Naropa University’s interdisciplinary studies degree online program allows students to bring as many fields of inquiry together to create a focused program of study that is an expression of their unique interests. Some current combinations include Buddhist doctrine and environmental justice; early childhood education, queer theory, and feminist practice; Afrofuturism and psychological theories on conditioning; Yoga studies, Art Therapy, and plant medicine; and painting and gender fluidity.
The program encourages students to approach their work in a transdisciplinary and integrative way, discovering what emerges from blending their multiple fields of inquiry and practice. Because INTD supports a self-authored program of study, online interdisciplinary studies degree students bring their unique geographies and life circumstances into their learning path. Together, the online INTD community creates an intersecting net of distinctions, where geography is not an obstacle but a rich mixture through which we learn from and about each other.
Students of the interdisciplinary studies online degree work with faculty mentors to craft a unique program of study in the Gateway Seminar. Undergraduate online interdisciplinary studies majors can draw from all offered courses to build their distinctive program of study, for a minimum of 33 credits related to their areas of inquiry.
Naropa’s supportive community fosters a helpful environment for undergraduate students. In this context, dedicated faculty mentors actively guide and inspire students in both the Gateway to Design Thinking and Integration Studio courses, facilitating a meaningful, focused, enriching, and self-authored academic journey.
Naropa’s online BA in Interdisciplinary Studies is a flexible liberal arts degree. Instead of narrowly exploring one field, students will choose and learn from multiple disciplines, pursuing multiple areas of study without compromising the depth of their academic content.
Naropa University’s undergraduate program is a four-year, fully accredited Bachelor of Arts Degree. Our Online Interdisciplinary Studies degree invites students to design a unique program of study that integrates different disciplinary perspectives in the work of personal and social transformation. This is an online program, meaning all classes are completed remotely.
As part of Naropa’s interdisciplinary studies degree online, this course melds feminist and queer scholarship with scientific inquiry, emphasizing their transformative potential. Students delve into contemplative insights and critical race perspectives on feminist epistemology. Through methods like memoir and observation, they explore diverse research techniques. Ultimately, they create work highlighting gender dynamics and challenging prevailing structures.
A Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies degree (120 credits) consists of a Core Curriculum (24 credits) and at least one major, as well as minors and/or elective courses of the student’s choosing. The online interdisciplinary studies major comprises 40 credits.
Gateway: 3 credits
INTD-301e Gateway to Design Thinking (3)
In this project-based course, students join visionary creative thinking and dreaming with the hands-on conceptual and artistic work of designing individualized interdisciplinary programs that will guide their work at Naropa and beyond. We engage in design thinking, connecting our values, passions, and commitments to the lives and work of changemakers working in diverse fields. We examine and experiment with integrative mindsets, models, and practices in the context of a vibrant learning community—working alone and together to connect prior learning with future selves, integrating, honoring, and building capacity through joining head, heart, and hands. Students must be a declared INTD major.
Milestone: 33 credits
Students take a minimum of 33 credits from any offered Naropa courses to support their self-authored plan of study.
Up to 18 credits can be transferred in from other schools.
Of the 33 Milestone credits, a minimum of 12 upper-division (300 level +) credits are required. INTD-301e, COR-340e, and COR-440e do not count toward this total.
If a student revises their Learning Agreement, all previous credits taken will still count towards the 33 credit Milestone requirement total.
Capstone: 4 credits
INTD-401e Integration Studio (1)
In this one-credit course, students will identify their interdisciplinary areas of inquiry and practice and explore ways of knowing, research, and engagement. Working closely with a faculty mentor and in collaborative practice with classmates, students will identify and synthesize multiple strands of inquiry for their unique plan of study.
COR-440e Capstone II (3)
Building on work produced in Capstone I, students implement an original project that reflects substantial research and work, which may include contemplative, community-based, creative, and social innovation components. This product could be a 25-30 page academic paper or its equivalent in creative or community-engaged projects (with a minimum 12-15 page text). The semester ends in celebration and ceremony, featuring student presentations of their work, which may include creative writing, dance-movement, film, music, theater, and visual arts as well as socially innovative curricula, programs, and models.
Total: 40 credits
Explore a short, self-paced course with sample classes, teachings from faculty, and real stories from students and alumnx about their experience. Get a feel for how learning happens here through reflection, practice, and real-world application.
A Naropa education is unlike any other. Being the birthplace of the modern mindfulness movement, Naropa offers students a more meaningful education through meditation and introspective work. A contemplative approach is present in every program at Naropa, along with traditional academic studies.
Naropa University’s approach to education strives to be accessible and inclusive to all. No matter where you are in the world, you can embark on a journey of academic excellence and self-discovery through the online interdisciplinary studies degree from Naropa.
Upon completing their individualized course of study, online interdisciplinary studies majors are uniquely positioned to discover and create fulfilling careers in their chosen fields. Graduates of the Interdisciplinary Studies degree online can pursue diverse careers as healers, educators, artists, social innovators, entrepreneurs, and beyond.
With the completion of a customized course plan, students graduating with an online Interdisciplinary Studies degree are well-prepared to explore and shape rewarding careers within their areas of interest. Alumni from this dynamic liberal arts program go on to become educators, artists, innovators, healers, and professionals across a wide range of fields.
The online interdisciplinary studies program blends diverse perspectives and disciplines, culminating in an innovative final thesis. Through this program, students cultivate a forward-thinking and multi-faceted approach to address 21st-century challenges.
