Interdisciplinary studies is an expanding, exciting academic area in which students study, conduct research, and do creative work in subject areas that span multiple traditional academic disciplines. It has developed out of recognition that responses to complex problems and challenges require a combination of the intellectual tools available from a wide range of academic disciplines. Students with interdisciplinary studies backgrounds are well-prepared for the fluidly changing realities of the professional world as well as future study in an ever more interdisciplinary academic arena.
The Interdisciplinary Studies Department provides a number of major, minor, and concentration programs for students interested in subjects that span multiple traditional academic disciplines. The growing list includes the following options:
- Self-designed interdisciplinary major of Liberal Studies
- Minors (18 credits) in African and African Diaspora Studies; Asian Studies; Ethnic Studies; and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
- Concentrations (15 credits) in Environmental and Sustainability Studies; Ethnic Studies; Global Studies; and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Some courses in these areas are offered by the Interdisciplinary Studies Department, while many other courses are offered in other departments across the university’s curriculum. Worcester State’s Student Planning platform allows students to search for all courses offered in a given semester in a specific program.
Student Stories
Liberal Studies at Worcester State
Legacy in action: Worcester State University celebrates MLK and local youth
On January 17, community members, civic leaders, and students from across the region joined Worcester State University for the 32nd Annual MLK Youth Breakfast, presented by the university’s Office of Multicultural Affairs. The event served as a powerful tribute to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. while centering on the theme “Bold Roots […]
Annual Math Madness draws hundreds of local schoolchildren to cheer on Worcester State Women’s Basketball
More than 500 students from local elementary schools filled the stands with cheers and curiosity as Worcester State University hosted its 16th annual Math Madness event on January 12, blending basketball excitement with hands-on learning. The annual event invites young students to sharpen their math skills by applying classroom concepts in a real-world setting—a live […]
Worcester State takes to the streets with a new kind of school bus
Worcester State has turned a city bus into a rolling celebration of opportunity for university graduates. In partnership with the Worcester Regional Transit Authority, the university has wrapped a full-sized vehicle in Lancer blue, complete with its logo and an unmissable picture of two real-life Worcester State graduates, each dressed in cap and gown. Befitting […]
Key takeaways and humorous insights from Mo Rocca’s campus talk
Renowned storyteller and TV personality Mo Rocca recently brought his unique brand of historical exploration to Worcester State University, offering insightful and often amusing commentary on history as well as modern life. Rocca, known for his work on CBS Sunday Morning and his podcast “Mobituaries,” delighted the crowd with his infectious enthusiasm for uncovering hidden […]
Journalist, author, and humorist Mo Rocca to speak on campus
Appearing in partnership with the Museum of Worcester, the Emmy-winning CBS correspondent Mo Rocca is set to speak at Worcester State University on December 3. Rocca is famous for his humorous yet poignant storytelling, which touches on everything from presidential history to inventors past and present. Fittingly, the event will feature Rocca sharing “stories that […]
Students, donors celebrate record-breaking scholarship support
Nearly 300 donors and students gathered on campus recently for the university’s Scholarship Brunch. Held annually, the event connects scholarship donors and recipients, giving them the chance to meet in person, often for the first time, and to build relationships with one another. This year’s brunch was particularly special, as it coincided with record-breaking scholarship […]
Journalist Jonathan Martin Discusses the State of American Politics at Worcester State University
Political journalist Jonathan Martin visited Worcester State University on October 22 to participate in a discussion on the current state of American politics. Martin, politics bureau chief and senior political columnist at Politico, was joined onstage by two university political science faculty members, Anthony Dell’Aera and Nathan Angelo, who took turns posing wide-ranging questions for […]
Eminent political journalist Jonathan Martin to speak at Worcester State
Jonathan Martin, influential political journalist and fellow at the University of Southern California’s Center for the Political Future, will visit Worcester State University for an in-depth conversation on politics and journalism in the present time. The event is scheduled for 11:30 a.m-1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 22, in Sullivan Auditorium and is free and open […]