Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies Program

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Our top-ranked program offers a broad liberal arts degree with marketable skills and real-world experience, including an option to specialize in K-5 education.

  1. College of Arts & Sciences
  2. Academic Departments
  3. Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies Program

Welcome to our Program

This major, Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies (IDLS), is for students who have decided to gain a broad and deep education rather than be narrowly focused. Flexibility to choose courses that match your interests provides you with solid preparation for a rewarding career or graduate school. 

Businesses and communities need creative problem-solvers, leaders and integrative thinkers, which means it is no longer enough to be limited to one discipline.

We are proud to be members of Association for Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS), our professional organization which promotes the interchange of ideas among scholars and administrators in all of the arts and sciences on intellectual and organizational issues related to furthering integrative studies.

Right Here In Thriving Urban Seattle

Graduate with mortar board text closer to my dreams

#2 in Washington, Liberal Arts Studies

Top 10% in the Nation

College Factual
#4

In The Nation, Best Integrative Studies, Best Colleges

Hear From Our Alumni

Photo of Olivia Gaughra

Olivia Gaughran

"I feel equipped to converse with professionals about real-world problems in an informed and compassionate way and to converse about complex global problems with the communities around me."

BA, Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies, '21

Value: Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies Degree

are working in every kind of business imaginable and teaching K-8 across the United States and abroad. Others have pursued Masters and Doctorate degrees, including at Harvard, Stanford and Columbia U.

for program graduates include Google, AmeriCorps, T-Mobile, Seattle Public Schools, Yahoo, Seattle University, Efelle Media, Verus Investments, State of Washington Pediatric Association, Seattle Mariners, Blitz Digital Agency, Seattle Children’s Hospital, U.S. Government and Pushpay.

come from being trained as an interdisciplinarian:

  • project-management,
  • effective communication,
  • teamwork,
  • leadership,
  • strategic thinking,
  • creativity,
  • enterprise.

Beyond the Classroom

Student sketching in class

Internships and Careers

You will be encouraged to participate in internships, with support from our program to find opportunities that align with your goals and to prepare you to seek the career you want.

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Students with membership certificate for honor society

Alpha Iota Sigma Honor Society

Our Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies program is the first and only program on the West Coast to qualify for a chapter of the national honor society for interdisciplinary studies.

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Meet the rest of our faculty