Have a question about the Interdisciplinary Studies Program?  Here are some of the answers we are working on.  If you have a question that is not addressed here, feel free to contact Dr. Daryl Lee, Program Coordinator, with any questions at daryl.lee@sunyit.edu or 315-792-7320.

Q: What careers does a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies prepare me for?

A: The career paths taken by our graduates are as diverse and individual as each of them.  Many of our graduates become teachers.  Several have gone on to law school.  We have graduates who are entrepreneurs, small business owners, or have jobs in the private sector.  Others work in the public sector or pursue careers with community organizations.  A significant proportion of our graduates continue their education and pursue graduate degrees in fields ranging from counselling to library science.  To put it another way, the Interdisciplinary Studies Program is designed to empower students to identify, define, and pursue their own interests, whatever those may be.

Q: I'm considering other programs as well as Interdisciplinary Studies.  What are the strengths of your program?

A: The Interdisciplinary Studies Program at SUNYIT has some particular strengths that are worth considering.  First, our program core is both innovative and unique.  Unlike many interdisciplinary studies, individualized studies, and liberal arts programs, our program is built around a core of courses that both models and teaches interdisciplinary modes of inquiry.  In other words, our program is not just a collection of courses in different disciplines - it is a program that conceptualizes knowledge and the world in a fundamentally interdisciplinary manner and teaches students how to become interdisciplinary thinkers.  Second, the vast majority of our courses (over 90%) are taught by full-time faculty with doctoral degrees who are invested in the success of our students.  Third, because we are at SUNYIT, we have a special interest in the interrelationships among technology, culture, and society and are engaged in critical examination of the technological forces that are reshaping our world.  Fourth, because we are at a relatively small college, we are able to maintain small class sizes (most of our courses have around 20 students) and provide individualized advising and attention.

Q. I'm interested in transferring to Interdisciplinary Studies from another program.  Will all my credits transfer?

A. It depends on your situation but in most cases the majority can be transferred.  An incoming student can transfer in a total of 64 lower-division credits and additional upper-division credits.  If you are in your first two years of college, then in most cases you will be able to transfer the majority of your credits into the IDS program.  If you are further into your current degree, you may not be able to fit all your earned credits into your IDS program of study because you will need the space to meet the IDS program requirements.  If, however, you plan on utilizing your current program as your area of concentration in IDS, then up to 20 of the credits in your current discipline can be used as part of your IDS program.

In the end, every case will be different, so the best answer is to contact the IDS program coordinator or other faculty advisor and discuss your particular situation.

Q. What is the image on your masthead?

A. We struggled for a long time to think of an image that represented "Interdisciplinary Studies."  Then, while we were chatting in one of our offices, we realized that what best represented what we think, what we do, and what we are was right in front of us: the piles of books, papers, tools, and artifacts that populate each of our desks.  Because as messy, random, and chaotic as our desks may appear, everything is there for some reason, and there are underlying threads, themes, and logics that connect each item to the others around it and, ultimately, to each of us.  This is what Interdisciplinary Studies is about: exploring, establishing connections, and making sense of the messy place that is our world.  (So, to answer the question, the image is of Dr. Walter Johnston's desk.  Drop by sometime and you will discover it is quite an accurate depiction.)

Q: Where can I learn more about the B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies?

A: You can always check out our official website, our print brochures, and, of course, browse this website.  But we encourage you to meet with one of our faculty, so feel free to contact the Program Coordinator or one of our faculty advisors.