<p>Just wondering what sort of graduate schools offer a more self-designed or interdisciplinary degree program? Coming from an undergraduate college with entirely self made concentrations I can't see myself going back to a super rigid structure, nor am I particularly interested in following to the t the outlines for various majors I've looked at that are the closest to what I study now (sociology, poli sci, comparative lit).</p>
<p>I found out that Brown has an open grad program and some sort of master's that allows you to combine two majors, anyone have any opinions on or experience with their programs? Or know of other Universities that offer something similar? </p>
<p>The catch is I already have 30k (and growing) in student debt and don't know that I can afford grad school unless the program pays for it, hence looking at Brown and other schools that fully fund. Thanks!</p>
<p>You are highly unlikely to find a funded invent-it-yourself graduate program. Funding usually comes attached to a department’s research or teaching goals. If you’re not attached to a department doing work for them, they won’t be funding you.</p>
<p>Why do you want a graduate degree? If you want to end up teaching/researching at the university level, you’re going to have to get a traditional disciplinary doctorate if you want a realistic chance of being hired somewhere.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that, generally, a MS is a degree to show an extra degree of specialization. If you can do mix & match from a whole bunch of different departments, how are you getting more specialization?</p>
<p>I am not looking to get into teaching, I want a doctorate to further my studies. And as far as specialization, my issue is that my undergrad has been TOO specialized. I study very specific topics in political & queer theory, but I don’t want to follow the traditional guidelines for sociology or political science as I’m not interested in the research methods components. So I looked at comparative lit programs, but they generally have language requirements which I’m not sure I can meet at this moment. And it wouldn’t be a whole bunch of departments, but very few schools offer PhDs in anything close to queer studies or critical queer theory (or, let’s be honest, even in undergrad degree programs). So I’m a bit stuck as to what field to pursue for grad school if I can’t find a more open grad program.</p>
<p>You want a doctorate to further your studies… then what? What do you plan to do with an interdisciplinary Ph.D in sociology/queer theory/comp lit? Better think about it now, because you’ll be spending a bunch of money to get it.</p>
<p>The other thing is… if you want a doctorate anywhere related to the social sciences, you’re going to have to study research methods. Quantitative and qualitative research are at the heart of those fields.</p>
<p>“Interdisciplinary” doesn’t mean “do whatever you want,” it means “using a whole bunch of disciplines.” If anything, they are more difficult than traditional discipline-based studies because you have to integrate a wide array of methodologies.</p>
<p>But really, you need to talk to your professors who are advising you in your current interdisciplinary program. They are likely to have the best idea of how to continue down your track in graduate studies.</p>
<p>* study very specific topics in political & queer theory, but I don’t want to follow the traditional guidelines for sociology or political science as I’m not interested in the research methods components.*</p>
<p>Then there is very little point in getting a PhD, since a PhD is a research degree.</p>
<p>I’m in an interdisciplinary program. It is twice as much work as a disciplinary program, not less. I had to learn both quantitative and qualitative methods; I have to complete coursework in both fields and I have to demonstrate my knowledge through comprehensive exams in both areas. It’s very rewarding for a determined scholar, but it takes some extra work.</p>