Interdisciplinary Studies (BA) | Online
Cairn University’s Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies is a flexible, Christ-centered degree that empowers students to design a personalized academic path by combining two or more disciplines—such as Business, Psychology, Biblical Studies, Criminal Justice, or Education—under a unified biblical worldview. Ideal for students with diverse interests or specific ministry and career calling, the program blends rigorous courseworkand faculty-guided capstone projects, while grounded on the 30-credit Bible and theology core courses required of all Cairn graduates.
Why Interdisciplinary Studies?
Today’s college graduates are more likely to work in multiple fields and hold a variety of jobs. This shift necessitates that college students possess a broad skill set and a high level of adaptability. Interdisciplinary studies is a program that allows students to study two or more academic disciplines under one degree — taking the knowledge of one discipline and applying it to another for a broader perspective. This puts the student in charge of their learning to fulfill their plans for a future career and makes them more marketable in the workforce.
You’re equipped with a wide range of knowledge as well as the critical and analytical skills needed to be successful in the workforce. You’ll be empowered to blend courses from multiple disciplines, providing you with boundless opportunities to explore and discover what inspires you.
Why the BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from Cairn University?
Biblical Integration
Cairn University is committed to the centrality of Christ and the Word of God and is reflected in the curriculum and instruction.
Career Preparation
Because of the mix-and-match nature of interdisciplinary studies, students have a wide number of academic paths to pursue.
Experienced Faculty
Students don’t just have professors, they have mentors who invest in them throughout the program and often remain connected long after graduation.
Community
Community is about more than simply taking classes together. It is more than having a similar experience.
Personalized Education
Customize your degree by choosing courses from one or more disciplines. Take charge of the the education you receive and start preparing for your dream career. Our advisors will guide you every step of the way.
Committed Support Team
We are here to help you figure out your path, working with you to select an interdisciplinary set of courses that meet you where you are, and help you get where you want to go.
Affordability
$425 per credit with financial aid options; SARA approved meeting nationwide standards and matching the quality of the on-campus program.
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Get an inside look at our Interdisciplinary Studies Program
The BA in Interdisciplinary Studies program has been designed with input from our expert faculty in the School of Business, Divinity and Liberal Arts and Sciences, ensuring you graduate with the in-demand skills and knowledge that employers are looking for.
The program requires 60 credits from the core curriculum and 60 credits from courses that interest you.
Learn more:
Required Credits: 120
Core Curriculum
- BIB 103 – Biblical Foundations Credits: 3
- BIB 203 – Old Testament I: The Pentateuch Credits: 3
- BIB 204 – Old Testament II: Prophets and Writings Credits: 3
- BIB 303 – New Testament I: The Gospels Credits: 3
- BIB 304 – New Testament II: Acts, Letters, and Revelation Credits: 3
- COM 111 – Introduction to Communications Credits: 3
- ENG 101 – English Composition Credits: 3
- HIS 212 – Western Civilization Since the Renaissance Credits: 3
- HIS 302 – Global History of the Church Credits: 3
- INT 010 – First Year Experience Seminar Credits: 0
- MAT 131 – Introduction to Statistics Credits: 3
- PHI 301 – Philosophy Credits: 3
- POL 101 – US Government and Civics Credits: 3
- PSY 101 – General Psychology Credits: 3
- SOC 203 – Humanity and Culture Credits: 3
- THE 100 – Introduction to Christian Theology Credits: 3
- THE 302 – Biblical Perspectives on Contemporary Issues Credits: 3
- THE 311 – The Triune God Credits: 3
- THE 401 – Apologetics Credits: 3
Because of the mix-and-match nature of interdisciplinary studies, students have a wide number of academic paths to pursue. Graduates from the program have forged careers in management, entrepreneurship, marketing, ministry, criminal studies, psychology, just to name a few.
All Cairn University students must have professed a faith in Jesus Christ as Savior as evidenced by providing a personal testimony that details this faith. By submitting an application, students acknowledge the University’s doctrinal position and standards of conduct as outlined in the Foundational Statements. Below are the admission requirements:
- Application: Submit the Application for Admission along with the $25 non-refundable fee. Apply today using code faithmatters and we will waive the fee.
- Transcripts: Submit official academic transcript(s) for all conferred degrees. Request transcripts to be sent to Cairn through the application portal.
Cairn University participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.
Additional Accreditation Information is available from this page.
You may also be interested in the following programs:
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An Affordable Education
Cairn University strives to keep tuition costs affordable despite providing a rigorous education. Courses are taught by faculty not TAs. The tuition rates are posted on this page.
Cairn University also partners with many organizations and offers tuition discounts. Tuition discounts are also available for those working in Christian schools. Please contact us to find out if your organization has a partnership with Cairn University.
Additional information on scholarships, grants, and loans is available from this page.
Featured Faculty
Charlotte Gleason
Chair, Humanities department
After graduating from Cairn University in 2000, Charlotte taught high school English in public schools both in Pennsylvania and New York. Her high school students inspired her to reconsider the place of adolescent literature in the classroom, and in 2006 she completed her thesis on how to integrate both the classics and YA literature in the classroom.
