Interdisciplinary Programs

About Interdisciplinary Programs

The College of Arts & Sciences at Kansas State University values interdisciplinary learning and encourages students to explore connections across fields. Whether you’re pursuing a major, minor, or certificate, A&S offers opportunities to expand your academic experience beyond a single discipline. These interdisciplinary offerings allow students to focus on various interest areas and get a holistic academic experience while gaining skills that today’s employers seek.

Programs featured in the navigation menu (also notated with an * below) are administered through the College’s Dean’s Office and supported by the Assistant Director of Interdisciplinary Programs. In addition, a wide range of interdisciplinary and complementary programs are offered across A&S departments.

Together, these offerings allow you to build a more personalized academic path. Pairing programs across disciplines can deepen your expertise, strengthen transferable skills, and better prepare you for evolving career paths. Explore the full list below to discover ways to enhance your primary area of study and align your education with your academic and professional goals.

Why go interdisciplinary? Build a portfolio of knowledge. Design your educational path. Combine academic interests. Enhance critical thinking and problem solving skills. It is student-centric.

What are learning outcomes for interdisciplinary students

K-State values the benefits of interdisciplinary learning and how it advances students in their career trajectory. Although each interdisciplinary major has its own learning outcomes, interdisciplinarity itself also has outcomes.

  1. Graduates identify and describe the benefits of interdisciplinary study in their major (i.e., the study of multiple academic disciplines to make connections between them).
  2. Graduates identify how essential concepts related to their chosen concentrations/areas of emphasis can be applied to future career opportunities.

What employers are saying

Keith Westervelt, owner for Blueville Nurseries, has hired several K-State Arts and Sciences interdisciplinary alums and said, “They are great with multitasking, have strong interpersonal skills, understand teamwork and have great leadership skills. I look for and value this type of career readiness that students gain from their college experience.”

What interdisciplinary alumni are doing

While many alumni use their interdisciplinary programs as jumping off points for graduate school, many go straight into the workforce. Here is a small sampling of the job types and employers of our interdisciplinary alumni.

What our alumni are doing

Where our alumni work

  • Account managers and executives
  • Army Lieutenant/Officers
  • Case Managers
  • Customer Service
  • Business consultants and managers
  • Engineering project managers
  • Healthcare
  • Human resources
  • Lab technicians
  • Legal assistants
  • Property managers
  • Public information officers
  • Sales
  • Social media and marketing specialists
  • Recruiters
  • Teachers
  • Veterinary technicians
  • Amazon
  • Americorps
  • Blueville Nursery
  • Cerner
  • CivicPlus
  • Farm Bureau Financial Services
  • Farmers Insurance
  • J.P. Morgan
  • Hospitals and medical centers
  • Kansas State University
  • Labcorps
  • Neuroscience and Rehabilitation Assoc.
  • Pawnee Mental Health
  • U.S. Army
  • Women's Health Group

Interdisciplinary Offerings

These are great options for those with many and/or diverse academic interests as well as those looking to enhance their academic profile in general or to fulfill the A&S Outside Concentration requirement.

Majors

Certificates, Minors, and Secondary Majors

  • Law, Policy, and Advocacy Certificate* (new program, website coming)

For more information, contact Assistant Director of Interdisciplinary Programs Dr. Kaela Urquhart: kaelaurquhart@ksu.edu.