# What should I do if I’m interested in Interdisciplinary Fields?

**Source**: https://advising.stanford.edu/current-students/advising-student-handbook/interdisciplinary-fields
**Parent**: https://advising.stanford.edu/current-students/advising-student-handbook

Do you have interests that defy categorization? Do you enjoy reaching across disciplinary boundaries and finding connections between sometimes disparate fields? If so, then explore one of Stanford’s many [Interdisciplinary Programs!](https://www.stanford.edu/list/interdisc/) In fact, Interdisciplinary Programs offer some of the most popular majors on campus, allowing you to combine interests within and across the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and engineering.

### For example:

- Interested in the interconnection of health policy, medicine, and culture? Try the [Human Biology Program.](https://humanbiology.stanford.edu/)
- Passionate about understanding how history informs the present and inspires an engagement with the past in order to collectively dream a more just and equitable future? Explore [African and African American Studies.](https://aaas.stanford.edu/)
- Want to create policy to solve current environmental problems? Check out the [Earth Systems Program.](https://earth.stanford.edu/esys)
- Curious about the links between human and artificial intelligence? Learn about the [Symbolic Systems Program.](https://symsys.stanford.edu/)
- Interested in designing a program of study on a topic or set of issues that concern Americans, from multiple angles, tracing connections and forging conversations across time and disciplinary boundaries? Consider the [American Studies Program.](https://amstudies.stanford.edu/)

### Courses and Opportunities

There are dozens of courses that may be a good starting point in interdisciplinary fields, depending on your particular interests. [IntroSems](https://introsems.stanford.edu/) are a great way to leap right into a field, and the Advising Student Handbook maintains a list of additional [courses that departments think are suitable for frosh](https://advising.stanford.edu/current-students/choosing-courses/frosh-friendly "Frosh-Friendly Courses"). You might also use keyword searches in [ExploreCourses](http://explorecourses.stanford.edu/) or in [Navigate Classes](https://navigator.stanford.edu/classes).

Students interested in interdisciplinary fields should look into courses within the combined disciplines as well as within the interdisciplinary program itself. For example, a student exploring an interest in Symbolic Systems might start with SymSys 1, but might also begin by exploring courses in Computer Science, Linguistics, Philosophy, or Psychology.

Talk with your [Academic Advisor](https://advising.stanford.edu/appointments "Make an Appointment") to learn more about which interdisciplinary programs might be right for you!

[Return to the Advising Student Handbook](https://advising.stanford.edu/current-students/advising-student-handbook "Advising Student Handbook")

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