The birth of her first son led her to pursue higher education, and in 2007 she accepted a position as a part-time faculty member at Cairn University. During the last two decades, Charlotte has taught in a variety of classrooms and developed curriculum for private Christian schools and home school families, including her own. Recently, Charlotte transitioned to a full-time role at Cairn. She teaches a variety of literature, composition, and education courses and serves as the Chair of the Humanities Department in the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Ruth Kuchinsky-Smith
Co-Chair, Sciences Department
Dr. Kuchinsky-Smith teaches on a variety of topics across psychology and research, including probability and statistics. Dr. Kuchinsky-Smith has taught at the university level for more than 30 years across the disciplines of education, special education, music, and psychology. In addition, her professional experience has taken her from the Pennsylvania Department of Education in Harrisburg to the Philadelphia Prison Systems to the School District of Philadelphia to the Milton Hershey School to freelance writing at Patch.com to Lehman Memorial United Methodist Church in Hatboro, PA, where she currently serves as music director.
In addition to significant work in the field of school psychology, Dr. Kuchinsky-Smith published “Effectiveness of the MMPI-A to Differentiate between Counseled and Non-Counseled Students” at Temple University under the supervision of Leslie Skinner, PhD She also worked in child advocacy and psychological abuse in children at Temple University under the supervision of Irwin Hyman, EdD Before her academic work in psychology, she worked on deaf history and advocacy in education at Albert Einstein College of Medicine with Oliver Sacks, MD and infant development and vocalization at Child Development Research Center, Sands Point, New York with Judith S. Kestenberg, MD.
What Our Students Have To Say
Derian Bradford
Pursuing Interdisciplinary Studies has given me the opportunity to explore a wide range of courses Cairn has to offer. It has also given me the opportunity to connect with a variety of professors and provide me with a larger scope of knowledge to prepare me for my future career.
Cairn Online Frequently Asked Questions
Currently there are over 6 million online learners in the United States, and those numbers are growing every day. Online degrees that have regional accreditation are held to the same standards as traditional universities, ensuring that students earn a valuable degree that will prepare them with the skills and credentials for their career. Do research to find an online degree that is accredited and reputable, such as those offered at Cairn University.
Cairn Online courses based on Cairn’s 100+ years tradition of excellence in biblical education. Our on faculty has carefully designed them taking into consideration what works best for the online learner. The modular design and asynchronous delivery enable you to complete your studies while you pursue your career, ministry and spend time with your family.
Courses typically contain seven units and are delivered in 7-week terms*. Each unit contains 5-7 modular activities. Each learning activity includes instructional videos accompanied by reflections, quizzes, discussion forums and other assessments. Courses also utilize adaptive learning technologies such as Cerego for long-term retention of concepts and VoiceThread for enhanced collaboration.
The asynchronous delivery provides flexibility around your daily busy schedule. In most courses, interactive activities are typically due by Wednesday while the rest of the unit’s work is due by Sunday night. The MBA, M.A. in Music and Criminal Justice programs use the 7RD2 process and require the completion of certain activities daily to optimize learning.
Our own Cairn faculty intentionally participate in the course throughout the week to provide you with an incarnational experience.
*Few capstone courses are intentionally offered in 14 weeks to optimize student learning.
All courses are developed by one or more course developers and taught by our own faculty. The instructors are also intentionally involved in the course throughout the week by providing direction in the course activities, participating in the forum discussions, grading the student work and providing substantive feedback. Most courses also offer optional office hours weekly via Zoom or similar video conferencing tools.
The course transfer depends on where you are transferring from, and what program you are transferring to. If you are coming to Cairn Online from another institution, it is very likely you will have some credits that will transfer. Because there are so many options, we encourage you to talk to an enrollment counselor. If you are transferring out, Cairn is a regionally accredited school and some credits should transfer with relative ease. Each college sets their own transfer criteria, so be sure to check their policies for specifics.
Cairn is approved to offer financial aid because of its regional accreditation. There are many options available and typically students qualify for at least one type of federal aid. Many students receive scholarships and grants that make earning their degree even more affordable. Cairn offers a variety of scholarships and discounts in addition to options for loans and grants. Please refer to this page for details.
Cairn University delivers an intentionally biblical and Christ-centered education that upholds the authority of Scripture, the importance of truth, and the faithful following of Christ. Faculty and staff teach and serve biblically, personally invest in students, and cultivate an authentic Christian community marked by faithfulness, discipleship, and love. At Cairn, the students’ education, experience, and relationships shape Christian character, cultivate wisdom, and prepare them to think, live, and serve biblically in an ever-changing world.
Cairn University Ranks #2 in Glanzer’s Guide to Christian Colleges and Universities. At Cairn University, we work hard to ensure that everything we do inside and outside the classroom aligns with our commitment to Christian education, clearly articulated in our University mission statement.
All undergraduate programs integrate 30 credits of Bible and theology as part of the core curriculum. Except for those pursuing a BS in Bible, anyone who earns a bachelor’s degree from Cairn has a Bible Minor listed on their transcript.