---
title: "Interdisciplinary Studies B.S."
url: "/academics/programs/interdisciplinary-studies"
type: program
date: 2026-06-19
updated: 2026-06-19
---
# Interdisciplinary Studies B.S.
# Interdisciplinary Studies B.S.
**Build a degree as broad as your interests, anchored by an area of emphasis you choose.**
The Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies at Manhattan University is an alternative to the traditional major, pairing a broad general education core with a focused area of emphasis you design with faculty advisors. It is built for students whose goals cross disciplinary lines, offering greater breadth, structured flexibility, and a culminating capstone, so you graduate with both a wide foundation and a clear focus.
[ Request Information ](/admissions/undergraduate/request-information)
[ Visit Manhattan University ](/admissions/visit) [ Explore Kakos School of Arts and Sciences ](/academics/kakos)
Credit Hours120
Time to Complete4 Years
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This program is part of [History, Political Science and International Studies](/academics/kakos/departments/hist-pol-sci-intl)
What Set's Us Apart The Manhattan University Difference
## What Sets Us Apart
The Interdisciplinary Studies B.S. at Manhattan University gives you the freedom to build a degree around your own goals while keeping the structure and rigor of a focused area of emphasis. Grounded in the University's Lasallian Catholic mission and supported by faculty advisors across the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences, it is designed for students who learn best by connecting ideas across fields.
A Degree You Design
Build your program around your goals, combining a broad core with a focused area of emphasis instead of a single traditional major.
Three Areas of Emphasis
Choose from Humanities and Arts, Natural and Health Sciences, or Social Sciences and Education to anchor your studies.
Faculty-Guided Advising
Work closely with faculty advisors in your area of emphasis, coordinating with Centralized Advising at every step.
Breadth Across Disciplines
Draw on courses from across the Kakos School, building connections that a single-major path rarely allows.
A Capstone of Your Own
Cap your degree with a 400-level project, internship, or research experience that ties your area of emphasis together.
Built for Flexible Goals
Ideal for pre-professional paths, double interests, or careers that reward broad, adaptable thinking.
Why Study Interdisciplinary Studies Image
The Manhattan Advantage
## Why Study Interdisciplinary Studies at Manhattan University?
Some goals do not fit neatly inside a single major. The Interdisciplinary Studies B.S. lets you build a broad, structured education around your interests, guided by faculty who help you connect coursework across the arts, sciences, and social sciences into a coherent path. With a strong general education foundation, a focused area of emphasis, and a culminating capstone, you graduate with the adaptable thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills that employers and graduate programs value most, near the heart of New York City.
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Degree Program Options
## Choose Your Area of Emphasis
Every Interdisciplinary Studies student builds a general education core and then concentrates 36 credits in one of three broad areas of emphasis, including a capstone, shaped around your goals with faculty guidance.
- **Humanities and Arts** — Draw on Communication, Digital Media Art, English, Game Design and Production, History, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Sound Studies, and Spanish.
- **Natural and Health Sciences** — Draw on Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Exercise Science, Health Science, Healthcare Administration, Mathematics, Physics, Public Health, and Radiation Therapy Technology.
- **Social Sciences and Education** — Draw on Criminology, Economics, International Studies, Organizational Leadership, Peace and Justice Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Education (Childhood and Adolescent).
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Courses and Curriculum
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## Why Study in New York City
An interdisciplinary education thrives in a city defined by the intersection of fields. New York brings together the arts, sciences, business, government, healthcare, and nonprofits in one place, giving Interdisciplinary Studies students an unmatched range of internships, research, and capstone opportunities to match whatever path they design. Whether your emphasis is in the humanities, the sciences, or the social sciences, the city offers real-world settings to apply and connect what you learn. This access, near the heart of New York City, helps you turn a flexible degree into focused, practical experience.
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## Interdisciplinary Studies: Think Broadly, Connect Deeply.
At Manhattan University, Interdisciplinary Studies students graduate with exactly the skills a changing economy rewards: the ability to think across fields, communicate clearly, and adapt quickly. Built around your goals and guided by faculty, the degree prepares you for graduate study and for careers that value breadth as much as depth.
Think Across Disciplines
Connect ideas, methods, and perspectives from multiple fields to understand problems in their full complexity.
