Interdisciplinary Courses and Curricula

Interdisciplinary Minor Programs

Minor in Addiction Studies
Washington State University
http://academics.wsu.edu/fields/study.asp?ID=PSYCH#109

American Studies Minor
Washington State University
http://libarts.wsu.edu/amerst/minor.html

American Indian Studies Minor
Washington State University
http://libarts.wsu.edu/genstudies/academics/pullman/ais.html

Asian Studies Minor
Washington State University
http://libarts.wsu.edu/asia/academics/minor.html

Bioinformatics/Computational Biology Minor
University of Delaware
http://www.cis.udel.edu/~saunders/ugrad/minor

Bio-Mathematics Minor
Utah State University
http://www.usu.edu/science/htm/degrees-majors

Comparative Ethnic Studies Minor
Washington State University
http://libarts.wsu.edu/ces/

Disability Studies Minor
Washington State University
http://libarts.wsu.edu/speechhearing/undergraduate/minor-ds.asp

Film Studies Minor
Washington State University
http://www.forlang.wsu.edu/filmstudies/film_program.htm

Institute of Global Cultural Studies
Binghamton University
http://igcs.binghamton.edu/

Global Studies Minor
Washington State University
http://libarts.wsu.edu/genstudies/academics/pullman/global.html

History of Science Department
University of Oklahoma
http://www.ou.edu/cas/hsci/hsci/Home.html

Human Rights Minor
University of Connecticut
http://www.humanrights.uconn.edu

Information Technology Minor
University of Massachusetts Amherst
http://www.umass.edu/itprogram/index.html

Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Environment
University of Oklahoma
http://www.ou.edu/cas/ipe/

International Studies Office
Binghamton University
http://www2.binghamton.edu/oip/about-international-programs/mission-statement.html

Leadership, Ethics and Social Action Minor
Indiana University
http://www.indiana.edu/~lesa/

Women's Studies Minor
Washington State University
http://libarts.wsu.edu/women/minor.html

University of Southern California
Undergraduate Education, Minors and Interdisciplinary Learning
http://www.usc.edu/academics/undergraduate/
http://www.usc.edu/academics/undergraduate/special/
http://www.usc.edu/programs/ugprograms/ugresearch/

Bibliography

Many items here are drawn from a list complied by Pamela M. Patterson, Program Coordinator, Center for Teaching Excellence, Iowa State University, and posted on the POD Network list serv on July 23, 2002. They are included here with Dr. Patterson's permission.

Ayres, B., and Gibbs, P. (1997). Mythic America: Developing an interdisciplinary course. Teaching English in the Two-Year College, December, 326-332.

The Boyer Commission on Educating Undergraduates at the Research University, Reinventing Undergraduate Education, Section IV. Remove Barriers to Interdisciplinary Education, available on-line at:
http://naples.cc.sunysb.edu/Pres/boyer.nsf/webform/IV

Cowan, M. A., Ewell, B. C., and McConnell, P., "Creating Conversations: An Experiment in Interdisciplinary Team Teaching," College Teaching, 43:4, 127-131.

Davis, James R. (1995). Interdisciplinary Courses and Team Teaching: New Arrangements for Learning. Phoenix, AZ: American Council on Education and the Oryx Press. Note: Davis explores the pros and cons of teaching interdisciplinary courses. He also describes in depth five interdisciplinary team-taught courses at the University of Denver, including courses in professional subjects.

Do, Ellen Yi-Luen, "Interdisciplinary Programs: Integrating Different Perspectives and Ways of Thinking into Undergraduate Education," Reinvention Center Conference (Nov. 2004): http://www.reinventioncenter.miami.edu/Conference_04/Interdisciplianry_Programs/Interdisciplinary_Programs.htm

Fraser, Cassandra L., Aultman, Jennifer, and Malewitz, Raymond. "Designing Matter: Fusing Science and Humanities Approaches to Address Real World Challenges," Reinvention Center Conference (Nov. 2006): http://www.reinventioncenter.miami.edu/conference2006/cassandrafraser/summary.htm

Haynes, C. Ed. (2002). Innovations in Interdisciplinary Teaching. ACE/ORYX Press.

Hertz, David and Giancarlo Maiorino. "Applying Principles of Learning in Undergraduate Education in the Peforming and Fine Arts," Reinvention Center Conference (Nov. 2004): http://www.reinventioncenter.miami.edu/Conference_04/Fine_Performing_Arts/Fine_Performing_Arts.htm

Huber, M. T., and Morreale, S. P. (Eds.). (2002). Disciplinary Styles in the Scholarship of Teaching, Exploring Common Ground, AAHE and Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

The Journal of Innovative Higher Education: http://www.uga.edu/ihe/ihe.html
Note: The Journal of Innovative Higher Education has had some articles on interdisciplinary teaching, and learning. The Web site contains abstracts going back to 1989, and there is also a topical listing.

Klein. J. T., and Doty, W. G., (1994). Interdisciplinary Studies Today. No. 58. New Directions for Teaching and Learning. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Note: A wide-ranging collection of articles going beyond definitional and historical perspectives on interdisciplinary studies. The article titles: Finding Interdisciplinary Knowledge and Information (many resources listed); Designing Interdisciplinary Courses; The Administration and Governance of Interdisciplinary Programs, Assessing Interdisciplinary Learning; Organizational Networking: Taking the Next Step.

