Annalyse Kofoed began her journey to valedictorian of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences by doing what every college student does — exploring her options. Though she originally declared a behavioral science major, she wanted to make sure that her talents would be valued after graduation. “I began exploring the possibility of bringing business into my degree as either a minor a maybe a double major when I came across the integrated studies degree,” said Kofoed.

The integrated studies major is not a double major or a major/minor combination — students don’t have to fulfill all the requirements of two often very different programs. Instead, the program allows students to combine two different areas of emphasis, after careful planning and coordination with skilled academic advisors, into a truly interdisciplinary degree.

“Because the integrated studies major generally limits the number of students to 100, it was already a unique experience just being in the major,” said Kofoed. “My degree exposed me to a variety of worldviews and new paradigms, and the subsequent examination of each course topic from those perspectives drove me to develop critical thinking skills that I sincerely wouldn’t have developed otherwise."

While working on her senior thesis, a requirement for all integrated studies majors, Kofoed was supported by her thesis mentors Scott Abbott, Matt Draper, and Jon Westover. “They each supported me through the thesis writing process in unique and valuable ways,” Kofoed said. “They were always very uplifting and complimentary of my efforts, and it was a rewarding experience to work with them.”

Now that she has graduated, Kofoed plans to take some time off school and work for a few years, though she eventually wants to apply for graduate school and pursue a long-term career in industrial and organizational psychology.

Kofoed highly recommends an integrated studies degree, but she cautions, “It’s important for you to know yourself and your work style. This major is incredibly rewarding, and there are so many opportunities for resume building. However, you need to be proactive, self-driven, and willing to put in the work it takes to have fulfilling networks and experiences.”