Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies

Types of Degrees Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many multi / interdisciplinary studies graduations there were for each degree level during the last year for which data was available.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Bachelor’s Degree	57,561
Associate Degree	30,896
Master’s Degree	21,805
Basic Certificate	6,482
Graduate Certificate	3,497
Undergraduate Certificate	1,678
Doctor’s Degree	1,286

What Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies Majors Need to Know

In an O*NET survey, multi / interdisciplinary studies majors were asked to rate what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important in their occupations. These answers were weighted on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important.

Knowledge Areas for Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies Majors

This major prepares you for careers in which these knowledge areas are important:

• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Skills for Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies Majors

When studying multi / interdisciplinary studies, you’ll learn many skills that will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs - even those that do not require a degree in the field. The following is a list of some of the most common skills needed for careers associated with this major:

• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Abilities for Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies Majors

Some of the most crucial abilities to master while a multi / interdisciplinary studies student include the following:

• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

What Can You Do With a Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies Major?

People with a multi / interdisciplinary studies degree often go into the following careers:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Anthropologists	3.9%	$62,410
Archivists	14.7%	$52,240
Auditors	10.0%	$70,500
Curators	13.7%	$53,780
Database Architects	9.3%	$90,270
Dietetic Technicians	9.3%	$27,140
Dietitians and Nutritionists	14.6%	$60,370
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health	11.1%	$71,130
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers	14.1%	$91,130
Geospatial Information Scientists and Technologists	9.3%	$90,270
Historians	6.1%	$61,140
Life Scientists	9.0%	$78,190
Mathematical Science Occupations	9.1%	NA
Museum Technicians and Conservators	12.7%	$43,020
Political Scientists	2.7%	$117,570
Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists	6.8%	$107,230
Transportation Planners	6.7%	$81,340
Web Administrators	9.3%	$90,270
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists	7.7%	$63,420

Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies?

The major attracts more women than men. About 63% of the recent graduates in this field are female.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of multi / interdisciplinary studies majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	5,305
Black or African American	5,958
Hispanic or Latino	10,265
White	27,743
International Students	3,510
Other Races/Ethnicities	4,780

Geographic Diversity

Students from other countries are interested in Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies, too. About 6.1% of those with this major are international students.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies

Some careers associated with multi / interdisciplinary studies require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to multi / interdisciplinary studies have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma	1.1%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	3.3%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)	1.8%
Some College Courses	3.4%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	3.1%
Bachelor’s Degree	32.2%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.	4.6%
Master’s Degree	26.7%
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.	1.2%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.	0.8%
Doctoral Degree	13.9%
Post-Doctoral Training	8.0%

Online Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies Programs

The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	218	32
Certificate (2-4 Years)	34	2
Associate’s Degree	1,372	208
Bachelor’s Degree	1,350	336
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	2,504	448
Post-Master’s	220	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	712	28
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	8	2
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	6	4

Majors Related to Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to multi / interdisciplinary studies.

Major	Number of Grads

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020

More about our data sources and methodologies.