Career Choices for the Interdisciplinary Studies Student

Students who graduate with a bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies are prepared for a variety of careers. We list the following types of services to illustrate the wide range of possibilities that exist. Please note that the following are not academic majors; rather, they are career paths that Interdisciplinary Studies students may choose to pursue upon graduation.

POSITION EXAMPLES

Administration - Administrators are involved with planning, budgeting, public relations, operations management, fund raising and other crucial responsibilities that keep an organization functioning.

Admissions Counselor - Admissions Counselors' careers might include conducting interviews, answering correspondence and telephone inquiries, advising prospective students and their parents on admissions policies and academic requirements, providing high school and community college counselors, prospective students and parents, faculty and staff with information on admissions policies, procedures and decisions. Other duties include: assisting in on-campus recruiting activities, reviewing applications, writing letters and reports to area high schools, and working with other admissions staff.

Book/Movie Reviewer - Generally hired by publications (journals, magazines, online magazines, etc.), reviewers find it takes many years to establish their credentials as objective analysts. A good start is with a local weekly or monthly news tabloid that pays for reviews by the page as a supplement to a full-time job in journalism.

Child Welfare - Child welfare workers strive to ensure the safety and well-being of children through treatment of the whole family.

Community Affairs Director - Directors of Community Affairs must maintain close working relationships with neighborhood and community program and communications staff, local volunteers and city and state agencies. They direct and coordinate local management programs, communicating their activities to the public and serving as liaisons to many sectors.

Copy Editor - Depending on the organization in which the editing is being done, the copy editor may be a jack-of-all-trades, fact-checking and editing as well as offering advice on rewriting.

Criminal Justice/Probation and Corrections - Individuals who work in probation supervise offenders who have been released from prison on parole or probation. They also conduct pretrial investigations, arrange for substance abuse treatment and job training, write presenting reports for the court, make sentencing recommendations and testify in court for their clients.
Individuals who work in corrections works in either jails and prisons or in parole and probation agencies. They write and evaluate treatment plans, write case reports, and plan educational and training programs.

Customer Service - Customer Service typically involves helping consumers with some aspect of their needs. This could be in the retail or service sectors, or in health care, corporate, or private management areas. Many of these positions involve strong telephone skills as well.

Developmental Disabilities - Human Services and Interdisciplinary Studies majors in this area help people with disabilities to adjust and to lead productive lives.

Editor - Editors are responsible for the final quality of a publication, whether a newspaper, magazine, or book. They organize, plan, and layout publications; review proposals; and select material. They review, edit, and rewrite the work of writers. They must have excellent knowledge of grammar, proofreading skill, and familiarity with publishing and graphic design software. Large newspapers and magazines have many types of editors, including managing editors, assignment editors, and page or section editors. Entry level copy editors and production assistants proofread for grammar, style, accuracy, and readability.

Education - One of the most obvious career fields for a recent college graduate is education. Education is a broad field itself, ranging from traditional classroom teaching at the secondary and collegiate levels to more creative teaching formats.

Event Planner - Event planners arrange, implement and negotiate all of the logistical arrangements for conventions, parties, conferences, concerts, or any other kind of social, recreational, educational, cultural, political or governmental event.

Gerontology - Gerontology involves working with older adults, healthy or ill, and their families.

Healthcare - Individuals choosing to go into healthcare facilitate the medical and emotional treatment of patients.

Higher Education - Services for college students focus on prospective students, current students and alumni.

Human Resources - Human Resource personnel are the mediators between employers and employees. They have to be organized, analytical, business-minded, and interested in serving people's needs.

Journalist/Reporter/News Analyst/Critic - Journalists and reports gather information, interview people, write stories, and report news. News analysts and commentators interpret the stories and write editorials or opinion pieces. Reviewers and critics help readers decide what movies to see, what books to read, what plays to attend, what music to listen to, and where to eat. Training in journalism, excellent writing skills and experience on a college newspaper are all assets in getting jobs in journalism. Reporters are inquisitive, out-going, and able to work under pressure. Commentators must have acute insight into news events and be able to analyze trends. Critics must present their opinions persuasively. For all hours may be long and demanding, especially near deadlines.

Lobbyist - Lobbyists have to understand both the written and unwritten rules of legislative procedure in order to influence legislation. They have to be able to assess the realistic chances of a bill being passed in order to take action.

Magazine Writer - Those who don't want to go into straight news writing and reporting might think about feature writers for magazines. Generally perceived as "softer" than hard news, magazine journalism still requires a lot of research, interviewing, and rewriting for deadlines.

