What is IDST?

What is IDST? This is the question I get every time I tell someone my major. I then follow that question up with it is Interdisciplinary Studies; however the confused expression on their faces does not change. So I then have to go into explaining something that is actually extremely complex or trying to find a simple definition to satisfy their question. Eventually after repeating this process over and over again it starts to become quite aggravating.
My simple version of what it is and why I am majoring in it is, well it is the only thing offered that supports what I want to do. Virginia Tech along with every other university now, in Virginia, does not have an Elementary Education Undergraduate major. It is only offered in Graduate school, and one must obtain a Master’s degree in order to become an elementary school teacher in the state of Virginia. So I must major in Interdisciplinary Studies, and this isn’t even very short at all.
Those who do know what Interdisciplinary studies at Virginia Tech is know that it is taking two or more minors and making that a major. What they do not know is that IDED falls under Interdisciplinary Studies. IDED is a short way for saying the Education and Social Degree option, which is a major, created by Joan Wilson, who is still a faculty member and advisor at the school. Once Virginia Tech lost the undergraduate elementary education major she made up a major which satisfies those undergraduates who are trying to pursue a career in elementary education. This is not two minors put together; it is an actual major, which was placed under Interdisciplinary Studies.
Though I have mentioned what Interdisciplinary Studies is at Virginia Tech I have not explained exactly what IDST is. If one breaks down the word Interdisciplinary there is the word discipline and inter, however I would like to think of the word as integrating. So this explains what Interdisciplinary means, it is integrating different disciplines. To be an Interdisciplinarian, one looks at complex phenomena such as poverty or terrorism and they come up with a solution to the problem by integrating different disciplines and bringing in insights from all angles which apply. This is different from someone who studies in specifically one discipline, such as Biology, they do not simply look at the problem from only a biological aspect but they may bring in psychology, English, and math.
So what? Now that I have explained what Interdisciplinary means, so what? Interdisciplinary is the best way to look at a problem, not just looking at it from one aspect or discipline but combining them all to come up with one consensus. Interdisciplinarians look at the problem first and decide “what disciplines would be best to help solve this?” They care for the problem first and then take into account which disciplines apply, and then come up with a basic conclusion by integrating all of the ideas, in order to best serve the issue. If one single discipline were to look at the problem and try to solve it, they would fail, seeing as they do not have insight from other disciplines in order to come up with the best solution. Also if one is to take multiple disciplines and each makes their own assumptions on how the problem might best be solved, and not integrate or look at the problem its self first than they will also fail. Interdisciplinarians are very important in helping to create the best conclusion. I am not bashing disciplines because without discipline there would not be interdisciplinary, I am simply saying that we must pull all disciplines applicable and integrate them to best solve complex phenomena.