Interdisciplinary studies allow students to create their own major

“It’s not a quick way out,” said Linda Spinelli, the academic adviser and coordinator for the Interdisciplinary Studies Program designed for students wanting careers other degree programs cannot offer.

“It is for students who have a career goal,” Spinelli said. “There are students who combine dance with psychology called dance therapy.”

Interdisciplinary studies initially was started for adults, Spinelli said, emphasizing that first-year students are ineligible because students need at least 30 earned credit hours to enroll in the program.

In the past, a typical interdisciplinary studies student would be a person employed by a company or other entity who wanted to return to college to earn a degree. For instance, Philip Morris USA once hosted a special workers’ program at the company’s facility to help its employees obtain degrees needed for their jobs.

“We would offer the class after 5 p.m. in another room at the plant,” Spinelli said, explaining the need to go off-campus for some classes.

This semester, however, interdisciplinary studies majors study in classes offered by existing VCU programs and departments.

There is no separate group of classes for interdisciplinary studies majors, Spinelli said.

Shirley McDaniel, director of external relations for the College of Humanities and Sciences, majored in interdisciplinary studies, and she said the coursework she took was different than it is now.

“You didn’t get to bond with your classmates because the coursework is different,” she said, explaining that interdisciplinary studies students tended to connect with fellow interdisciplinary majors at receptions or graduation. The reason for this, she said, was because those events group students by major and focus area.

Thelma Stockton, a VCU alumna, who majored in interdisciplinary studies with a focus in human resources now works in VCU’s human resources department. She still remembers submitting her application for the program.

“It was turned down the first time because I didn’t define it enough,” Stockton said, “until I went into more detail by using my work experience.” In the end, her courses included religious studies, psychology, sociology and human resources.

Spinelli said applicants must have clearly stated goals so the admissions committee knows exactly why the student wants to major in interdisciplinary studies and what he or she plans to do with an interdisciplinary degree.

Students, Spinelli said, have been rejected from the program or asked to resubmit their applications because they did not clearly state their goals.

Therefore, she suggested at least one tip for future interdisciplinary students.

“Sit down with the bulletin and look through the courses,” she said, advising students to narrow their focus area before applying for the program.

Similar to other bachelor degree programs, students must earn at least 120 credits to graduate, and many need more than four years to complete the courses for their degrees.

As with students in other programs, they also often have a job and take care of one or more family members.

“People can really get what they want,” Spinelli said, reiterating that the program’s design complements people in the workforce who want a degree, which can open new doors – and new jobs – for some degree seekers.