Click here to find out more about the ranking methodology that we used to compile this list.
Congratulations! If you represent a college or university that is included in this list, please collect your seal below.
Deciding which college to attend can be a daunting task. For many, it will be the most important decision that they make in their lives. To make an informed decision, you have to consider a lot of variables, such as cost of attendance, financial aid, student/teacher ratio, academics, student life, and more. These factors will either positively or negatively impact the quality of education that you receive.
Do you want to acquire a bachelor’s in integrative studies, but don’t know what institution you should attend? Well, if you are as ambitious as I was in my late teens, then you want to attend a top school, instead of an average or mediocre one. Fortunately, we have already done the legwork for you. To help you find the right school for your interests and goals, we’ve compiled a list of 2022’s best bachelor’s in integrative studies program.
What institution did we forget? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
- Emory University, Atlanta, GA
At Emory, learners seeking a pioneering degree program may consider the multidisciplinary studies degree with an emphasis in society and culture. To earn a bachelor of arts, learners must finish 44 credit hours, comprised of frame and concentration classes. The former is meant to frame the learner’s experience within the degree, focusing on the development of writing skills and comprehension of liberal studies. Concentration classes are focused on the individualized study and are traditionally chosen by learners and the Director of Undergraduate studies.
The concentration classes prepare learners for a culminating senior project, which is designed to showcase their capacity to comprehend and present complex ideas originating from at least two distinct subjects.
- Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL
The multidisciplinary studies major at Wheaton offers a liberal arts education for learners looking to combine classes from two to three academic subjects. The degree program also encourages cross-cultural experience via study abroad and a service-learning internship in Human Needs and Global Resources (HNGR). Learners develop a “guiding directive” to inform the overall purpose of the degree; this involves selecting a question, problem, and theme to investigate. Once this mandate has been identified and established, learners work with their advisors to design individualized coursework incorporating the knowledge and skillsets needed to begin research.
The IDS major also has two preset academic programs in Asian studies and biotechnology. Prospective learners considering this selective degree program must finish a holistic application, which includes essays of intent and an interview by the IDS director.
- New College of Florida, Sarasota, FL
The coursework offered at New College offers an out-of-the-box education individually matched to the needs and objectives of each learner. Rather than credit hours, learners undertake seven contracts to graduate, which are written between the learner and their advisor at the start of each semester. These contracts normally consist of three to five academic activities, such as classes, tutorials, internships, or independent reading assignments to further educational objectives. Learners also work with their teachers to design independent study projects and carry out real-life research.
- Seattle University, Seattle, WA
At Seattle University, learners can undertake a multidisciplinary liberal studies degree. In this degree program, learners learn how to be thoughtful professionals who utilize the knowledge of cross-discipline study. The degree program requires 60 credits, making it an attractive choice for people who wish to pair the degree with a second major or a minor. With other degree program requirements factored in, the degree totals 180 credits. The institution notes that many learners are planning to work within education select this degree since it consists of project-centered classwork, leadership seminars, and youth development, along with a consortium of multidisciplinary scholars and electronic portfolios.
- University of Scranton, Scranton, PA
At the University of Scranton, learners can partake in an individualized major degree program if their plan of study proposal is endorsed. Once accepted into the degree program, learners obtain a faculty mentor to guide them through the process of creating coursework. The degree program generally consists of at least 36 credits, with 15 to 18 required from a single academic department. Along with these credit hours, learners also undertake a three to six credit capstone project that incorporates subject material from various subjects. The degree program totals 126 credits.
Learners within this degree program obtain one-on-one mentorship from their assigned professors, who meet with them at the end of every semester to review their progress.
- Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
The integrative studies in social science degree program at MSU is designed to outfit learners with a comprehension of the social sciences and a deeper awareness of the human condition. Once enrolled, learners take two specific integrative studies classes, though not concurrently. To provide graduates with multicultural and international comprehension of human behavior, learners are asked to qualify their ideas and beliefs through an analytical lens. This enables them to develop an understanding of patterns and trends found in how we interact with each other and our world. Along with the core classes, learners have many ISS class options to select from, depending on their area of focus.
To provide several experiential learning, the department encourages internships and study abroad programs. Current off-campus study programs are situated in Washington, DC, Hawaii, and New Orleans.
- Bennington College, Bennington, VT
At Bennington, every undergraduate learner takes part in “The Plan Process,” an integrative, four-year framework used to design and examine their education. Bennington is also unique in that learners are required, every year, to get work experience—a job, internship, or entrepreneurial experience—that is then integrated into their academic pursuits. From the beginning, learners are asked to think about what they want to know and how they want to pursue learning it. Experiential learning is a crucial component; many opportunities are offered outside the classroom. Learners need 128 credit hours to graduate from most of the programs.