Lattuca, L. (2001). Creating Interdisciplinary: Interdisciplinary Research and Teaching among College and University Faculty, Vanderbilt University Press.

Miller, J. E. (2002). Building Interdisciplinary Bridges between Math, Science, and Engineering Courses," Journal for the Art of Teaching, Volume IX(1): 56-72. Note: If you cannot easily get a copy contact Judith Miller, Director of Educational Development, Technology and Assessment, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, (508) 831-5579; jmiller@wpi.edu.

Nuhfer, E. B. (1999). Motivation in interdisciplinary programs: in M. Theall and others Motivation from Within: Approaches for Encouraging Faculty and Students to Excel: New Directions in Teaching and Learning n. 78, Jossey-Bass, pp. 79-86.

Rosenthal, A., and Rodriguez, R. (2001). "Interdisciplinary Courses and Team Teaching: Crossing Academic Borders," Reflections from the Classroom (Center for Teaching Excellence, University of Kansas), Volume 4, Fall, 1-5. http://www.ku.edu/~cte

Rubin, Clinton. "Integrating Research and Undergraduate Education in the Post-Genomics Era...A Good Idea, but...What About Implementation?" Reinvention Center Conference (Nov. 2002): http://www.sunysb.edu/Reinventioncenter/conference/Roundtables/reinvent-rubin-11-02.pdf

Vess, D. (2000). Exploration in Interdisciplinary Teaching and Learning.
http://www.faculty.de.gcsu.edu/~dvess/ids/courseportfolios/front.htm

Willis, Holly. "Integrating Core Functions in Fields of Study that Cross Intellectual Domains: Multimedia in the Core," Reinvention Center Conference (Nov. 2006): http://www.reinventioncenter.miami.edu/conference2006/hollywillis/summary.htm

Wineburg, S., and Grossman, P. (2000). Interdisciplinary Curriculum: Challenges to Implementation, Teachers College Press, 2000.

Exemplary Programs and Practices

Bridging Disciplines Program, University of Texas at Austin. An interdisciplinary program that provides flexibility in choosing undergraduate coursework and research opportunities for attainment of the baccalaureate degree. http://www.utexas.edu/student/connexus/bdp/index.html

Community Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz: An interdisciplinary undergraduate (and graduate) program that focuses on the study of social change in the context of the community. http://communitystudies.ucsc.edu/

The Computational Design Lab, School of Architecture, Carnegie Mellon University
http://code.arc.cmu.edu/visual

Connections in Undergraduate Studies (Connexus), University of Texas at Austin: A cross-college unit that offers a diverse set of academic programs and resources that traverse boundaries between colleges and disciplines and enhances the quality of undergraduate education. http://www.utexas.edu/ugs/programs

The Duke Scholarship with a Civic Mission project, Duke University: Gives students, faculty, and community groups a chance to work together on issues of common concern. For more information visit: http://rslduke.mc.duke.edu

The Electronic Learning Communities, Georgia Tech: Links to several computer-based learning environments including AquaMoose 3D, a math learning environment designed to build connections between mathematical and artistic thinking and IRC Francais, a project designed to help students learn French through active conversations with other students. http://www.cc.gatech.edu/elc/

Gemstone Program, The University of Maryland: A four-year program for Honors students that integrates technological and social issues into team research projects guided by a faculty mentor. http://www.gemstone.umd.edu/

The Human-Computer Interaction Institute: An interdisciplinary group of faculty and students at Carnegie Mellon University dedicated to research and education in topics related to computer technology in support of human activity and society. From the site’s homepage, click the ‘research’ link to find information about interesting research projects and computer-based learning tools. http://www.hcii.cmu.edu

SAGES, Case Western Reserve University: An innovative program organized around seminars taken in each of your first three years of study and culminating in a capstone project. http://www.case.edu/sages

The Tracking Cultures Program, The University of Texas at Austin: Provides interdisciplinary study abroad opportunities within the humanities. http://www.utexas.edu/cola/study_abroad/goto/study_abroad/tracking_cultures/

At the University of Southern California, students can minor in a subject offered in a different college or unit than that of their major. See: http://www.usc.edu/academics/undergraduate/

The University of Colorado-based Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities: Uses interdisciplinary research and multi-campus partnerships in the research and development of innovative technologies to enhance the lives of people with cognitive disabilities: http://www.colorado.edu/engineering/cue01/projects/coleman2.html and http://www.cu.edu/ColemanInstitute/

Course and Curricular Innovation

Visual Thinking and Spatial Reasoning Course and Presentation
http://www.depts.washington.edu/visual

Designing Matter, a common course at University of Virginia: a collaborative learning experiment involving students and faculty from numerous departments and disciplines. The course explores cutting edge research in science and other matter related fields, along with implications for society too.
Website (featuring work by participating artists): http://www.designingmatter.net

Multimedia in the Core, University of Southern California: A program to teach and promote multimedia literacy through courses across disciplines in the core curriculum: http://cmm.usc.edu/courses.htm

Tools

Connections in Undergraduate Studies (Connexus), University of Texas at Austin. A cross-college unit that offers a diverse set of academic programs and resources that traverse boundaries between colleges and disciplines and enhances the quality of undergraduate education. http://www.utexas.edu/ugs/programs