The 5 Best Master’s in Interdisciplinary Studies
Updated November 8, 2022 · 2 Min Read
While bachelor's programs in interdisciplinary studies are more common, master's in interdisciplinary studies online programs give students the opportunity to study a diverse range of academic disciplines in more depth. Often, these programs offer students the flexibility of customizing their own unique area of study by combining two or more subjects. The results are typically specializations not found at most colleges and universities as predefined degree programs. In this ranking, we explore the 5 best online master's in interdisciplinary studies programs. top online colleges.
Featured Online Schools
Rating and Ranking Methodology
Tuition Points:
- Under $25,000—1 point
- Under $20,000—2 points
- Under $15,000—3 points
- Under $10,000—4 points
- Under $5,000—5 points
U.S. News & World Report’s Ranking
- Top 25—6 points
- Top 50—5 points
- Top 100—4 points
- Top 150 –3 points
- Top 200—2 points
- Top 250—1 point
Customization Options
• Format Customizations (e.g. Hybrid/Online, Full-time/Part-Time, Accelerated, Degree Completion, etc.)—1 Point Per Customization Option
Wow Factor
• 1 point awarded for each unique feature or program that “wowed” us
Ranking the Best Online Interdisciplinary Studies Master's Programs
To develop the following ranking of the best interdisciplinary studies master's programs online, our editors started with an initial pool of 36 programs. They visited each of these program's websites, gathering data on scheduling customizations, curriculum details, and unique program features. They also considered tuition information from College Navigator and national rankings published by US News & World Report. Finally, they applied the rating and ranking methodology above, using tuition to break any ties in the ranking.
Online Graduate Liberal Studies
Points: 12
The online master’s in interdisciplinary studies offering from the University of North Carolina- Wilmington is an online graduate liberal studies degree with concentrations in Conflict Management and Resolution and Women’s and Gender Studies. There is only one required course: Contemporary Issues in Liberal Studies. Elective classes include Post-Modern Childhood, Media and Society, The Shaping of America: Cultural Landscapes and the American Sense of Place, and The Contemporary American Workplace. Students must also complete an internship and exit exam prior to receiving their master’s in interdisciplinary studies online degree.
In-State Tuition: $4,626
Online Master of Liberal Studies
Points: 9
The 31-credit hour online master’s in interdisciplinary studies from Fort Hays State University is offered through the school’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. There are several concentration options available, including E-Learning, Global Studies, Social Media Management, International Enterprise Management, and more. Despite which concentration they choose, all students will take core courses such as Origins and Implications of the Knowledge Society, Ways of Knowing in Comparative Perspective, Introduction to Graduate Liberal Studies, and Information Literacy. Students may opt to complete a thesis, internship, or applied research project as culminating components of their online master’s interdisciplinary studies programs.
In-State Tuition: $3,497
Online Master of Interdisciplinary Studies
Points: 9
Southern Utah University offers online master’s degrees in interdisciplinary studies that can be earned either completely online or via a hybrid format. Areas of study include arts administration, business administration, corporate online training, cybersecurity, information assurance, library media, music technology, online teaching, leadership skills, public administration, and more. Specific course titles include Leadership Development in the Arts, Foundations of Economics, Digital Forensics, and Communications Theory. Courses are delivered via a blend of synchronous and asynchronous components. Prior to earning their master’s degrees in interdisciplinary studies online, students must also complete a capstone project.
In-State Tuition: $7,462
Online MA in Humanities
Points: 9
Salve Regina University offers an online master’s in interdisciplinary studies with concentrations in humanitarian assistance; religion, peace, and justice; and public humanities. All students enrolled in the program will take required courses such as Social and Ethical Issues: A Global Perspective, Global and Comparative Literature I and II, and Global Traditions and Area Studies I and II. Depending upon their chosen concentration, students will also take classes like A History of Technology, Organizational Transformation and Change, and International Human Rights. In order to complete the requirements for their online interdisciplinary studies master’s degrees, students must also complete an internship or field experience and a thesis.
In-State Tuition: $10,170
Online MA in Liberal Studies in American Culture
Points: 9
The unique online master’s in interdisciplinary studies offering from the University of Michigan-Flint is an online MA in Liberal Studies that emphasizes American Culture and community engagement. Offered through the Rackham School of Graduate Studies, the program features core courses such as Topics on American Institutions, The American Character, and The United States in Comparative Perspective. Students will also choose from elective courses such as The Mind of America, History of Ethnicity and Race in the United States, and American Artistic Traditions. Students can opt to take these courses on a part-time or full-time basis. In addition to this interdisciplinary studies MA online, a graduate certificate in business is also available.
In-State Tuition: $10,413
This concludes our ranking of the Top 5 Online Master's in Interdisciplinary Studies. Thanks for checking it out!
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