The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies program at Arizona State University is a fairly new concept that is growing at an enormous rate. This concept was originated so that students could have an opportunity to get a well-rounded degree. Most degrees at ASU are teaching the students how to specialize in their specific area. This program focuses on two separate concentrations instead of just one. Instead of being a specialist, the students are taught how to incorporate multiple aspects into one. These skills can be very useful in the work place since the students are taught how to be better-rounded. This degree is seen as if the students have a double major. It is true that they do have two concentrations, but the way that the BIS program is teaching the students differently then having a double major. When getting a double major you are becoming a specialist in two different areas. There is no connection between the different degrees. In the BIS program the students also have two different areas, but the difference is the core classes that they have to take. In these classes the students learn how to incorporate both of their concentrations. They are taught to be able to draw connections from all of their classes to understand more aspects. This degree is better then a double major because in the BIS program students are taught how to use all of the skills they learn together.

             I chose the BIS program because I was having a hard time just picking one degree. I feel that I am a person of many different aspects and to limit myself to one area was very difficult for me. When I heard about this degree I was impressed with the options. I was also not going to have to lose time for changing my major. The BIS program is made to help you accomplish your goal of graduation without holding you back with its requirements. Not to say that they don’t have requirements, but the ones that they do have are set up to help the student maximize their time.

             There are four core courses that are required in the BIS program. In 301 we were taught about the fundamentals of interdisciplinary thought process and how to incorporate these examples into everyday life. This class prepared me how to interact with people on many different levels. Being prepared for the job market, communicating with others, and working with others. In 302 we focused on group work and research processing. We were assigned a group in the beginning of the semester and we researched dental insurance. What people who could not afford the coverage could do to get their teeth worked on. This class taught us about group work and how to do research. After we did surveys we put the information that we found into data and wrote a research paper about the results. In 401 I did an internship at a local lighting gallery. I trained as the office manager and this experience was very hands-on. I got to see how a company is ran and I got to help perform needed tasks. In 402 we have been learning about creativity and how it is very important in the world. How seeing connections in everything and thinking outside of the box can help us succeed better in the world. This class has taught us that we cannot always follow the rules and that we are as creative as we try to be.