Our History

The Program in Interdisciplinary Studies accepted its first students in Fall of 2010.  Our history, however, dates back to the beginning of the college when it was known as the Upper Division College at Herkimer-Rome-Utica.  We began as the General Studies Program, were one of the original undergraduate degree programs offered at the college, and over the next 40 years graduated students with Bachelor of Arts degrees and saw them go on to have successful careers in professions and occupations as diverse as they are, becoming teachers, lawyers, business owners, and community leaders.

Time, of course, never stands still: our world has become more interconnected and interdependent, SUNY at Utica/Rome has become SUNY Institute of Technology, and our program has evolved as well.  Building upon our experience with the General Studies Program, we adapted the B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies to a changing world with a new program core aimed at understanding the diverse forms of knowledge and experience that characterize our increasingly complex and globalized world.  Despite these changes, our core values persist: like General Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies remains committed to critical, analytical thinking grounded in humanistic modes of inquiry, exploring the world through a multiplicity of perspectives, and empowering students to pursue their own interests within the context of this broader understanding.

What will never change is the fact that whether a student earns a B.A. in General Studies or a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies, each one will always be a member of our intellectual family.  We encourage you to stay in touch and to remember we are here to support you in your endeavors.

Reconnect with General Studies and Interdisciplinary Studies alumni on our Alumni Group on Linkedin.com.