accessed with a traditional business degree alone.

By providing the opportunity to combine disciplines, New College equips you with the specialized education you need to reach your individual career goals. This program culminates in a capstone experience that provides a practical perspective, skills and connections, preparing you for graduate school or the corporate world.

Why study interdisciplinary arts and sciences at ASU?

You strengthen your critical thinking, communication and problem-solving skills as you learn to connect ideas across disciplines. This interdisciplinary arts and sciences degree helps you weave together diverse perspectives into a cohesive way of thinking. With the level of personalization this interdisciplinary program provides, you can shape a degree that aligns with emerging industries, evolving workforce needs and your own aspirations.

Courses

Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.

Sample courses
IAS 300 Career Strategies and Personal Resilience
AMS 380 Race, Gender, and Class
IAS 480 Capstone: Practices and Approaches
ENG 353 African American Literature: Beginnings through the Harlem Renaissance
IAS 484 Internship
ENG 354 African American Literature: Harlem Renaissance to the Present

Course checksheet and curriculum archive

The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.

What If

Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).

Already completed some college courses? Build on your success.

If you earned college credit outside ASU, our transfer tools map out your progress towards a degree and help you plan next steps.

See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)

What you'll learn

The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.

  • Analyze key problems in applied ethics, philosophy, religious studies or a combination thereof.
  • Examine philosophical, and ethical theories.
  • Critically appraise philosophical arguments in texts.

Admission requirements

Here are the admission and application details

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.

First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)

A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.

Students should visit the Change of Major form (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.


Explore expanded study opportunities

This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.

This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:

Graduate advisor
Mitchell Lawson
602-496-1745
mitchell.lawson@thunderbird.asu.edu
General contact
602-496-7100
Learn more about this program

Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.

Global experience

With more than 300 Global Education program opportunities available to them, students in the interdisciplinary arts and sciences program are able to tailor their experience to their specific interests and skill sets. Students in these programs build communication skills, learn to adapt and persevere, and are exposed to research and internships across the world, increasing their professional network. Students who participate in a study abroad program develop cultural competency and strengthen their leadership and critical thinking skills, enhancing their resumes and enabling them to stand out in a competitive job market. Whether in a foreign country, in the U.S. or online, students in the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences can explore how their varied fields and interests interact in different settings around the world.

Paying for college

Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.

Get an estimate

Build the career and future you want

Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:

Career opportunities showing job titles, projected growth rates, median salaries, and links to detailed information
Career Growth Median Salary More Information
Advocate 7.4% $45,930
Biological Technician 7.4% $57,510
Business Intelligence Analyst 34.6% $120,230
Human Behavior Researcher 5.0% $61,990
Political Analyst -2.0% $142,080
Production Assistant 3.9% $73,620
Public Relations Specialist 1.8% $74,750
Religious Leader 2.4% $60,810
Technical Writer 0.8% $90,390
Urban Planner 3.9% $89,320

Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.

Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).


More about careers

Careers this interdisciplinary arts and sciences degree prepares you for

Graduates are prepared to make the transition smoothly to graduate school or postbaccalaureate employment in:

  • business settings
  • community settings
  • cultural settings
  • educational settings
  • social sciences and human service settings

Those who plan to pursue graduate or professional degrees in law, business, helping professions or traditional disciplines benefit from the flexibility of this program, which prepares them for a wide variety of future academic and career pursuits.

Contact information

Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.

School of Humanities, Arts, and Cultural Studies | FAB N101
HARCSadvising@asu.edu
602-543-3000

Frequently asked questions about degree programs

Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.

Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.

ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.

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