Interdisciplinary Studies (MA/MS)

Is the interdisciplinary studies program for you?

Do any of the following describe you?

• Would you like a graduate degree that identifies you as a generalist rather than a specialist?
• How about a marketable graduate degree with infinite employment opportunities?
• Are you looking for a unique educational experience that will allow you to fulfill your personal and professional goals?
• Do you want the flexibility to design your own course of study from two or more disciplines?
• Are you interested in pursuing new trends in professional fields?
• Do you have interests that feel limited in just one field of study?

Do these jobs sound interesting to you?

Our alumni are:

• Animation and game developers
• Construction managers
• College instructors
• University administrators
• Motion capture animators
• PhD candidates

Other possibilities are:

• Researchers
• Policy analysts
• Engineers
• Entrepreneurs
• Agri-business managers
• Social scientists
• 3-D museum curators

Is this the kind of salary you are seeking?

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, shows the following outlook for Postsecondary Education Administrators(opens in new window): 

Median Pay
$96,910 per year

Job Outlook
7% (As fast as average)

Environment
Postsecondary education administrators work for public and private schools. Most work full time.

What if my bachelor’s isn’t in interdisciplinary studies?

Doesn’t matter. Occasionally, depending on the program you select, prerequisites may be required. Check with your graduate coordinator, Susan Roll, for more information.

How long will it take?

• The MA/MS in interdisciplinary studies is a 30-unit program. Our typical student completes the degree in two to three years.

Flexibility of study

• Flexibility to creatively design a personalized course of study.
• Take advantage of a diverse body of coursework from a variety of departments across seven colleges.

Engage with faculty

• Strong connection with faculty engaging in innovative pedagogy.

Choose your thesis or project focus

• Select a culminating thesis or project from areas such as: agriculture, anthropology, biology, business, civil engineering, computer animation and game development, education, electrical engineering, geography and planning, geology, health and community services, multicultural and gender studies, philosophy, political science, sociology, student life and leadership.

Breaking into 3D Animation

Christopher Adamson is a 3D character animation specialist and responsible for sales of Xsens’ motion capture products for the 3D character animation market in the United States.

Connecting others to higher education

Michael Bluing co-founded Elfi Project in Indonesia, a small-scale nonprofit organization devoted to expanding higher education opportunities for young women living in remote areas of Indonesia. He currently works as a college completion advisor in San Francisco, managing a caseload of 70 college students and helping connect them to educational, career, and leadership development opportunities.

Poly Modeling Techniques

Daniel Cahill: “I gained expert knowledge in Zbrush and several poly modeling techniques. I now have the skills and ability to start from a sculpted concept traditionally or digitally and end with a finished digital product for animation.
I work as 3D scanning technician/3D modeler and teach university classes.”