Full-time professional finds career growth in ASU interdisciplinary studies program
For Claudia Aguilera, the path to a college degree has not been a straight line, but a journey of integrating her professional success with her academic goals.
Aguilera, a seasoned professional who built a career at AT&T while pursuing her education intermittently since 2011, represents a growing demographic of unconventional students. Now one semester away from graduation in spring 2026, Aguilera is leveraging the Bachelor of Arts degree in interdisciplinary studies at Arizona State University’s College of Integrative Sciences and Arts to finalize her credentials in a way that directly amplifies her current career trajectory, while maximizing the credits she has accrued since 2011.
The interdisciplinary studies program, available at ASU’s Tempe, Polytechnic and Downtown Phoenix campuses, as well as through ASU Online, empowers students to create their own distinct degree by combining two concentrations from 170 areas of study – a possibility of more than 10,000 unique combinations. For Aguilera, an ASU Online student, this flexibility was key to unlocking her degree. After years of accumulating college credits that did not fit neatly into a traditional major, she found that this program offered a customized solution that valued her previous work.
“I’m currently pursuing my career full-time, and I’ve been doing so for a while now,” Aguilera said. “The interdisciplinary studies track allowed me the flexibility of incorporating my real-life experience in the career that I’m already pursuing with my studies.”
Customizing a curriculum for career growth
Aguilera selected data analytics and project management as her two areas of concentration. This combination was a strategic move to align her education with her daily professional reality.
Through the program, she has strengthened the soft skills necessary for corporate leadership — such as time management — and mastered technical tools like Excel and artificial intelligence. She noted that the curriculum’s emphasis on these technologies has helped simplify her day-to-day tasks, bridging the gap between the classroom and the office.
“They’re skills that I use every day in my career,” she said. “Through ASU’s programs, I was able to actually earn four separate certifications, including my data analytics certification.” Sharing these credentials online recently led to a new job offer as a technical project manager, and she accepted another offer as a district manager. This position came with a substantial pay increase. By stacking technical certifications while earning her degree, Aguilera is building new, in-demand technical skills on a foundation established at work and in school.
“Take what you’re learning in courses and immediately implement it in your career,” Aguilera said. “These practical lessons and new skills really cross over and help you succeed in your classes and career."
Experiential learning with impact
A hallmark of the interdisciplinary studies degree is the IDS 401 capstone experience, which requires students to apply their integrated knowledge in a real-world setting. Aguilera chose a research fellowship with the Latinx Oral History Lab, an initiative of the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts.
As a Hispanic woman looking to reconnect with her roots, the lab offered a meaningful way to engage with her heritage while applying her professional skill set. When the lab announced a need for someone to help create a summer institute, Aguilera knew she had found her place.
“My ears immediately perked up,” she said. “I am pursuing the project management concentration, and in my full-time career role, I take on a lot of the planning, and so this really seemed like a great fit for me to build my resume with some hands-on experience with project management.”
Advice for future Sun Devils
Aguilera’s journey has not been without challenges. She recalled feeling defeated when a work promotion initially forced her to pause her studies. However, returning to ASU with renewed focus taught her the value of persistence and self-compassion.
“There is no set timeline for completing school,” she said. “Prioritize yourself and your well-being and give yourself a break. Graduating can be done on your timeline.”
For prospective students considering the interdisciplinary studies major, Aguilera emphasizes the importance of genuine interest when selecting IDS concentrations.
“Pick two concentrations that you know are going to be beneficial down the road and stand out on a resume,” she said. “But also, most importantly, pick two concentrations that you’re passionate about because it’ll make this journey that much easier and that much more fulfilling.”
Learn more about ASU’s interdisciplinary studies program
For individuals who can identify with Christina’s story, but haven’t taken the next step to start school again, ASU has launched a new initiative called Operation Comeback. Arizona residents who started college at ASU but did not complete their degree now have resources available to them to return and finish what they started.