The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies program (BIS) is part of the School of Letters and Sciences and is designed to allow students to specialize in two major areas or concentrations. This program is intended for students who want to investigate the integration of subjects from different disciplines in a meaningful way. In today’s world, there is a demand for individuals who can tackle issues holistically. BIS students are taught to explore the connectivity existing between academic disciplines to help them develop an inventive and revolutionary way of looking at contemporary problems and issues in today’s society. There are four core courses that give students the intellectual tools they require to make meaningful connections between their concentration areas, to foster the development of skills in interdisciplinary problem solving.

I chose the BIS program because I want to be a teacher and I want to teach in South East Asia. The culture and religion of SE Asia is diverse to the extreme. In order to be successful as an educator in that social climate, I need to be knowledgeable and well versed in its culture, language and religious customs. India is a country that suffers from high levels of illiteracy and poverty. One of the reasons behind the perpetuations of these problems is grounded in their culture and religion. However, I feel that one can educate children and break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy while still maintaining the cultural integrity of that group. I did not want to enter the classroom and become a missionary of Western education and values. In order to achieve my ambitions of giving children the opportunity for a better life, I knew I had to integrate my knowledge of Education and Religious Studies. This is why I chose the BIS program at Arizona State University.