Choosing a degree can often be a challenge when you’re unsure of the exact career you want to pursue. For students interested in receiving a broad-ranging education that allows them to explore a variety of subjects, a degree in multidisciplinary studies is an excellent option to consider. In this article, we’ll cover what a multidisciplinary studies degree entails, as well as five interesting benefits of this unique degree program, to help you decide if a bachelor of multidisciplinary studies is right for you.
What Is a Multidisciplinary Studies Degree?
A multidisciplinary studies degree is designed for students who have yet to choose a clear career path as well as for students who would like to receive a more generalized education covering broad range of topics. A multidisciplinary studies program is highly customizable, consisting almost entirely of elective courses. While there are a number of general education courses required—such as English, math, humanities, and social science—the rest of the courses you choose for your program are up to you. With a multidisciplinary studies degree, you can take courses from any department in the university that happens to interest you so long as you meet the prerequisites. This makes it easy for those pursuing a degree in multidisciplinary studies to match their course load to their interests and career goals.
Examples of Multidisciplinary Studies Degree Programs
Since a multidisciplinary studies degree is highly customizable by design, examples of what a multidisciplinary studies program entails varies from student to student. Aside from the core required courses, a multidisciplinary studies degree program can be populated with any number of elective courses. For example, you may decide to take a number of business courses to prepare for a career in management. Later, you may decide that history interests you more and choose to focus on history electives. With a multidisciplinary studies degree, the choice is ultimately up to you.
What Can You Do with a Multidisciplinary Studies Degree?
The career paths that a multidisciplinary studies degree opens up depends on the areas of study that you choose to focus on. It’s difficult, therefore, to list any common career paths for those with a multidisciplinary studies degree since the purpose of multidisciplinary studies program is to customize it to suit almost any career goal. A multidisciplinary studies degree can prepare you for an incredibly broad range of careers. In some cases, you may be required to pursue a graduate degree to qualify for certain positions, but your BA in Multidisciplinary Studies can serve as a starting point toward an advanced degree.
Is a Multidisciplinary Studies Degree Worth It?
If you already know the career you want to pursue, you are probably better off choosing a degree that focuses solely on preparing you for that career. If you want to become an engineer, for example, a degree in engineering will benefit you much more than a degree in multidisciplinary studies that includes engineering courses. A multidisciplinary studies degree is best suited to those who are not sure what career path they want to follow.
Fortunately, more companies are starting to value employees who have a broader education and a background in a wide variety of skill areas. A multidisciplinary studies degree can, therefore, look great on a resume. Beyond preparing you for a career, earning a multidisciplinary studies degree also allows you to enjoy a well-rounded education for a better holistic understanding of the world and life. For these reasons, a degree in multidisciplinary studies can absolutely be a worthwhile option for the right students.
Benefits of a Multidisciplinary Studies Degree
1) Flexibility for Working Adults
A multidisciplinary studies degree is designed to be flexible in more ways than one. In addition to allowing you to chart your course path, many multidisciplinary studies degree programs let you to choose your own schedule and program length. A multidisciplinary studies degree is an especially popular choice for adults already in the workforce. It’s designed to be as flexible as possible when it comes to scheduling. This is especially true if you are earning a multidisciplinary studies degree online.
2) Design Your Education Around Your Work Experience
Pursuing a multidisciplinary studies degree gives you the ability to mold your education around your existing work experience in order to customize your education to your career goals. With a multidisciplinary studies degree, you can skip courses that cover topics you’re knowledgeable in and focus on areas to fill in the knowledge or experience gaps that might remain.
3) Easily Transfer Credits
Since a multidisciplinary studies degree can be populated with just about any course you choose, it is incredibly easy to transfer credits from another accredited school or course of study toward the credits you need to earn a multidisciplinary studies degree. This makes multidisciplinary studies degree programs an especially popular choice for those who are transferring or switching majors, since all the courses you’ve taken will likely still count toward the multidisciplinary studies degree completion.
4) A Diverse, Well-Rounded Education
A multidisciplinary studies degree provides students with a well-rounded education that can potentially cover an incredibly diverse number of topics and fields of study. If you would like to earn a degree that will provide you with a broad education in any number of subjects, a multidisciplinary studies degree is a great choice to consider.
5) Develop Critical Thinking/Problem-Solving Skills
One of the biggest benefits of earning a college education is that it allows you to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. In many cases, employers value this aspect of a college education even more than the specific material you’ve studied. With a program in multidisciplinary studies, you have the opportunity to develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills you’ll rely on your entire professional life.
Earn an Online Multidisciplinary Studies Degree from Siena Heights University
At Siena Heights University, we are proud to offer a multidisciplinary studies degree program designed to maximize flexibility for both course loads and for scheduling. To learn more about this customizable degree program and earning a well-rounded and diverse education that can prepare you for any number of careers, contact us today.