Interdisciplinary Studies, BA
Recent social movements in California and across the United States have highlighted the need for reform in our community institutions to establish equity, access, and social justice. Our Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Educational and Community Leadership will prepare you to meet this need.

Program Information
Next Start
August 2023
Program Format
8-week courses, 5 terms year-round
Program Length
2 or 3 years, 50–60 units
Cost Per Unit
$450 · Financial aid and scholarships available
Application Deadlines
July 15 for Fall · November 15 for Spring · April 15 for Summer
Create Change and Tackle Inequality
Interdisciplinary studies combines a variety of academic disciplines including education and the social sciences and empowers students to promote change for social justice in their communities as they advance in their careers.
Our Bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies is located in our SJSU Lurie College of Education. The courses are designed and taught by our renowned SJSU faculty, which means that you will earn the same quality degree as all of our SJSU graduates and have the same opportunity to proudly cross the stage during your SJSU commencement ceremony.
Admissions Requirements
To be eligible for admission to this program, applicants must fulfill our general SJSU Online requirements. Students who choose the Early Childhood Education specialization pathway must also have or find access to field placement in a suitable early childhood setting. Contact our Enrollment Counseling team if you have any admissions questions or would like support with completing your application.
Valuable Learning Experiences
Our program combines courses from our Departments of Child and Adolescent Development, Communicative Disorders and Sciences, Educational Leadership, Special Education, and Teacher Education and includes plenty of opportunities to apply your learning within and beyond your classes. Completing our program will enhance your ability to:
- Demonstrate leadership skills that promote change for the betterment of all individuals within a community system.
- Create interdisciplinary strategies to manage challenges within one’s professional field.
- Advocate an anti-racist approach to establish social justice with diverse communities.
Featured Classes

Inclusive Education Concentration
Prepare to work with diverse communities – both in school and beyond school education settings – through pathways such as teacher credential programs, special education credential programs, afterschool programs, and resource coordinators. Complete special education credential courses so that you can later complete a special education credential at SJSU with fewer courses and enroll in the credential as an intern.

Early Childhood Education Concentration
Prepare to qualify for a Master Teacher and Site Supervisor Early Childhood Permit. This pathway is recommended if you are interested in later pursuing a credential to become a transitional kindergarten (TK) teacher or a career working with children ages 0-5 and their families.

Advance Your Career
Through exposure to a curriculum that explores societal inequities and methods to accentuate strengths of a community and of its members, you will develop leadership skills that apply to a wide range of careers in education, child and youth services, community organizations, and social services.
Education administrators in the Bay Area earn an average annual salary of $64,000 and an upper range of $98,000, according to Glassdoor.
Take a look at some of the top sectors, top companies, and examples of job titles of our alumni, according to LinkedIn.
Top Sectors
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Arts and design
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Business development
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Community and social services
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Education
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Media and communication
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Operations
Top Companies
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City of San José
- East Side Union High School District
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Palo Alto Unified School District
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San José Unified School District
- Santa Clara Unified School District
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SJSU
- Stanford University
Job Titles
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Counselor
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Donor and data coordinator
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Elementary teacher
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Health and wellness advisor
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Operations director
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Program manager
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Resource specialist
Expert Faculty and Diverse Classmates
Learn about the expertise of our Interdisciplinary Studies faculty and how our program is enabling students from all walks of life to accomplish their goals.
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