- George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
The New Century College at GMU supervises the integrative studies degree program for the institution. Within this degree, learners can select a predefined concentration or design their coursework based on academic objectives as endorsed by a faculty advisor. Outside of traditional classroom-based learning, experiential options consist of studying abroad, service-learning projects, internships, or an alternative break. Credits required to finish the IS degree program vary, but the minimum is 66 credits of academic classwork. Credits are grouped into learning blocks or learning communities. While the degree program has 11 predefined concentrations, learners may also design their own.
- North Central College, Naperville, IL
At North Central College, the multidisciplinary studies degree program has several majors and minors, including East Asian studies, environmental studies, gender and women’s studies, history of ideas, and international studies. Programs incorporate distinct learning styles, such as team teaching and international class clusters. Additionally, learners take a cluster of intercultural seminar classes intended to expand their worldview.
- University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
The New College at the University of Alabama, manages the integrative studies degree program at the school, ensuring learners finish their core requirements and College of Arts & Sciences classes along with the unique New College coursework. All learners within this degree program design a “depth study,” their map for an individualized degree program of study. Customized degrees incorporate classes from across subjects and bring in experiential methods of learning, such as internships and study abroad programs.
Along with core and degree program requirements, learners must learn a foreign language to the level of “proficient” while enrolled in the New College. During their final year, learners undertake a senior project to be presented at the department’s Senior Research Symposium. Along with these, other projects may include community development initiatives or creative arts.
- Simpson College, Indianola, IA
Simpson College has a multidisciplinary studies degree, which includes classes from several majors, including biochemistry, forensic science, neuroscience, international relations, sustainability, Latin American studies, and art history.
Along with existing programs, learners showing exceptional promise may be allowed to design their own independent, multidisciplinary major (IIM), which outlines a degree program built to suit individual interests and aspirations. No matter which path learners select, they partake in an array of experiential learning opportunities, including cross-cultural learning initiatives and internships. Learners participate in a capstone experience; many learners carry out a summer or campus research project, culminating in an extensive written project and presentation.
- Hampshire College, Amherst, MA
All undergraduate learners at Hampshire College undertake a learning degree program quite distinct from the traditional college experience. Rather than progressing through their studies in the conventional manner (i.e., freshman, sophomore, junior, senior), learners finish three levels or divisions of study. The institution believes learners should have the chance to investigate an array of subjects through a wide lens, allowing them to become independent thinkers and problem solvers.
Division I offers a liberal arts foundation and develops four skills that the next two divisions build on. Division II is comprised of two years of study with a focus on learners exploring their chosen concentrations through classwork, independent study, internships, and fieldwork. Learners are also required to finish a community service component and show thoughtful engagement with several cultures and perspectives. Division III enables learners to focus on a major independent project, which can be focused on answering a question, exploring an idea, or developing research on a specific topic. Learners take their findings and incorporate them into the academic community by participating in upper-level classwork, internships, or positions as teaching assistants. The degree program is normally comprised of 128 credit hours.
- University of Mount Union, Alliance, OH
Mount Union utilizes the integrative core for all undergraduate learners, offered as 32 credits of classwork spread across all four years of learning. Paired with a major, these foundational classes provide an underpinning for learners to comprehend many ideas from various perspectives. Learning outcomes for this degree program consist of the development of exceptional communication and critical thinking skills. The eight required classes consist of a first-year seminar, foundational classes in humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and arts; two theme classes; and a capstone class during the final year. The first-year seminar sets the stage for the unique style of learning and focuses on a single topic as viewed through several subjects.
The capstone project takes a real-world issue and groups learners together in a semester-long project to solve the problem. Learners also compile a written and oral communications portfolio, which enables them to present their achievements and obtain constructive feedback on how to continue developing their skills.
- Molloy College, Rockville Centre, NY
The multidisciplinary studies major offers undergraduate learners a broad liberal arts education that couples classes from two or more discipline areas. Learners undertake 44 credits from areas of arts and fine arts, English and modern languages, social and behavioral sciences, and philosophy and theology. The multidisciplinary studies major requires 45 credits.
Typically, learners combine two or more areas of concentration, with each concentration requiring at least 21 credits. A senior project adds three to five credits and normally involves a substantial research project, creative arts portfolio, or another project as developed by the learner and their advisor. Electives total 38 to 39 credits, creating an overall degree program of 128 credits. During their studies, learners participate in an array of experiential and cross-cultural learning opportunities.
- North Greenville University, Tigerville, SC
North Greenville University has a bachelor of science in multidisciplinary studies, allowing learners to combine studies from two separate discipline areas. These individualized degrees encourage learners to investigate complex issues and develop solutions to modern problems. Learners can utilize the liberal number of electives available to add a third discipline area to their degree plan.
To fill the general education requirement, learners must earn 44 to 46 credits, and the multidisciplinary major requires a total of 46 credits; elective classwork comprises 36 to 38 credits. To graduate, learners need a total of 126 to 130 credits. The institution has an array of preexisting concentrations, including accounting, biology, business administration, computer science, economics, marketing, mathematics, psychology, and sport management.
