What is IDST?

Virginia Tech describes Interdisciplinary Studies as a field that “explores how the natural, artificial, and cultural dimensions of our world fit together. They take perspectives of many disciplines, in order to define new objects of study, and thus search for new ways to surmount obstacles and achieve our goals.” My personal thoughts on this major differ somewhat. I see it as giving me multiple “eyes,” “glasses” or “hats” of perception. It is looking at a problem and seeing it from widely different perspectives, say sociological over mechanical. I would describe it as my two minors coming together to refine my ability to look at a problem or issue and figure out a solution that I might not otherwise have come to if I had merely studied it from a one dimensional perspective.

The two minors that comprise my degree are Women’s Studies and Sociology. Women’s studies seeks to critique our world and society from a female centered perspective. I chose this major because I am avidly interested in studying the world from a non-patriarchal viewpoint. WorldWideLearn.com describes sociology as “Sociologists study human behavior as it pertains to human interaction within the guidelines of an organizational structure. The interaction between humans is more complex than the interactions between other animal species. Human behavior is greatly influenced and governed by social, religious, and legal guidelines. A sociologist studies these behaviors and the influences that preserve certain behaviors and change others. Sociology is a broad science, covering many different disciplines the social sciences. Anthropology, archeology, and linguistics are the few disciplines that surpass what sociology readily encompasses. Sociology also studies more tangible measures of human behavior such as class or social status, social movements, criminal deviance, and even revolution.” I chose this part of my degree because I wanted to study how people interact within society and how social factors affect their lives and those behaviors. My life and the experiences I have directly influence my desire to study in these fields.

Interdisciplinary studies appealed to me as a major because I am naturally an interdisciplinary person. I have a woman’s view on the world and problems. I have the added view of also being a lesbian. Those are two different perspectives that have the link of being minority standings. Another perspective is that I grow up in Washington, DC. I have the life experience of growing up in a metropolitan environment. I also have both firsthand and secondhand perspective, from what I have lived and experienced as an individual and from the enlightenment my formal education has provided. All these things put together gives be an interdisciplinary perspective on life, society and most importantly, situations.

The complex problems I wish to study and essentially build a career and life around are those of HIV/AIDS, underprivileged and displaced youth, and LGBT folk. I know that I want to tackle these problems in an educational capacity, although I’m not sure exactly what this would entail. I have begun with my experience as LGBTA President and as its support group leader. I will be applying for jobs with the Whitman Walker AIDS Clinic and hopefully that experience could tie me into my other goals of working with youth and the LGBT community.

In conclusion, someone with a background in Interdisciplinary Studies has the ability to empathize with multiple people in multiple environments, whether that be work, educational, community, or at home. This is an incredibly important talent in a modern world, where interconnectedness can make or break you in both a career and personal life. Without this ability, one might never know what opportunities they have overlooked. I know that because of my studies, I will recognize these opportunities and seize them.