Graduates of the Online BA in Interdisciplinary Studies will be prepared to ask the right questions and answer them with refined research and analysis. Moreover, they will be able to open their minds and approach issues from a variety of perspectives.
Enter graduate school or the job market with flexible options.
Develop a forward-thinking, multi-faceted approach to 21st-century issues.
Ask good questions, and answer them with refined research and analysis.
Blend varying viewpoints and disciplines into an innovative final thesis.
Learn to open your mind and approach issues from a variety of perspectives.
The Interdisciplinary Studies degree online enables students to study, explore, and research between and across disciplines. This major enables students to hold more flexible, spontaneous, and open-minded approaches to their career and educational future. Interdisciplinary Studies students are well prepared for graduate studies in many fields. Some of our graduates go on to pursue further education to become film producers, writers, editors, community organizers, social activists, educators, and entrepreneurs.
An interdisciplinary perspective is essential to my understanding of our species’ intersectionality with plants, animals, and the biological rhythms of our earth. Through interdisciplinary studies, I can explore diverse frameworks of knowledge and weave them together through my life, creating my own unique way of seeing the world.
An interdisciplinary studies degree online provides versatility and opens up a wide array of career paths across different fields. The degree can serve as a foundation for further specialization through advanced studies or professional development in specific areas of interest. Graduates can go on to pursue further education to become community organizers, social activists, educators, entrepreneurs, and many more options.
Naropa University’s online degree in interdisciplinary studies is a Bachelor of Arts. The degree emphasizes a broad liberal arts education.
Multidisciplinary studies and interdisciplinary studies are related concepts, but the difference revolves around their approaches to integrating knowledge from different disciplines. Multidisciplinary studies explore diverse disciplines independently, each contributing to its own perspective on the understanding of a particular topic. On the other hand, an interdisciplinary studies degree integrates knowledge from different disciplines to create a more holistic understanding of a subject.
Associate Director of Admissions
First-Time Students:
Candidates with a GPA of 3.0 or above and a strong history of academic success are welcomed to Naropa University with minimal eligibility requirements.
If your academic performance is below a GPA of 3.0, yet you are eager to experience the benefits of a Naropa education and envision making a positive impact in our growing community, we invite you to submit your application.
Transfer Students:
You can apply to Naropa as a transfer student and bring over 60 or more transferable credits from an accredited institution. Present an official academic transcript together with your regular application, and we’ll assist you with the entire transfer process.
Read through the entire admissions process for first-time and transfer students at our undergraduate requirements page.
Consider Naropa your second home. We extend a warm invitation to international students from all corners of the globe to join our vibrant community. Embracing inclusivity and diversity, we celebrate a varied student body that enhances the strength of Naropa.
Learn more about applying to Naropa as an international student.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to pursue an education at Naropa. Take a look at our page on undergraduate costs & aid to learn more about tuition, scholarships, grants, and financial assistance available at Naropa. You can also use our Net Price Calculator to have an approximation of your expenses at Naropa (currently based on 2025/2026 data).
Scholarships are a great way to help with the costs of going to school. Naropa University offers an array of scholarship opportunities to undergraduate students. Students may be eligible to receive scholarships through their admissions application (residential students only), by applying for scholarships, or by being nominated for a scholarship. For more detailed information about the different scholarships available and how to receive them, please review our undergraduate scholarship page.
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By: Tara Celentano (2022 Clinical Mental Health Counseling) Interdisciplinary Studies seniors presented their BA capstone projects to a revolving 52-member audience – a Zoom room full of family members and...
Magazine
About Naropa
Located in Boulder, Colorado, Naropa University is a Buddhist-inspired, nonsectarian liberal arts university that is recognized as the birthplace of the mindfulness movement. Naropa offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs that emphasize professional and personal growth, intellectual development, and cultivating compassion.
Academics
Contemplative education brings together the best of Western scholarship and Eastern world wisdom traditions. Therefore, your pursuit of wisdom at Naropa means learning both about academic subjects and about your own place in the world. This innovative approach places Naropa on the cutting edge of the newest and most effective methods of teaching and learning.
Admissions & Aid
If you’re seeking an education that resonates with both personal fulfillment and global impact, Naropa could be your top choice. At Naropa, you will experience a comprehensive curriculum that integrates the best of Eastern and Western educational approaches. Explore how Naropa can fuel your journey of intellectual and spiritual development.
Life at Naropa
Through its incredibly vibrant and welcoming community, “Naropa offers a home for those who aren’t willing to conform to convention—the mystic, the healer, the prophet, the rebel, the artist, the revolutionary, the oddball—those who are incredible contributors to the evolution of society and of our planet.”—Core Associate Professor Zvi Ish-Shalom
The Naropa Difference
How is Naropa different from other universities? At Naropa, a liberal arts education balances rigorous academics with powerful interpersonal skills and self-awareness to educate the whole person. Naropa’s contemplative approach is inspired by Buddhist philosophy and the conviction that we can build a diverse, contemplative, enlightened society when we have transformed education to affirm the basic goodness of every person.
Support Naropa
At a time when the value of higher education is being questioned, Naropa University stands firmly rooted in its mission to create a more just and regenerative world by nurturing insight, awareness, courage, and compassion in its students. By making a gift to Naropa, you play a pivotal role in helping to create the authentic, effective & mindful leaders that the world desperately needs.
