9 Interdisciplinary UG Programmes In The US You Should Consider

The United States’ approach to undergraduate interdisciplinary education has been adopted by universities across the world and has emerged as a unique model in countries like the Netherlands, India, and Singapore. Having been the crucible for interdisciplinary approaches to academia, universities in the US have taken one step forward:-

• In addition to the process where students ‘declare’ their major after two years of engagement with an open curriculum, universities have started designing unique majors inspired by a combination of different subjects - often cutting through conventional divisions of departments, schools, and subject groupings.
• These programmes offer unique benefits to students- they allow them to combine diverse interests and specialise in an intersection that might open up advantageous career paths.
• Moreover, combining different subject fields gives rise to novel approaches and topics in academic research and allows students and lecturers to develop more relevant approaches to exploration.

Given their novelty and utility, it is no surprise that the most prestigious undergraduate interdisciplinary programmes are offered by some of the most selective and prestigious universities in the United States.

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The USA’s Approach To Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Education Has Been Adopted By Universities Across India

Interdisciplinary Programmes In The US

Let us now dive more deeply into some of the most highly-rated interdisciplinary programmes in the US:-

Manufacturing And Design Engineering (MaDE) - Northwestern University

The Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing and Design Engineering (MaDE) is offered by the Segal Design Institute at the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University. This course is focussed on all aspects of product realisation ranging from product design to manufacturing technologies and operations.

The curriculum aims to equip students with the ability to integrate various design and manufacturing processes into an effective system. Given the increasing focus on product and process design in the technology-driven economy and environment that surrounds us, this course enables students to integrate various design and manufacturing processes into an effective system for delivering value to the end user.

In addition to its accreditation by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, this unique and user-centric approach to value delivery makes graduates of this programme sought after by leading companies involved in the technology and/or manufacturing industries in the United States and beyond.

Computer And Cognitive Science - University Of Pennsylvania

The combined Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) and BAS and Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Computer and Cognitive Science are offered jointly by the School of Arts & Sciences and the School of Engineering & Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania. It combines studies in computer science and engineering with Linguistics, Mathematics, Philosophy, or Psychology. Computer and Cognitive Science is at the centre of developments in machine learning, artificial intelligence, neural networks, and human-computer interaction.

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Huntsman Program In International Studies And Business - University Of Pennsylvania

This highly prestigious interdisciplinary program in International Relations, Economics, and Business is jointly offered by the School of Arts & Sciences and the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania. This programme seeks to prepare students for leadership roles in diverse career paths including consulting, finance, medicine, politics, diplomacy, and the nonprofit sector.

Dual-Degree Engineering Program - Dartmouth College

One of the most unique programmes out of those we’re discussing, this allows students from other liberal arts colleges the opportunity to earn an engineering major from Dartmouth College. This programme is 5-year long, with students spending their final three years at Dartmouth Engineering. Students earn two degrees- a Liberal Arts degree from their home college and a BS in Engineering from Dartmouth. 20 of the most highly ranked liberal arts colleges are associated with this programme, and it allows students to combine unique specialisations in the liberal arts and engineering to carve a niche for themselves in the job market.

Jerome Fisher Program In Management And Technology - University Of Pennsylvania

Yet another highly competitive programme offered jointly by the School of Engineering & Applied Science and the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania. The rationale for having a joint engineering and business degree at the undergraduate level was derived from the fact that an understanding of the engineering and technology fundamentals is as essential to the nurturing of leaders in business as is the understanding of principles in management and economics.

Students enrolled in this programme pursue degrees from both schools concurrently, and this enables students not only to understand engineering and business independently but also to gain insights into how the integration of an intersection of these fields critically shapes our environment and economy. In addition to its attractive placement rates and a cohort of professors, the flexibility afforded to students in designing their specialisations makes this course highly attractive to students with leading profiles and SAT scores.

Dikran Izmirlian B.S. In Business and Global Affairs - Georgetown University

The Dikran Izmirlian Program in Business and Global Affairs (BGA) is offered jointly by the Walsh School of Foreign Service and the McDonough School of Business. Students pursue courses in both schools concurrently and have the opportunity to interact with a diverse cohort of students and educators who are focused on solving critical challenges in global governance and business to create a sustainable impact in communities.

Through a 4-year programme, students engage with the faculty of both schools and explore the complex interactions at the intersection of business, geopolitics, and global policy. The unique environment of Washington DC further enhances the opportunities afforded to undergraduate students enrolled in this programme.

Most Prestigious Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Programmes Are Offered By Universities In The US

Vagelos Integrated Program In Energy Research (VIPER) - University Of Pennsylvania

The Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER) is focused on the discovery and development of sustainable ways of harnessing, converting, and using energy, and is offered jointly by the School of Arts & Sciences and the School of Engineering & Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania. Students earn dual Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) degrees by combining majors from each school.

Through this programme, students can combine Physics and Astronomy, Chemistry, Biology, or Mathematics from SAS with Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics from SEAS. It also gives students the opportunity to earn a master’s degree through an optional fifth year of study.

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BS In Business And Political Economy - New York University

NYU Stern’s Business and Political Economy (BPE) degree explores the intersection of liberal arts, business fundamentals and social impact learning. This unique programme offered by one of the leading business schools in the United States mandates students to complete three semesters in universities abroad to gain a holistic understanding of the complexities of the global business environment. Students pursue attractive careers in government, non-profits, or corporates after completing this degree

Life Sciences and Management (LSM) - University Of Pennsylvania

A joint undergraduate programme in Life Sciences and Management is offered by the School of Arts & Sciences and the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania. This program is focused on the principle of improving social impact by taking scientific discoveries in life sciences and medicine to the market so that they may be accessible to society at large.

Only 25 students are enrolled in this program each year, and each of them earns two degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in a Life Science major and a Bachelor of Science in Economics. The LSM programme sets students up for prestigious graduate programs including MDs, PhDs, MBAs, and JDs. Moreover, it opens attractive career pathways in healthcare; biomedical, agricultural, and environmental research, development and public policy; and financial and strategic management.

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Communication And Engineering - Northwestern University

The dual-degree programme in communication and engineering offers students the opportunity to earn both a BS in Engineering and either a BS or BA in communication. This 5-year long degree consists of two majors- one each from the options available in the communication and engineering schools. Northwestern University also allows its students to combine BS in Engineering majors (from the McCormick School of Engineering) with specialisations in music.

Research thoroughly on official sources, evaluate all related factors, be it finances involved or eligibility criteria, and seek help from qualified and experienced counsellors before you choose your best-fit interdisciplinary programme in the US.

Vijeeth Srinivas is a development consultant with more than extensive experience in the foreign education industry. With the Centre for Career Development and Essai Education he has helped hundreds of students secure positions in leading universities abroad. He is keen to make novel developments in education and skill development more accessible to students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.