Interdisciplinary Studies - Independent Track Athabasca University

Overview

The Interdisciplinary Studies - Independent Track at Athabasca University offers a unique postgraduate experience for students seeking to bridge multiple academic disciplines. This Master of Arts programme is designed to foster critical thinking and reflective practice through a customisable curriculum tailored to individual goals.

Students engage with a curriculum that integrates methods and theories from the arts, social sciences, and humanities. The programme structure encourages learners to connect academic research with real-world issues found in their professional lives or local communities. This approach ensures that the degree remains relevant to contemporary challenges.

The independent track is specifically intended for highly motivated individuals who wish to chart their own academic path.

Why Interdisciplinary Studies - Independent Track at Athabasca University?

Athabasca University is a leader in distance education, providing a robust online community for graduate learners. The institution focuses on developing versatile skills such as social awareness, teamwork, and innovative problem-solving, which are highly valued by modern employers and professional associations.

The programme culminates in a significant final project or capstone paper that synthesises the student's accumulated knowledge. This final requirement can be completed as a grouped-study course or an individual project, allowing students to tackle community problems or workplace issues through an interdisciplinary lens.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

• International fee: CAD 2258 per module
• National fee: CAD 2013 per module

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum consists of core requirements, electives, and a final project. Modules may include:

• Governance and Leadership
• Gender, Race, Racism, and the History of Classical Scholarship
• World Literature
• Making Sense of Theory in the Humanities and Social Sciences
• Doing Interdisciplinary Research
• Academic Writing for Graduate Students
• Business of Emotions
• Digital Storytelling
• Grounded Theory, Exploration, and Beyond
• Understanding Work and Learning
• Capstone Course: Integrating your MA-IS Studies and Research
• Psychological Sciences in Everyday Life

Careers with Interdisciplinary Studies - Independent Track

Graduates are prepared for diverse professional roles that require complex research and analytical abilities. The broad skill set gained through this programme is applicable across the public, private, and non-profit sectors, supporting career advancement in various leadership and specialist positions.

Potential career paths include:

• Public Policy Analyst
• Community Organiser
• Communications Specialist
• Project Manager
• Corporate Strategist
• Grant Writer
• Programme Coordinator
• Researcher
• Consultant
• Educator