Interdisciplinary Studies in Liberal Arts
College of Liberal Arts
Interdisciplinary Studies in Liberal Arts provides a wider perspective and broader educational experiences than more traditional majors. The path you follow in this degree is driven by your own interests, questions and career aspirations.
San Luis Obispo, California
The curriculum consists of a common set of core courses plus electives tailored to your individualized plan of study. You will also have a large number of free electives that allow you to focus on the issues, problems and skills you are passionate about.
Students in the Interdisciplinary Studies in Liberal Arts major choose one concentration based on their interests and career goals.
Ethics, Law and Social Justice
How do laws reflect the values of a society? And who benefits from them? In this concentration, you’ll study how history, culture and social movements influence the legal system. You’ll examine how people’s identities and values affect their experiences with laws and courts. Through discussion, research and real-world examples, you’ll learn to think critically about the role of law in everyday life.
Global Citizenship and Social Sustainability
Sustainability is about more than the environment. This concentration looks at sustainability from social, cultural, economic and environmental perspectives. You’ll study how communities around the world balance growth, equity and environmental care. Coursework encourages you to think about long-term solutions that support people, cultures and the planet.
Health and Society
Examine how society impacts people’s health. In this concentration, you’ll explore how factors such as gender, race, class and culture affect mental and physical health. You’ll study health systems and institutions in both U.S. and global contexts. Students analyze how politics, environment and culture influence health outcomes and access to care.
Science, Technology and Society
New technologies change how we live, work and connect. With this concentration, you’ll examine real-world challenges created by new technologies and develop thoughtful, practical solutions. Coursework connects ideas from the humanities, social sciences and technical fields.
Visual Media and Cultural Studies
Images and stories influence how we see the world. In this concentration, you’ll study how art, film, digital media and other cultural forms reflect and shape social and political life. You’ll explore how media affects identity, power and social change. Through critical analysis and applied projects, you’ll gain tools to understand today’s rapidly changing media landscape.
About the Program
Interdisciplinary Studies in Liberal Arts allows you to combine the best of several subject areas around a single theme to tackle the global challenges we face today.
As part of the major, you'll select one of seven emphasis areas to help focus your work and empower you to change the world. In each area of emphasis, you will learn to critically and creatively think and communicate across disciplines in order to take a holistic approach to problem solving. This could mean understanding the interconnections of film and social justice or developing better social and policy responses to future health or climate challenges. In interdisciplinary studies, you will engage in research projects and other activities that will help you develop the intellectual and practical skills necessary to create a more inclusive, just and equitable world.
Learn by Doing
From researching how race impacts the justice system to developing tools to allow the public greater understanding of emerging sciences and technologies, you will find many opportunities to engage in hands-on learning. This may mean working with a nonprofit in developing tools to illustrate the consequences of global climate change. It could mean researching and accessing methods of scientific testimony to the California legislature. Interdisciplinary studies allows you to decide what you want to study and encourages hands-on research and internships.
Make a Short Film
Write the script for and produce a short fictional film or documentary, like the students in ISLA 341 class.
Watch their Short CutsOur Graduates
Broad-based training in interdisciplinary studies develops the essential skills desired by employers and prepares our graduates for their future careers.
This includes a vast range of fields, including business, education, the arts, public administration, advocacy, law and more. Our alumni have also been accepted into graduate programs in divinity, environmental studies, health professions, humanities, interdisciplinary studies, law, management and social sciences.