Boost Your Career or Create Your Own Plan of Study
The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies program at the University of Michigan-Flint is for highly motivated students who want to take charge of their lives and careers. It offers two pathways:
- The Accelerated Online Degree Completion (AODC) pathway is for adults with some college but no degree. UM-Flint faculty teach the courses online, and you can view them at your convenience during seven-week parts of term. They cover areas like digital communications and data science where the demand for skilled workers is high.
- The traditional pathway is for self-directed students who want to design their own unique, interdisciplinary curriculum. Students choose courses from at least two disciplines in consultation with their faculty advisors.
Whichever path you take, your future awaits at the end.
How the AODC Pathway Works
If you’re an adult with some college but no degree, the Accelerated Online Degree Completion pathway can equip you with in-demand skills and a respected University of Michigan degree. Whether you want to advance in your current career or find a new one, the AODC pathway increases your options and your leverage.
As an AODC student, you pursue at least two 12-credit certificates developed specifically for this program and a total of 30 credits overall. Certificates are available in:
- Cybersecurity
- Data science
- Digital communication
All your courses are online, and you can log into them at your convenience over a seven-week part of term. This makes them ideal for working adults who want to learn new skills but can’t attend daytime classes. Expert UM-Flint faculty teach the courses – the same faculty you’d see if you took classes on campus.
Upon successful completion of the 30-credit ADOC curriculum, you receive certificates that recognize your achievement. You also can apply your credits toward the 120-credit Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree. If you already have 90 other credits, you’ve completed the degree requirements!
How the Traditional Pathway Works
If you want an interdisciplinary program that you design yourself, the traditional pathway is for you. You choose at least two faculty advisors to help you create it. Because the spirit of the program is interdisciplinary, you must choose the majority of courses from at least two disciplines.
Your plan of study should include 39 credits, plus a six-credit senior project. It cannot be a minor variation of an existing program. You also choose 75 credits of electives to meet UM-Flint degree requirements.
Academic Advising for Interdisciplinary Studies Majors
With so many educational opportunities and career paths available to our interdisciplinary studies majors, we strongly encourage you to meet regularly with your academic advisor. Our advisors can help you choose classes, navigate program requirements, overcome personal issues, find internships, explore career or graduate school options, and more.
Who your advisor is depends on the pathway you choose. For the Accelerated Online Degree Completion pathway, Stephanie Martiny is the dedicated academic advisor. You can contact her at [email protected] or 810-488-0571. For the traditional pathway, Aaron Bagwell is the advisor. You can contact him at [email protected] or 810-762-3124.
Career Opportunities in Interdisciplinary Studies
The certificates or degree you earn in UM-Flint’s interdisciplinary studies program will open the door to a wide range of career opportunities. For students who design their own program, the sky’s the limit. For students in the Accelerated Online Degree Completion program, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects exceptional growth in selected career options:
- Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers
- Job growth through 2031: 10 percent
- Job openings annually through 2031: 35,300
- Typical entry-level education required: Bachelor’s degree
- Median annual salary: $133,380
- Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Job growth through 2031: 16 percent
- Job openings annually through 2031: 48,500
- Typical entry-level education required: Bachelor’s degree
- Median annual salary: $159,010
- Data Scientists
- Job growth through 2031: 36 percent
- Job openings annually through 2031: 13,500
- Typical entry-level education required: Bachelor’s degree
- Median annual salary: $100,910
- Information Security Analysts
- Job growth through 2031: 35 percent
- Job openings annually through 2031: 19,500
- Typical entry-level education required: Bachelor’s degree
- Median annual salary: $102,600
- Market Research Analysts
- Job growth through 2031: 19 percent
- Job openings annually through 2031: 99,800
- Typical entry-level education required: Bachelor’s degree
- Median annual salary: $63,920
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators
- Job growth through 2031: 3 percent
- Job openings annually through 2031: 23,900
- Typical entry-level education required: Bachelor’s degree
- Median annual salary: $80,600
Boost Your Career Today
Whether you’re an adult with some college, who wants new skills or a student who wants to create a unique plan of study, apply to the University of Michigan-Flint’s Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies program today. If you have questions, you can contact Stephanie Martiny (Accelerated Online Degree Completion pathway) at [email protected] or 810-488-0571 or Aaron Bagwell (traditional pathway) at [email protected] or 810-762-3124.