Solve Problems Creatively
Approach challenges from more than one angle, drawing on a broad toolkit few single-major graduates have.
Communicate With Clarity
Write and speak effectively across audiences, a skill built through a wide and writing-rich core.
Adapt to Change
Move comfortably between fields and roles, an advantage in careers that increasingly reward versatility.
Prepare for Graduate Study
Build a foundation suited to law, the health professions, and other graduate paths that value broad preparation.
Pursue a Focused Goal
Combine breadth with a clear area of emphasis and capstone, graduating with both range and direction.
Department Faculty ## **Learn From Faculty Across the University**
One of the strengths of the Interdisciplinary Studies B.S. is the breadth of its faculty. Rather than learning from a single department, you work with professors across the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences, scholars and teachers in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences who help you connect your coursework and design a coherent path. Coordinated with Centralized Advising, your faculty advisors mentor you from your first emphasis course through your capstone.
[Meet the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences Faculty](/academics/kakos/faculty "Faculty | Kakos School of Arts and Sciences")
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About
## The Kakos School of Arts and Sciences
The Kakos School of Arts and Sciences is the largest of Manhattan University's three schools, offering 33 undergraduate majors, six graduate programs, and six combined degrees across the humanities, natural and social sciences, and professional fields. Grounded in the University's Lasallian Catholic mission and located near the heart of New York City, the School pairs rigorous academics with small classes, close faculty mentorship, and real-world experience throughout the five boroughs and beyond. That foundation delivers: Manhattan University ranks in the top 3% nationally for salary impact (Wall Street Journal, 2026), a measure of how strongly a degree here translates into graduates' career earnings.
[ Explore Kakos School of Arts and Sciences ](/academics/kakos)
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Careers & Outcomes
Costs & Aid ## Program Costs & Financial Aid
Manhattan University is committed to making a high-quality, career-focused education accessible and affordable. Through a combination of competitive tuition, robust financial aid, and our **Jasper Guarantee**, students and families can plan their education with confidence. The Jasper Guarantee locks your tuition rate for all four years—ensuring financial stability and eliminating unexpected increases as you work toward your degree.
More than 90% of Manhattan University students receive some form of financial assistance, including merit scholarships, grants, and need-based aid, significantly reducing the overall cost of attendance.
- [View Tuition & Fees](/admissions/financial-aid/tuition)
- [Explore Financial Aid](/admissions/financial-aid/undergraduate)
- [Learn More About Scholarships](/admissions/financial-aid/loans-grants/scholarships-and-grants)
- [Learn About the Jasper Guarantee](/admissions/undergraduate/jasper-guarantee)
A Manhattan University education is an investment in your future, and we are dedicated to helping you access the resources that make it possible.
[Learn More About Costs and Financial Aid](/admissions/financial-aid/)
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A Smarter Investment in Your Future
## Jasper Guarantee
At Manhattan University, every undergraduate student is protected by the Jasper Guarantee, which locks your tuition rate for all four years, ensuring clarity, stability, and peace of mind as you plan your education. This promise reflects our commitment to affordability and to supporting students and families throughout their academic journey.
[ Learn More About the Jasper Guarantee ](/admissions/undergraduate/jasper-guarantee)
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Admission Information ## Admissions Information
**Start Your Journey with Interdisciplinary Studies**
Applying to Manhattan University is designed to be clear and accessible. Review the requirements and key deadlines below to take the next step toward a future in data-driven business.
**Requirements:**
- Application & transcript
- SAT/ACT optional
- Personal statement
- Letter(s) of recommendation
**Deadlines:**
- Early Action: November 15
- Regular Decision: February 1
[Admission and Application Process](/admissions/financial-aid/)
### International Students:
Support available for visas, documentation, and English-language assessments.
[Learn More about International Financial Aid](/admissions/international/financial-aid/)
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## Prepare for the Real World
At Manhattan University, your education is built around who you are and where you want to go. Whether you’re ready to apply or just starting to explore, take the next step when you’re ready — we’re here to help.
[Visit Manhattan University](/admissions/visit)
[Apply Today](/admissions/apply)
[Request Information](/admissions/request-information)
[Explore Virtual Tour](https://www.youvisit.com/tour/62170/)
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