About the Department

Who are We?

• We are Established. The Interdisciplinary Studiesprogram has nearly 260 current undergraduate majors and 20 graduate students. The B.A. degree in Interdisciplinary Studies is among the top four largest majors in the College of Arts and Sciences, and it is one of the top ten largest at NKU.
• We are Successful. Since 2009 the B.A. program has graduated over 800 students and M.A. program has graduated over 80 students. IST now graduates over 100 students every year.
• We are Diverse. Over fifty percent of our students are post-traditional, 57% are first generation, and almost 25% are under-represented minority (URM) students.
• We are Flexible. More than one fifth of the Bachelor of Arts Interdisciplinary Studies students are earning their degree entirely online.

Our Mission:

It is the mission of the Interdisciplinary Studies program at NKU to offer students educational experiences through which they can find coherence, meaning and value in rigorous individualized programs of study--programs that address complex, real-world problems that often go beyond the scope of traditional disciplinary or professional programs of study.

Who are Our Students?

Interdisciplinary Studies programs attract students who

• have a variety of interests, that won’t be satisfied focusing a single major,
• like to think about big problems or issues from different perspectives,
• exercise curiosity and creativity that outruns the strict focus of traditional majors,
• have career goals are still open or not fixed by a single disciplinary or professional program of study.

Who are these students?

• Adult learners who have interrupted their studies for a prolonged period and return with a different academic focus and career goal.
• Undergraduate transfer students whose prior work does not mesh well with existing programs of study at NKU.
• Part-time students whose work schedules and other responsibilities preclude them from completing more structured majors.
• Undergraduate students abandoning highly structured disciplinary or professional majors during their undergraduate career.

Benefits

Our graduates will have the ability to

• work collaboratively and productively with others who have different perspectives or worldviews;

• think critically, creatively and boldly; and

• recognize the relevance of disciplinary knowledge to complex issues.

Our graduates leave with a variety of skills that make them attractive employees for a large number of career possibilities. Interdisciplinary Studies students develop impressive resumes that show both bread and depth in their knowledge. They are excellent collaborators who are well-positioned to pursue their dream careers.