Explore diverse academic disciplines, cultivate a holistic understanding of complex issues, and prepare for a dynamic future with Naropa’s bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
The Bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies empowers students to blend multiple fields of inquiry into a cohesive and personalized course of study that reflects their unique passions and academic ambitions. Current interdisciplinary 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 emphasizes a transdisciplinary and integrative approach, encouraging students to explore innovative insights that emerge from the intersection of diverse disciplines and practices.
Naropa’s BA in interdisciplinary studies goes beyond a traditional arts degree, offering adventurous learners and seekers of deep knowledge transformative educational opportunities. Students design their own unique course of study tailored to their intellectual curiosities and career aspirations.
The interdisciplinary studies BA program provides a versatile approach to liberal arts education, allowing students to engage deeply with a variety of disciplines rather than focusing narrowly on one area, ensuring a comprehensive and enriching academic journey.
At Naropa, students benefit from a nurturing community where dedicated mentors play a pivotal role in guiding and inspiring undergraduate students along their academic and personal growth paths.
Naropa University offers a fully accredited, four-year Bachelor of Arts degree program. The Bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies empowers students to craft a customized program of study that integrates diverse disciplinary perspectives to foster personal and societal transformation.
This course delves into theories and practices of conflict transformation across various settings, examining interpersonal dynamics and broader structural elements. Students explore their own beliefs about conflict, emphasizing cultural and religious influences. The curriculum scrutinizes efforts to address violence and trauma at both local and global levels. Additionally, it highlights intervention complexities and potential transformations. Students engage in producing digital narratives and acquire foundational mediation skills.
A Bachelor of Arts 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 Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies has a total of 40 credit hours.
Gateway: 3 credits
INTD-301 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. Student 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-301, COR-340, and COR-440 do not count towards 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
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.
Students work with faculty mentors to craft a unique program of study in the Gateway Seminar. Students in the BA in Interdisciplinary Studies program 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.
We prioritize diversity and use thoughtful learning to understand and embrace qualities that unite people from different backgrounds, aiming for a fair and unified society. Naropa University blends insights from various wisdom traditions while emphasizing inclusivity. This commitment to diversity enhances and shapes our educational approach across the university.
If you are interested in an approach to learning that values contemplative inquiry and artistic expression as well as scholarship, community, and social action, then the BA in Interdisciplinary Studies might be the right major for you!
Students will have an in-depth focus on multiple disciplines and fields, which will give them the opportunity to consider issues from multiple perspectives. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies will have the analytical skills needed to ask insightful questions and conduct analyses.
While your studies span multiple disciplines, they are anything but generalized. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies acquire specialized knowledge and skills that pave the way for rewarding careers in community leadership, the arts, social entrepreneurship, and beyond. Step confidently into graduate school or the job market with versatile opportunities.
Students of this program are adventurous spirits who crave deep learning and transformative experiences. Expand your horizons by cultivating an open mindset, enabling you to examine and address issues from a diverse array of perspectives with Naropa’s BA in Interdisciplinary Studies.
Fuse diverse viewpoints and disciplines into an innovative final thesis.
Cultivate a progressive, multi-dimensional strategy for addressing 21st-century issues.
Pose insightful queries and respond with meticulous research and examination.
Pursue graduate school or a career of your choosing with a flexible degree.
Students acquire an adequate understanding of their two or three chosen concentrations.
Interdisciplinary Studies empowers students to delve across disciplines, fostering a holistic understanding of 21st-century challenges. Equipped with interdisciplinary tools, students are primed to adapt and positively impact the world. This major nurtures flexibility and open-mindedness, paving diverse career paths. Graduates excel in various fields, from film production and writing to activism, education, and entrepreneurship.
EdWord Galan hopes his business, A Trike Called Funk, “will help people see more nuance in the world and move away from polarities…and inspire others to tap into their own power…. One of the most effective ways to bypass intellectual and ideological differences is through interactions on a dance floor—when we’re out of our head, just having fun, enjoying life, and being in the moment.
A Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies is a flexible undergraduate program that allows students to combine multiple academic disciplines into one personalized course of study. Instead of following a traditional major, students choose two or more areas of interest and design a degree plan that reflects their goals, interests, and career aspirations.
A BA in interdisciplinary studies offers flexibility, paving diverse career possibilities across different sectors. This qualification lays the groundwork for deeper specialization through advanced learning or professional growth in chosen fields. Alumni have opportunities to advance in roles such as community leaders, advocates, teachers, business innovators, and beyond.
Naropa University’s online degree in interdisciplinary studies is a Bachelor of Arts. The degree emphasizes a broad liberal arts education.
The difference between multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary studies revolves around how they merge insights from multiple disciplines. While multidisciplinary approaches examine separate disciplines individually, each offering unique perspectives on a topic, interdisciplinary studies blend insights from different fields to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the subject.
The difference between a Bachelor of Science (BS) and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in interdisciplinary studies centers on their core focuses and curricula. A BS emphasizes natural sciences, math, or technical areas, while a BA leans towards liberal arts, emphasizing humanities, social sciences, and languages for a comprehensive understanding.
Associate Director of Admissions
Academic excellence and the willingness to carry out introspective work are highly valued at Naropa University. Learn more about admission requirements and the application process for first-time and transfer students.
Transfer your credit
You can bring over credit hours you’ve acquired at other accredited institutions when applying to Naropa. Submit an official transcript to transfer 60 or more transferable credits. Read more about transferring and applying as a first-time student at our undergraduate admissions page.
We warmly invite students from around the world to become part of our dynamic community. At Naropa, we embrace inclusivity and diversity, valuing a diverse student population that enriches the university’s vitality. 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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Magazine
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.
