Interdisciplinary Studies - Curriculum

Required Courses

• IDS 301    Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies
• ENGL 360    Rhetoric
• MFT 325    Introduction to Research Methods
• COMM 353    Diversity Issues in a Global Context
• HSTY 311    Current Events: The Present as History
• IDS 430    Seminar in Interdisciplinary Studies
• PSYC 436    Organizational Psychology
• COMM 414   Conflict Transformation
• ART 511      Art and the Human Experience
• IDS 490      Senior Seminar

Interdisciplinary Studies Degree Completion Program

Interdisciplinary Studies- Course Descriptions

ART - 511 Art and the Human Experience (Visual Culture) (3 SH)
Directed study of the relationships between art, its history, and everyday culture. A variety
of visual cues and motivations will be analyzed such as photography, film, symbols, pop
culture and graphic design all within an art historical context.

COMM - 353 Diversity Issues in a Global Context (3 SH)
This course involves the study of cultural diversity and multiculturalism by focusing on
differences in communicative behavior among various global communities. Emphasis will be
placed on increasing students' awareness of significant differences in world view and the
potential for negative outcomes of those views, specifically when operating from an ethnocentrist
standpoint. The impact of variations in communication strategies on significant life
issues will be explored.

COMM - 414 Conflict Transformation (3 SH)
(WI) Study of conflict management theory and skill processes, including active listening,
assertion, negotiation, and mediation. Students will develop knowledge about the nature
of conflict, the growing opportunities to utilize conflict management skills, and will develop
awareness of personal styles of dealing with communicative discord. This is a writing intensive
course.

ENGL - 360 Rhetoric (3 SH)
(WI) Introduction to the field of rhetoric, including study of major rhetoricians from Plato to Burke
and the changing position of rhetoric in the field of literary and communication studies.
This is a writing intensive course.

HSTY - 311 Current Events: The Present in Historical Perspective (3 SH)
Significant current events, issues, or movements such as the growth of Islamic fundamen
talism, global terrorism, the Arab-Israeli conflict, economic crisis in the European Union,
China's emergence as a world power, the Iranian nuclear program, and climate change are
studied in their historical context. Events in the United States are covered, but the focus
of the course is international. A research/service project may be required.

IDS - 301 Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies (3 SH)
Provides students with an overview of the traditional academic disciplines and the
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various ways in which they have been combined to develop new disciplines,
transdisciplines, and interdisciplinary practices. The focus will be on interdisciplinary
approaches to knowledge creation and problem solving.

IDS - 430 Seminar in Interdisciplinary Studies (3 SH)
Topical, interdisciplinary seminars focusing on the approaches different disciplines take
to a specific contemporary or historical issue in a global perspective. Prerequisites:
Junior standing, ENGL 202, and PHIL 304 or ENGL 360.

IDS - 490 Senior Seminar (3 SH)
(WI) A faculty-supervised capstone course for Liberal Arts majors. Students will explore
issues and themes in a chosen area of the Liberal Arts and utilize research techniques
in the process. Emphasis will be placed on research methods as well as the research of
others from professional publications. The research process includes the submission
and approval of a topic outline, a proposal, and a final report as well as an oral
presentation. Prerequisite: Senior status or permission of the Dean.

MFT - 325 Introduction to Research Methods (3 SH)
(WI) This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of various research
methods in the behavioral sciences so they can critically evaluate information about
human behavior presented in professional journals and in popular media, understand
the strengths and limitations of research methods, and develop proficiency in scholarly
writing. Mastery of the material covered will help students evaluate the adequacy of
research findings reported by others and develop appropriate APA Publication
guidelines for writing formal research papers. This is a writing intensive course.

PSYC - 436 Organizational Psychology (3 SH)
The study of people at work. The application of psychology to organizational and
management issues, including what motivates people to work, what leads to job satisfaction,
organizational structure, and processes of communication, selection and training, individual
performance measurement, the design of work itself, innovative ways to change organizations.