Interdisciplinary Studies (B.I.S.)

A degree designed around you. Not the other way around.​

WSSU’s interdisciplinary studies degree online program is built for working adults who are ready to finish what they started and move forward.

Complete your degree on your terms through a flexible, fully online format that lets you apply existing credits and build a customized path aligned to your goals. Develop versatile, career-ready skills across disciplines and graduate with a respected credential that positions you for advancement, change, and long-term growth.

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Program of Interest*
$350
Per Credit Hour (In-State*)

 $420 Per Credit Hour (Out-of-State)
100%
Online, Asynchronous
$0
No Additional Fees

2.5 Years
Time to Complete
Overview

Interdisciplinary Studies Degree Online Program

The online Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (B.I.S.) program at WSSU is built for working adults who are ready to finish what they started and move forward — without starting over. Complete your interdisciplinary studies degree on your terms in a flexible online format that works around your life and maximizes your previously earned credits.

Our Interdisciplinary Students

Are Ready to Finish What They Started

You’ve gained experience, completed some college coursework, and you’re ready to finish your degree with a path that reflects where you’re headed. Whether you’re looking to advance, change directions, or finally complete what you started, you want to directly connect your education to your goals and the experience you bring with you.

This program allows you to combine two or more disciplines into one customized pathway, aligning your coursework with your career goals and prior learning. You’ll learn in small classes with accessible, invested faculty while building a strong foundation for graduate or professional study. Along the way, you’ll develop adaptable, cross-disciplinary skills that employers value.

Designed to move you forward faster, the online Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies program accepts 24–90 transfer credits so you can reduce time and cost to completion. As a SACSCOC-accredited institution, WSSU delivers a respected, high-quality degree that positions you to meet North Carolina’s growing workforce needs.

Skills You'll Gain

  • Critical thinking and integrative analysis across disciplines​
  • Professional communication and writing​
  • Research methods and evidence-based decision making​
  • Leadership and organizational effectiveness​
  • Applied problem-solving across industries​
  • Cultural competency and community engagement​
  • Project planning and management fundamentals​
  • Ethical reasoning and civic responsibility​

Finish Faster with Your Previous Credits

Apply between 24 and 90 past credits toward your degree and move forward without starting over.

Build the Degree that Fits Your Goals

Choose courses to create a customized degree plan that aligns with your career goals and interests.

Keep Moving Without Putting Your Life on Hold

Fully online programs with flexible formats help you balance school with work and life responsibilities.

Open More Doors with a Versatile Degree

Gain adaptable, career-ready skills that prepare you for a wide range of roles or for further study.

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Career Outlook

Career Opportunities with an Online Interdisciplinary Studies Degree

Graduates of WSSU’s online interdisciplinary studies degree program have a broad-based education that strengthens communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills that prepare them for a wide range of careers or continued study. As part of the UNC System, these respected degrees deliver strong outcomes, and WSSU grads can earn more than similar graduates in North Carolina.¹ Explore career options and their North Carolina salaries below.2

Medical and Health Services Manager
Annual Median Salary: $108,530
Marketing Specialist
Annual Median Salary: $77,360
Social and Community Service Manager
Annual Median Salary: $77,320
Human Resources Specialist
Annual Median Salary: $69,400
Public Relations Specialist
Annual Median Salary: $63,280
Health Education Specialist
Annual Median Salary: $54,720

12.7% job growth

for Education Support Services (North Carolina)2

$60,000 Median

The national median annual salary for interdisciplinary studies degree holders, on par with the national average for all degrees3

39,000 More Jobs

in North Carolina’s business sector are projected to be added between 2024–20342

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1. Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education

2. North Carolina Department of Commerce, 2026


3. U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2026

“I get really close with the students I work with. In some cases, I spend years with them, getting to know them. I’m so proud and excited when they finally graduate. Maybe too excited!”

Sarah J., Flight Path Success Coach

Curriculum & Courses

Courses Built for A variety of In-Demand,
Real-World Careers

The online Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies is a 120-credit undergraduate degree offered through WSSU’s College of Arts, Sciences, and Education. It includes 36 credit hours of General Education, with a required 9 Interdisciplinary Studies Core credits, 27 Interdisciplinary Studies Electives credits, and 48 General Electives credits.

Curriculum Overview & Degree Requirements

The online interdisciplinary studies degree program’s curriculum is designed to give you control over what you study while ensuring you graduate with a strong, well-rounded academic foundation. It combines coursework across multiple disciplines so you can build a degree that reflects your experience and goals.

You’ll take foundational courses in writing, research, and critical thinking, then layer in classes to create a customized focus. Learn to connect ideas across fields, building skills that are adaptable, practical, and valued across industries.

Flight Path students transfer in a minimum of 24 credit hours, with up to 90 credits accepted. The more credits you bring, the fewer courses you’ll need to complete. Most students finish in 2.5–3 years, with the potential to graduate in as little as 1.5 years — or under a year with the maximum transfer credits.

Degree Breakdown

General Education 36 Credits
Interdisciplinary Studies Core 9 Credits
Interdisciplinary Studies Electives 27 Credits
General Electives 48 Credits

Sample Courses

The online Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies program’s courses are designed to build practical skills and support your progress from start to finish.

This course, available online, is the foundation course for the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree. Students will be involved in interdisciplinary study of an event, issue, or culture over a specified period of time and, through the study, improve their skills in research and writing, their abilities in critical thinking and creative problem solving, and their understanding of one or more cultures.

