Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies Program

Sven Arvidson, PhD, Director
Web:https://www.seattleu.edu/artsci/undergraduate-degrees/interdisciplinary-liberal-studies/

Objectives

Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies is interdisciplinary studies in a Jesuit educational context. This means integrating the liberal arts, sciences and community engagement in a way that cultivates humanity. It is for students who have decided to gain a broad and deep education rather than be narrowly focused. Flexibility to choose courses that match your interests provides you with solid preparation for a rewarding career or graduate school. You will meet other students with initiative, thoughtfulness, and curiosity who want to use their skills and knowledge to make a contribution to society. Our program is top-ranked nationally as a leader in integrative education (see full report on our program website).

Because the Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies, BA allows maximum flexibility in course choices, you will work closely with professors and advisors to focus your plan of study, especially on complex, real-world problems of personal interest. You can also take advantage of study abroad, internships, and our undergraduate publishing program.

Interdisciplinarians study complex problems - such as the nature of consciousness, race relations, what is family, the value of public art, immigration and many more. Complexity means that the problem has multiple components studied by different disciplines. Interdisciplinarians find common ground between disciplinary insights and integrate them to advance understanding of these problems. Being trained as an interdisciplinarian yields marketable knowledge and skills: project-management, effective communication, teamwork, leadership, strategic thinking, creativity and enterprise.

Recent graduates are working in major tech companies, non-profits, communications, business management, medical fields, counseling, law enforcement, and other professions, and teaching K-8 in the U.S., Asia and Europe, and pursuing MA’s and PhD’s. See employment listing of recent graduates on our program website.

For students who want to graduate as certified to be an elementary teacher in Washington State, see the Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies with a Specialization in Elementary Education, BA (K-8) in this catalog.

Programs

Undergraduate Major