Management - Entry-level management jobs often appeal to a variety of students who are unsure of the direction they want their careers to take. They may oversee contracts, schedules, budgets, inventory, research data, and Human Resource requests. They are often the focal point for customer communications and interface.

Marketing, Sales and Advertising - People working in marketing, sales and advertising are involved with the most important activity of any business or institution--the effective and profitable delivery of a service or product. Managers in these areas supervise the various departments, devise the marketing strategy, and oversee promotions and sales. They must be organized and enthusiastic about the product and company. While employers value business courses, internships, and experience, many seek personnel who also have a strong liberal arts background.

Media Buyer - Media Buyers confer with clients to determine advertising goals and target audiences. They conduct research to reach preferred customers, develop marketing plans and present with radio and television stations and they track the success of commercial spots. Finally, the continually review advertising rates to make sure clients receive the best possible prices.

Nonprofit Organizations - Nonprofit organization, literally, are tax-exempt organizations that perform a variety of public services without engaging in commercial activities. The National Wildlife Association, UNICEF, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the National Education Association (NEA), and many other foundations, charities, cultural organizations, social services, religious organizations, and professional associations are nonprofit organizations. While many such groups use some volunteers, they function as businesses and employ workers in many capacities. Those working in the nonprofits could find themselves doing a wide variety of tasks each day.

Photojournalism - Photojournalists must have an ability to shoot on location and in studio both digitally and with film, be aware of deadlines, and be able to work well alone and as a member of a team.

Press Secretary - Though the job varies depending on the particular organization, press secretaries generally manage incoming press requests and act as liaisons with the press.

Printing - Many opportunities exist in the commercial printing sales arena. This kind of job requires a knowledge of pre-press printing and print buying, and strong people skills for sales work.

Public Opinion Pollster - Pollsters are often involved in assessing voter intent, but the private sector also hires pollsters to collect data for any number of projects, including the need for focus groups. They also compose and conduct internet-based and telephone polls in addition to face-to-face contact.

Public Relations - Public relations specialists establish, maintain, and promote the image and reputation of a business or institution. They insure good communication between the business and the consumer, the community, and government. They must be tactful and able to balance the interests of various groups. They provide information about the company and, depending on size and the nature of the business, they handle all areas of publicity connected with the business. An internship is a good way to gain experience and learn the responsibilities of this job.

Public Welfare - Public welfare is designed to provide services and support for poor, disabled, ill, elderly or juvenile clients.

Publicist - Publicists are involved in public relations for one particular client, or, more likely, for a number of clients, who wish to get their own creative or research material into print. Publishing houses regularly hire good readers and editors in starting positions that begin at about $32,000 a year for (on average) a 45-50 hour work week.

Researcher - Straight out of college, students may find employment opportunities doing research for documentary films, brochures and exhibits at historic sites and museums, and documents to help business or government agencies understand their past when making decisions that will shape the future. Graduate study may also be required for certain research positions.

Student Services - Working in the field of student services usually implies a job on a college campus in the area of campus life. Student services departments develop, direct and supervise the programs for student life within the college or residential community.

Teacher - Teachers work in classrooms with content-based material, depending on the subject. An advanced degree is needed for college-level teaching, and many public schools systems require state certification, although private schools will hire a qualified candidate without certification.
There are opportunities to teach all age groups, from preschoolers to senior citizens about living things. For preschool, elementary school and high school education courses as well as biology and other sciences courses are part of the program. To teach biological sciences in a college or university, a master's or doctor's degree is usually required.

Technical Writer - Technical writers must understand the field they are writing about and be able to translate that information into language that is easy to understand. They write manuals, instructions and proposals, and promotion materials. They also research, write, and edit technical material, illustrations, catalogs, and charts. Additionally, technically writers must have the ability to handle multiple projects, and couple with that a "get the job done" attitude.

Television Reporter - A reporter's job requires stamina, physical fitness and stern emotions. Because reports often have to report lie from a scene, they should be willing to work long hours, forego weekends, holidays and special occasions, and be ready on a moment's notice.

Traffic Manager - Traffic managers need to be highly organized and diplomatic as they liaise with account services, graphics studios and creative teams to make sure jobs go into and come out of each area by deadline. Generally they are responsible for assigning jobs, signing off on purchase orders and coordinating job sign-off.

Web Writer - Online writers and web page designers create and design web pages for business, industry, government, and educational institutions. Web writers often transform print documents into effective web sites. In addition to being clear and concise writers, they must know principles of web page layout and design, programming and coding, and appropriate web page software.