B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies: What It Is and How It Can Advance Your Career
The B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies is an undergraduate degree completion program. This Program is for adult learners who have previously accumulated college credit but have not yet earned a bachelor's degree. Instead of being forced to re-enroll in a major for which they may not have enough credits to complete a degree in a short time, the IDS major allows students to incorporate prior work into a customized major. National Louis University offers this Program. National Louis University's Interdisciplinary Studies (BA-IDS) is a degree program for adult learners with prior college credit in any content area who want to advance their careers or transition to a new career.
What Is a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies?
Students whose educational path has not followed a straight line (i.e., students with credits from different institutions, with credits in different subjects, with professional experience) can find an Interdisciplinary Studies degree an appropriate vehicle for their undergraduate education. Rather than requiring the student to start coursework and begin a new major from scratch, an IDS degree can build on a student's
The BA-IDS program is designed for adult learners with prior college credit in a variety of disciplines. Students can transfer up to 75% of required credits to complete their degree in an Undergraduate College at National Louis University. The BA-IDS program is offered in various formats and times, including online, on-campus, day, evening, and weekend classes. Students will use prior educational and professional experience to design an individualized educational plan that meets personal and professional goals and objectives. Students in the IDS program will also develop skills necessary for career and lifelong learning, particularly analytical skills and written and oral communication skills. These skills are essential for career advancement in many fields and for those looking to change careers. careers
Why Pursue a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies?
The degree can be used by those who have been away from college for years and have accumulated credits, not necessarily within the same institution or even within the same content area. In fact, most NLU students have accumulated credits before returning to complete their degree, and often have done so at more than one institution. The degree recognizes prior learning and allows students to complete it in a way that fits their lives and circumstances.
The degree is specifically for individuals who want to earn a bachelor's degree while continuing to work in their current job. Because this is an interdisciplinary studies degree, students can earn a degree designed to help them reach their career goals, rather than a specific major that may not align with those goals.
Key Questions About This Degree
How much prior credit can typically transfer into this kind of Program?
Degree-completion programs typically allow students to transfer 75% or more of the required credits, letting them complete their degree in a much shorter time and at a much lower cost.
An interdisciplinary studies degree is a legitimate bachelor's degree and meets the same regional accreditation standards as any other program at the institution. Its distinguishing feature is flexibility in how students fulfill degree requirements and incorporate prior learning, not a lower academic standard.
An IDS degree is called a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies. National Louis University, as well as other universities in the country, offers this degree. An IDS degree is offered through regional accreditation, like all other university degrees.
What kind of prior learning credit can be applied?
In addition to formal transfer credit, many programs award prior learning credit for relevant work experience, military training, and professional certifications.
Is this degree not a good fit for?
Adults looking for a highly specialized degree, such as in dancing or graphic design, and who have not completed much prior college credit would be better served by seeking admission to a single-major bachelor's Program.
Because the IDS degree focuses on the prior educational and professional experience of adult learners, IDS degree holders can expect career outcomes that vary significantly from graduate to graduate. The IDS degree serves as a vehicle for earning a B.A. degree, which in turn serves as a credential for entry into employment that requires a B.A. degree. Additionally, IDS degree holders develop analytical, communication, and industry-specific skills.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers with a bachelor's degree have higher wages and employment rates than those with some college or no degree. Many employers today require a bachelor's for supervisory/managerial positions, regardless of the major. The BLS provides recent wage and employment statistics by education level through the Employment Projections page.The
Employment Projections program tracks earnings and unemployment by educational attainment.
Most of all, adult learners can complete their Bachelor's in Interdisciplinary Studies and finish what they started years ago. Their new degree certifies that they have a Bachelor's and can advance in their careers. This may be why they enrolled in this degree program in the first place.
B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies at National Louis University
The B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (BA-IDS) is an academic degree completion program for adult learners who have accumulated prior college credit(s) in any content area. Up to 75% of the required credits can be transferred to complete the degree. Programs are offered fully online, as well as through on-campus classes, including daytime, evening, and weekend options.
