Worldwide Student is First to Earn Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies

The Worldwide Campus initially offered the program in January 2016, giving students a unique opportunity to design a curriculum that serves their needs and aspirations while supporting critical thinkers who understand the connections between science, technology and humanity.

After attending Embry-Riddle’s residential campus in Daytona Beach, Florida, Dwyer moved to Washington with her husband, who serves in the U.S. Navy. Embry-Riddle Worldwide's campus in Orlando gave Dwyer the flexibility to finish her degree while raising her two children and moving to Washington and Orlando.

Dwyer, the mother of a 6-month-old and 2-year-old, also was able to easily transfer college credits she earned from her high school’s dual-enrollment program and attending one of Embry-Riddle’s residential campuses.

“Online learning was a great fit for me with my husband being in the Navy,” Dwyer said. “It made it easy to work, be a mom and still go to school.”

The program enables students to design their undergraduate program to suit specific needs by accepting a wide selection of transfer credits. Students can tailor their education to learn skills in their desired fields. Transfer credits can be also accepted from military students and the Community College of the Air Force.

The program requires course work in general education, a core curriculum, a minor, specialty area and electives. Each student is also required to complete a Capstone Project.

Program Chair Dr. Bobby McMasters said the program was created to give students skills for a variety of in-demand careers -- such as program and business managers for the aviation industry or as managers and logistics specialists for technology companies such as Amazon and Tesla. The program is also designed for students with an entrepreneurial spirit who want to be leaders in their fields. 

“Students with existing college credits can easily transfer most, if not all, their existing credits into the program and that’s the advantage of this degree,” McMasters said. “This program is another way we can support the needs of our students while preparing them to be leaders in evolving job fields.”

Dwyer said she is currently pursuing jobs in program management for the aviation and space industries.

“I enjoyed being able to study something different and what I was interested in,” Dwyer said. “It’s a great opportunity to learn a variety of skills that will prepare you for your career.”