Accreditation

Winston-Salem State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. Winston-Salem State University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels.

Questions about the accreditation of Winston-Salem State University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Accreditation
Admissions & Transfer

General Admissions &
Transfer Credit Criteria

WSSU is committed to providing equal educational opportunities and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or ability. WSSU Online Flight Path programs are open to applicants who have previously attended college and meet the university’s standard admissions and transfer requirements. The information below is a high-level overview of current WSSU Online policies. Official requirements and final determinations are governed by WSSU. For full details and program exceptions, visit the main WSSU transfer admissions page.

24 + Transfer Credits

At least 24 transferable credit hours from the last or current institution attended.

2.0 Minimum GPA

Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all attempted coursework.

Grade of C or Better

A grade of C (2.0) or higher is required in any coursework considered for transfer.

Good Academic Standing

Applicants must be in good academic standing at their current or most recent institution.

Official Transcripts

Official transcripts are required from all colleges and universities previously attended.

A Completed Application

Submission of WSSU’s online application for admission, including all required materials.

TRANSFER CREDIT NOTES

  • WSSU will not accept a transfer course with a grade lower than a “C.” Accepted courses are recorded on a student’s transcript; grades and grade points are not calculated.
  • WSSU does not accept transfer credit from challenge examinations or for coursework graded pass/fail.
  • The maximum number of transferable credits is ninety (90) semester hours from a four-year institution and sixty-four (64) semester hours from a two-year institution. Students who have attended both a two-year and four-year institution can transfer in a maximum of ninety (90) semester hours.

Tuition for North Carolina Residents

*To qualify for in-state tuition rates, North Carolina residents must first confirm their in-state status by completing an application through the Residency Determination Service (RDS). To learn more about how to apply for NC residency, please refer to the North Carolina Residency page.

Program-Specific Requirements

There are no additional admissions or transfer requirements for this program beyond NCCU’s standard Flight Path eligibility criteria.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Tuition & Financial Aid

Cost Snapshot

WSSU’s Flight Path programs are designed to make earning your degree affordable, transparent, and predictable.

  • In-state tuition: $350 per credit hour
  • Out-of-state tuition: $420 per credit hour
  • No additional online program fees

Tuition is subject to change.

View Full Tuition Details

Financial Aid Overview

Financial aid options may be available to help cover the cost of your degree, including federal aid, grants, scholarships, and loan programs.

  • Federal financial aid available for eligible students
  • NC state grants and scholarships may apply
  • WSSU institutional grants for qualifying students
  • Military and veteran benefits may be applicable
Explore Financial Aid Options

Please note that tuition is subject to change. Fees and additional expenses are not included. To qualify for in-state tuition rates, North Carolina residents must first confirm their in-state status by completing an application through the Residency Determination Service (RDS).

Meet Your Faculty

Dr. Manju Bhat

Dr. Manju Bhat

B.V.Sc., M.V.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Dean, College of Arts, Sciences, and Education; Hanes Distinguished Professor of the Humanities; Associate Professor of Physiology

A distinguished professor and Dean with a background in Veterinary Medicine and Physiology, Dr. Bhat focuses on the...

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Dr. Torin Alexander

Dr. Torin Alexander

Ph.D., M.Div.
Associate Professor of Religion and Interdisciplinary Studies Program Coordinator

Dr. Torin Alexander is an Associate Professor of Religion and the Interdisciplinary Studies Program Coordinator at...

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Rachelle (Shelly) Barnes

Rachelle (Shelly) Barnes

Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Psychological Sciences

Dr. Barnes has 20 years of experience in higher education, having worked in both academic affairs and student affairs.

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College of Arts, Science, and Education

The College Promise

The College Promise is extended to each student as they take up our institutional motto “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve”. This promise is audacious, challenging, and demanding. The world requires nothing less. Grounded in three overlapping principles, the College Promise reinforces the distinctiveness of WSSU’s academic community and our shared values.

Our Guiding Principles

  1. Creative
    We promise a creative education that fully integrates the best of our intellectual traditions with the latest innovations in knowledge to fully prepare each student for life in a
    global society.

     

  2. Collaborative 

    We promise a collaborative learning community networked together to advance the holistic development of each student so that they may reach the fullness of their potential.

     

  3. Committed

    We promise a committed faculty dedicated to the highest standards of teaching, scholarship, and service in the interests of advancing academic excellence and student
    academic success.

Not Sure This Program Is Right for You?

Our admissions team can help you explore your options, including other online programs in technology, business, or other fields — so you can find the program that best matches your career goals and experience.

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Explore WSSU’s Other Online Programs
Program FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Most students complete the online Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies program in 2.5 to 3 years. The program requires 120 total credits for graduation and a minimum of 24 transfer credits to enroll. WSSU accepts a maximum of 90 transfer credits, which would mean graduating in less than one year. This structure reduces your required coursework and costs as you finish your degree.

Questions? Let’s Talk.

Get answers from someone who knows the process. The short form takes less than three minutes to fill out, and after, an admissions representative will reach out personally.

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WSSU Admissions Representative

A lot of my students are suprised by how manageable the process feels once they understand the steps.

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WSSU Admissions Representative

A quick phone call or email can do more for your progress than you think.

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WSSU Admissions Representative

Every students situation is different. That's why I start with conversations, not assumptions.