32 Madison Cothern learned a lesson in resilience when, in August 2017, two weeks before the start of her junior year at VSU, she found out she no longer had a major. She had failed the entry exam for the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program by just one point for the third time. She now had to plan a completely different route, and she did not know what to do. “I went to my advisor, and she could tell I was upset,” said Cothern, a Jacksonville, Georgia, native. “I was about to cry, and she said, ‘I know the perfect thing for you.’” That is how she was introduced to Interdisciplinary Studies, a Bachelor of Arts degree program in which students choose two or three focus areas from any of the majors or minors offered at VSU. Cothern, a dancer and member of VSU’s Red Hots dance team, now had the opportunity to craft a multifaceted degree program that aligned with her strengths and interests. She chose to study nutrition and human studies, dance and movement, and social sciences. “I liked that I wasn’t locked into just one subject,” she said. “I had the freedom to take courses that were kind of all over the map, and courses I had already taken weren’t just a waste and they could fit into the puzzle.” Cothern graduated in May and plans to pursue a career working with young children as an occupational therapist in the near future. “It’s been perfect,” she said, describing her Interdisciplinary Studies experience at VSU. “I’m one of those people who is not naturally good at school, but I’ve made the best grades yet. I’ve been so intrigued, and I feel like I’ve learned the most. It’s been very beneficial.” INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES The Mission: Earn a four-year degree from Valdosta State University The Conflict: Interested in too many subjects, unsure about future career plans, or feel like initial plan is not going as expected The Opportunity: Create something new by thinking across academic boundaries and drawing knowledge from multiple disciplines Madison Cothern Photo: Paul Leavy