Interdisciplinary Studies Overview & Goals

Complex problems require interdisciplinary approaches if valid solutions are to be found. Interdisciplinary Studies at Bethany College is a program that responds to this need. It houses courses, majors, and minors that cross departmental lines. Majors and minors can be student-initiated or faculty-sponsored. The program, designed to create a broader array of educational opportunities, assists individual students to design, propose, and complete a coherent, individualized, interdisciplinary degree program that is not currently available at Bethany. Similarly, faculty are invited to propose new interdisciplinary programs to serve the needs of their students.

Current faculty-initiated interdisciplinary majors include: Education and Psychology; Environmental Science; German Studies; International Economics with Study Abroad; International Relations; Music Technology; and Psychology, Religion and Culture. Minors are offered in Medieval and Renaissance Studies; Nonprofit Management; Nonprofit Marketing; and Women’s Studies.

The new Bachelor of Arts in Music Technology provides the student with a firm foundation in the creation, performance, presentation, and recording of music in a variety of contexts: live, audio and video recording, and internet streaming. Internships provide experience with an off-campus recording studio, media organization, communication agency, or professional performance groups for the Music Technology Major. On-campus events also give Music Technology students opportunities in performance, composition, audio recording, and live sound applications.