What if we could see the world through a lens that offers us more than one perspective? Interdisciplinarity provides the opportunity to think from multiple viewpoints. In this course, you learn how to make connections across disciplinary practices to find commonalities and respect differences. Studying how a discipline changes across time, reveals the intrinsically social nature of every field. Across case studies, students become familiar with the models for and applications of interdisciplinary study. Working independently and in groups, students gain an overview of the integrative intellectual pursuit that is interdisciplinary studies to discover the importance of cross-cultural analyses of the world in which we live.
Prerequisite(s): INTD 101 or Department Permission. This methods course introduces students to an interdisciplinary approach to framing research, including the overall design and conceptualization of a problem, as well as the methodological tools to address it, through both quantitative and qualitative practices. From thinking about what to questioning how and why, students learn various methods of data and content collection, analysis, and representation. Engaging with techniques (such as diverse interview formats), tools (like industry-standard software for online surveys), and perspectives with differing ethics and means, this course integrates interdisciplinary research across different fields, such as natural and life sciences, social sciences, and the humanities.
Prerequisite(s): INTD 101 and one other course in the major track. In this course, students will discuss human values and problems from their humanities course clusters/electives and identify problems to investigate further in the lab. Students will examine, analyze, and evaluate case studies of ways that these problems have been addressed in the past and present. To develop their own projects, students will learn the basic technology skills necessary for working toward solutions. This will include assignments and projects working with Google Workspace, Excel spreadsheets, surveys, social media, and artificial intelligence, among others. By evaluating case studies of problems and using technology skills to address these problems, students will reflect on how to responsibly use technology as they work toward developing their own solutions.
Prerequisite(s): INTD 310. This course will use a challenge-based learning approach to have students develop solutions to the problems investigated in their humanities courses. Students will engage with the human values and problems discussed in their humanities course clusters/electives, investigate possible solutions, and use the tools they have learned to act as they work toward implementing the designed solutions. This course will emphasize a community and publicly engaged approach as students reach outside the classroom in their investigations. Students will learn to work with community partners, develop public-facing projects, and work toward solutions for real world issues.
Prerequisite(s): INTD 101 and INTD 301; or Department Permission. The course is designed to integrate the knowledge and skills cultivated in the Interdisciplinary Studies program (critical thinking, collaboration and shared leadership, interdisciplinary research, and writing and presentation), hands-on work experience, and collaborative self-reflection on the changing demands and possibilities of work. The course includes participation in a coordinating seminar and producing a written analysis of the organization that demonstrates mastery of learning objectives for the major. In order to facilitate this integration and reflection, this capstone seminar requires journaling, assignments to better understand your internship site, a reflection essay, and a presentation.