Different types of interdisciplinary careers include teaching, writing, research, and the fine arts. Some graduates of interdisciplinary programs design their courses of study in preparation for advanced studies in education or other specialties. Completing an interdisciplinary degree is often a viable option for college students who have a broad range of interests and who do not want to confine themselves to one specialty area. Contrary to some popular misconceptions, opportunities for interdisciplinary careers are readily available to recent graduates who have identified and developed the skills they will need to pursue the specific job field they have in mind.
Preparing for interdisciplinary careers usually entails planning a custom set of undergraduate college courses tailored to interested students' interests and goals. Many students report that the most challenging part of this planning phase is determining how each subject will give them the needed skills for their chosen career path. These types of degree programs are often broad in scope but also include intensive study in a range of subject areas from both the arts and sciences disciplines. Depending on the policies of different schools, an aspiring interdisciplinary major may need to demonstrate to an assigned faculty adviser precisely how this custom degree program will be more beneficial over a traditional bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree.
Many college graduates interested in teaching can find rewarding interdisciplinary careers due to the wide range of knowledge they gain in one of these college degree programs. Multidisciplinary programs usually emphasize skills in relating different areas of study to one another. An interdisciplinary major studying art, anthropology, and history will usually gain a deeper understanding of all three areas for instance. New graduates who become teachers themselves will often carry this approach to multidisciplinary teaching into their own classrooms. Many with this strong interest in education decide to pursue further studies at the graduate level to become qualified as interdisciplinary professors at the college level.
Writing and research are additional possibilities for interdisciplinary careers. Various industries have a fairly steady demand for professionals who are able to research and write new material about specialty niche topics. Many interdisciplinary graduates find this career path especially rewarding because of their extensive knowledge in more than one concentrated area. Their published articles and journals can often draw parallels between ideas that may not have been obvious to others without these kinds of interdisciplinary learning skills.