Exploring the History of Interdisciplinary Studies at Florida Universities.

Exploring the History of Interdisciplinary Studies at Florida Universities

Interdisciplinarity in Education

• Exactly what is Interdisciplinarity? According to Davies & Devlin, it is study that “requires two or more disciplines which combine their expertise to jointly address an area of common concern” (3).

• When it comes to the university level, applying interdisciplinary studies may prove to be challenging. However students with extensive interests may be restricted without the option of interdisciplinarity. Therefore, “if cross-disciplinary or interdisciplinary studies are encouraged or mandated, this may benefit students who have broader interests” (Davies 6).

• Caruana & Oakey suggest that “analyses of teaching and learning in the disciplinary context, exploring the influence of discipline on the nature of knowledge, curriculum, learning outcomes and assessment” is needed (5). This will help determine the positive effects of current and future interdisciplinary studies programs.

FROM GENERAL STUDIES TO INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES

The University of Central Florida

UCF: Interdisciplinary Studies

• The interdisciplinary studies program at UCF has undergone several changes since its inception in 1969.

• Beginning first as the General Studies program when UCF was still Florida Technological University, the program then changed its name in 1981 to the Liberal Studies program (Spraker).

• With the possibility of obtaining a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS), students were able to mold their degrees to their career goals (Spraker).

• In 2007, the program underwent another name change and became the Interdisciplinary Studies program. The new name brought with it a new attitude that students not only were able to select courses based on their interests, but would also be provided foundation courses to assist them in developing and following through to their degree (Spraker).

• http://www.is.ucf.edu/index.php

INTERDISCIPLINARY HUMANITIES AND BEYOND

Florida State University

FSU: Interdisciplinary Humanities

• At Florida State University there are many ways to explore interdisciplinarity in several degree programs. Although, this was not always the case.

• One of the programs at FSU that became an interdisciplinary program is their humanities program. FSU converted the program to provide “a flexible and broad education in the thought, literature, art, film and music of world cultures” (“Welcome.”).

• In September 2005, FSU stated their goal is to “provides the student with an opportunity to gain broad experience in a traditional area of study, plus enough substantial study in a general period or field to prepare for graduate work and to insure against superficiality” (“Course List”).

• Since its inception, the interdisciplinary humanities program at FSU has incorporated transdiciplinarity, pluralism, criticism, dialogical community, and interdisciplinarity into their curriculum (“Vision”).

• http://www.fsu.edu/~proghum/

THE INTERDISCIPLINARY GATOR

The University of Florida

UF: Interdisciplinary Gators

• The interdisciplinary studies program at the University of Florida was conceived of because “interdisciplinary approaches, research, and curricular activities are becoming increasingly appropriate and valuable within the liberal arts and sciences and between liberal arts and other fields” (“Major”).

• One of the priorities UF’s interdisciplinary studies college advocates for its students is that they are “focusing on providing students with knowledge and training in critical thinking and reasoning so graduates will have the skills to undertake leadership positions in a global society” (“Parents”).

• Although when the program first began it was limited in the selection of concentrations available to students. However currently, students have the choice of eleven major concentrations (“Major”).

• http://www.clas.ufl.edu/ids/

THE SOCIAL SIDE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES

The University of South Florida

USF: Interdisciplinary Social Science

• The University of South Florida offers an interdisciplinary social science program. The program began in order to “provide students a broad grounding in the social sciences while creating opportunities to explore selected disciplines in more depth” (“Mission”).

• According to USF, the program is dedicated to “trans-disciplinary learning, research, and teaching across the social sciences” (“Welcome”).

• The interdisciplinary social science program was brought to USF via the college of arts and sciences for the sole purpose of imparting students with “the opportunity to explore the research process, exposes students to a variety of methodologies, and emphasizes effective writing. The program provides a measure of flexibility and allows students to design a rigorous course of study built around at least two disciplinary interests” (“Mission”).

• Years ago, the program integrated foundation courses into its curriculum to give students an understanding of what social science interdisciplinarity was all about.

• http://www.cas.usf.edu/iss/

Interdisciplinarity in Our Universities

• Directing interdisciplinary education in our universities is challenging. This being said, Caruana & Oakey maintain that “individuals might strive for interdisciplinarity in their practice, many interdisciplinary teaching and learning endeavours may be more accurately perceived as multi-disciplinary, with groups from different disciplines collaborating but continuing to focus on disciplinary theory, tools and methods (12).

• Overcoming this and other challenges to interdisciplinary programs is possible. According to Davies & Devlin, “purposeful and directed interdisciplinary work requires an appropriate system of rewards and institutional support, promotion, seed funding, release time, teaching and innovation grants and recognition, and so on” (7).

• Therefore, “in order to encourage interdisciplinarity, it might also be beneficial for the university to put in place mechanisms to recognise when interdisciplinary exchanges occur naturally” (Davies 7).

References

• Caruana, Viv, and Dorothy Oakey. “Negotiating the Boundaries of ‘Discipline’: Interdisciplinarity, Multi-disciplinarity and Curriculum Design.” Education in a Changing Environment. Manchester: U of Salford, 2004.

• “Course List: Student Reference Copy.” Interdisciplinary Program in the Humanities. 29 Sept. 2005. Florida State University. 02 Apr. 2009 <http://iph.fsu.edu/Files/UG%20-%20ALL%20Courses%20-%20Revised%2029%20September%202005.pdf>.

• Davies, Martin, and Marcia Devlin. “Interdisciplinary Higher Education: Implications for Teaching and Learning.” The Centre for the Study of Higher Education. Melbourne: U of Melbourne, 2007.

• “Major in Interdisciplinary Studies.” Interdisciplinary Studies. The University of Florida. 08 Apr. 2009 < http://www.clas.ufl.edu/ids/>.

• “Mission.” Interdisciplinary Social Sciences. 07 Oct. 2007. The University of South Florida. 25 Apr. 2009 <http://www.stpt.usf.edu/coas/ISS/>.

• “Parents.” College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The University of Florida. 08 Apr. 2009 < http://www.clas.ufl.edu/parents.html>.

• Spraker, Susan. “IDS Program Review Reading History.” Cornerstone Experience in Interdisciplinary Studies. 19 Aug. 2008. The University of Central Florida. 09 Jan. 2009 <https://webcourses.ucf.edu/webct/urw/lc4130001.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct>.

• “Vision.” Department of Interdisciplinary Humanities. Florida State University. 02 Apr. 2009 <http://iph.fsu.edu/vision.html>.

• “Welcome.” Interdisciplinary Social Sciences. 05 Nov. 2008. The University of South Florida. 25 Apr. 2009 <http://www.cas.usf.edu/iss/>.

• “Welcome.” Department of Interdisciplinary Humanities. Florida State University. 02 Apr. 2009 <http://www.fsu.edu/~proghum/>.

Florida’s IDS HistoryKaryn Leger