Interdisciplinary Studies

Interdisciplinary Studies

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Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies

Concentrations Offered

Entertainment Technology

Top 5 Reasons to Study

01

Customized Degree Plan: Design your own curriculum to blend areas of interest, creating a unique educational path.

02

Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills: View problems through multiple lenses, connecting different disciplines to foster creative solutions to complex, real-world problems.

03

Career Versatility: Graduate with a diverse skill set, making you attractive to employers who are searching for adaptable team members to fill hybrid roles.

04

Provides a Holistic Perspective: Individualized plans provide you a broader view of knowledge among contrasting ideas.

05

Enhances Students' Competency: Study a specific set of courses in your specialization that effectively helps you communicate what you know.

Core
Skills

  • Critical Thinking
  • Creative Problem-Solving
  • Adaptability
  • Effective Communication
  • Cultural Competency

Sample
Jobs

  • Nurse
  • Human Resource Specialist
  • Project Manager
  • Teacher
  • Social Worker Aide

Successful Career Outcomes

About 75% of interdisciplinary studies graduates hold an advanced degree, often pursuing roles in healthcare, academia or business. Graduates enter diverse careers in management, education, healthcare and public relations. Interdisciplinary Studies graduates enjoy successful careers by leveraging unique, customized skill sets in roles requiring adaptability and cross-functional knowledge.

Top
Employment
Industries

  • Healthcare
  • Management
  • Education
  • Public Service
  • Technology

Brag
Points

  • 1 in 3 Interdisciplinary Studies graduates enter a health professions program.
  • Graduates possess a highly marketable skillset tailored for modern employers.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

You may seek internships through local organizations to gain experience in the multiple fields that you've chosen. Find opportunities that provide hands-on learning to apply critical thinking skills to your areas of study. Undergraduate research and field experience prepare you for careers in healthcare and entrepreneurial ventures.

Spotlight

Our major combines Communication and Industrial Technology for a concentration in Entertainment Technology. Representatives from PRG and Walt Disney World helped outline the curriculum.

Interdisciplinary Studies

2025-2026 Major Map

Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies

Get the Courses You Need

1st Year

Start with core courses that enhance critical thinking, oral and written communication, quantitative reasoning and scientific literacy.

2nd Year

Gain a broad understanding of multiple disciplines through social sciences, history and the arts. Take IDS 2111 to design a plan of study that aligns with your career goal.

3rd Year

Focus on upper-division coursework across your emphasis areas. You begin to view problems from multiple perspectives, fostering to the uniqueness of an interdisciplinary degree.

4th Year

Complete remaining upper-division coursework and internship opportunities and research projects that allow direct experience for your career path. Take IDS 4111 to prepare you for post-college.

Hands-On Learning

1st Year

There are a wide variety of student organizations that can help you learn about your chosen profession, from accounting through zoology. You are able to engage in simulation and project-based learning.

2nd Year

Our Interdisciplinary Studies majors choose emphasis areas in subjects like Psychology, Biology, Sociology and other fields with a strong research component. You can work with faculty to conduct multidisciplinary research.

3rd Year

Our Interdisciplinary Studies majors often curate tailored internships that bridge specific fields of study, such as combining art and education in a non-profit organization. The Career Center can help place you in your specialized area of interest.

4th Year

By now you're ready to help pass on some of what you know to new students. Consider signing up as a peer tutor or Supplemental Instruction Guide. Serving as a peer mentor will put your skills to use while fostering to the development of others in a unique major.

Connect with Community

1st Year

One of the best ways to flourish in a university community is to find people who share your interests. Mississippi State has hundreds of student clubs that foster social connection and develop professional and leadership skills.

2nd Year

Our Interdisciplinary Studies major is for students with wide-ranging interests. Every week, Mississippi State hosts guest speakers, musical ensembles, film festivals, plays and more.

3rd Year

The College of Arts and Sciences Ambassadors help recruit and mentor prospective students. You can engage with ambassadors or become a member of the team to offer authentic, relatable perspectives about college life.

4th Year

Take advantage of the good relationships you've formed with your departmental faculty to ask for letters of recommendation for jobs and post-baccalaureate education. Ask them to point you toward relevant professional organizations and resources.

Explore the World

1st Year

You'll have a wide variety of courses to choose from as a first-year student, including courses that take you beyond Mississippi and into the wider world. Consider taking courses in history, political science, literature and economics.

2nd Year

Many of our students choose to take a foreign language, both to expand their horizons and make themselves more competitive for international careers. Taking a foreign language can be the difference of a 35% increase in job opportunities and salary.

3rd Year

Consider studying abroad not just for enhanced career prospects but also for personal growth and enhanced global perspectives. Studying abroad fosters adaptability and independence.

4th Year

Your personalized degree will be great preparation for your chosen field, and the skills you've learned are global. Whatever is next for you, whether it's a job, starting a business, or pursuing a higher degree, you'll be competitive beyond Mississippi.

Launch Your Career

1st Year

If you have a health career in mind, visit the Health Pathways Resource Center (HPRC). The center offers guidance for undergraduates, graduate students and MSU alumni who aspire to gain entry into a health professional school.

2nd Year

Visit the career center to gain a competitive edge. The center provides crucial services like resume tailoring, mock interviews, internship placement and networking opportunities that directly lead to better employment outcomes.

3rd Year

Shadow a professional who aligns with your career goal. Job shadowing provides a realistic, first-hand look at your desired field. It allows you to observe daily responsibilities, understand necessary skills, gain mentorship opportunities and enhance your resume with real-world experience before graduation.

4th Year

Many of our Interdisciplinary Studies students graduate this year or attend professional school. Senior year is a good time to take advantage of our test prep programs for the GRE, MCAT, LSAT and other entrance programs.

Alumni
Success

Interdisciplinary Studies' alumni commonly enter professional programs that lead to careers in healthcare, social services, or education. Recent graduates are making a meaningful impact as nurses, teachers, pharmaceutical sales representatives, entrepreneurs, human resource managers, technicians, and pilots.

Student
Testimonial

"I chose BSIS as my major because I wanted to choose a path that would allow me to one day become a well-rounded physician. My emphases were in kinesiology, biology, and psychology which will allow me to approach future patients holistically.

Majoring in BSIS has allowed me to stand out as it is a different pathway from the typical pre medicine majors, becoming a well-rounded medical school candidate because I was able to learn about many aspects that deal with the human body and mind. I also learned to think critically on how each aspect related to one another."

~Chandlyr Brown-Reed

Learn More

BS in Interdisciplinary Studies degree requirementsAlumni StoriesApply to MSU