Integrated Studies (INTS)

INTS 1001. FYE: Integrated Studies. 1 Hour.

A First Year Experience course strongly recommended for all entering freshmen and transfer students with 0-24 credits. ?Provides an orientation to college studies and the college environment for students interested in Integrated Studies and/or a major not currently available. Emphasizing interdisciplinary learning, encourages students to explore themes, issues, and problems in a number of disciplines as a means to developing an integrative, interdisciplinary perspective. Students will refine academic skills, create and foster social networks, learn about college resources, and explore different fields of study, degree options, and career opportunities. Multiple listed with all other sections of First Year Experience (all 1001 courses, ENGR 1000). Students may only take one FYE course for credit. **COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLOs) At the successful conclusion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Have an understanding of interdisciplinarity. 2. Have an understanding of the disciplinary approaches of their two emphasis areas. 3. Describe the value of interdisciplinary work and research. 4. Explain the role of academic writing in their emphasis areas. FA, SP.

INTS 3100. Interdisciplinary Studies. 3 Hours.

Required of all Integrated Studies majors. Explores the epistemology, assumptions, research methods, theories, and concepts of each student's emphasis disciplines. Then focuses on the methods, practices, and theories of interdisciplinary study through integrative approaches to complex issues. Students should complete at least two courses in each of their emphases before they enroll in this course. **COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLOs) At the successful conclusion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Conduct research in the academic and professional literature related to various disciplines. 2. Produce artifacts that explore areas of intersection and integration between their two areas of emphasis. 3. Responsibly synthesize and integrate academic and professional information into their own writing. 4. Produce cogent, organized, and articulate research-based academic writing that integrates multiple disciplinary methods and perspectives. Prerequisite: ENGL 2010 (either Grade C or higher) and instructor permission. FA, SP.

INTS 3801R. Travel Study: Japan in Interdisciplinary Perspective I. 1 Hour.

Travel Study: Japan in Interdisciplinary Perspective I prepares students to participate in the Japan Travel Study summer experience and is intended for students with an interest in the history and culture of Japan and a desire to engage in rigorous interdisciplinary and global academic exploration. The purpose of the course will be to gain an introductory knowledge of the culture and history of Japan, make logistical preparations for international travel, and become aware of customs and norms of relevance to respectful participation in Japan. Additionally, students will design a fieldwork-oriented research proposal, to be carried out in Japan, that reflects disciplinary conventions commonly practiced an academic major. Additional travel fee required. **COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLOs) At the successful conclusion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Demonstrate intercultural competence by examining cultural assumptions and developing communication strategies to cross geographic and social boundaries. 2. Analyze aspects of Japanese culture and history using the conventions of one or more academic disciplines. 3. Design a fieldwork-oriented research proposal, to be carried out in Japan, that reflects disciplinary conventions commonly practiced in an academic major. Prerequisite: Instructor permission. SP (odd).

INTS 3802R. Travel Study: Japan in Interdisciplinary Perspective II. 2 Hours.

Travel Study: Japan in Interdisciplinary Perspective II is the project completion phase of the Travel Study: Japan in Interdisciplinary Perspective series. Students will deepen their knowledge and engagement with the research artifacts that they gathered during their summer fieldwork in Japan, such as field-notes, video and sound recordings, and photographs, by conducting secondary-source research in academic databases on an approved interdisciplinary topic. Students will synthesize secondary and primary source research content into textual and media reports featured on the open-access, online portal developed in coordination with the city government of Ibigawa, Japan. **COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLOs) At the successful conclusion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Demonstrate an intermediate level of proficiency in primary and secondary source interdisciplinary research application. 2. Analyze aspects of Japanese culture and history using the conventions of one or more academic disciplines. 3. Collect and report original participant-observation fieldwork research data and evaluate its meaning within a body of published academic literature. Prerequisite: INTS 3801R (Grade C or higher), and instructor permission. FA (odd).

INTS 3900. Interdisciplinary Topics. 3 Hours.

For all interested students; required of Integrated Studies students. Presents a topic, problem, or theme from multiple disciplinary perspectives. Students experience the advantages and necessity of bringing the knowledge, concepts, theories, and methods of multiple distinct disciplines to bear on understanding complex issues and ideas and begin the process of integrating disciplines. Repeatable up to 9 credits as topics vary. **COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLOs) At the successful conclusion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Explore varying disciplinary perspectives on a topic of general interest. 2. Synthesize material from multiple disciplinary perspectives into a more integrated understanding of complex ideas. 3. Compose critical analyses of complex issues that draw on the insights, knowledge, and perspectives of more than one discipline. 4. Evaluate and present research to an academic community of their peers in oral and/or written formats. Prerequisite: ENGL 2010 (Grade C or higher). FA, SP.

INTS 3950. Interdisciplinary Field Topics [Topic]. 3 Hours.

For all interested students; fulfills topics course requirement for Integrated Studies students. Presents a topic, problem, or theme from multiple disciplinary perspectives. Students experience the advantages and necessity of bringing the knowledge, concepts, theories, and methods of multiple distinct disciplines to bear on understanding complex issues and ideas and begin the process of integrating disciplines. This field version of the standard INTS Interdisciplinary Topics will require some off-campus work and entails a fee. Repeatable up to 9 credits as topics vary subject to graduation restrictions. Additional travel fee required based on topic. **COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLOs) At the successful conclusion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Demonstrate sufficient understanding of the course subject. 2. Recognize and articulate the unique insights into complex issues that various disciplines can provide. 3. Understand the importance of integrating knowledge and perspectives from multiple disciplines in order to illuminate complex subjects and problems. 4. Compose critical analyses of complex issues that draw on the insights, knowledge, and perspectives of more than one discipline for illumination. 5. Synthesize and present research to the academic community in oral and written formats. Prerequisite: ENGL 2010 (Grade C or higher).

INTS 4890R. Independent Study. 1-3 Hours.

Provides opportunities for majors to engage with an interdisciplinary issue or problem of interest. Projects must be proposed by the student, approved by the department chair, and focused on integrated, interdisciplinary methods and perspectives. All projects will require research and a written product, and students will be expected to meet with the instructor regularly throughout the term. Students may apply no more than 6 credits of Independent Study courses to the Integrated Studies bachelor's degree. Variable credit: 1.0-3.0. Repeatable up to 6 credits subject to graduation restrictions. **COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLOs) At the successful conclusion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Complete an in-depth study of an interdisciplinary topic as evidenced through written work and/or oral presentation. Prerequisites: INTS 3100; AND Advanced standing. FA, SP, SU.

INTS 4950R. Integrated Studies Senior Thesis. 3 Hours.

This is a minimum two-semester Senior Research and Senior Thesis series that in some cases may extend to three semesters and that provides the culminating experience in the Integrated Studies baccalaureate program. The first semester of this two-semester course focuses on research methods and scholarly writing as students identify project topics and prepare formal proposals for review and approval. In the second semester students develop their thesis topic, theme, issue, or problem and relate their two areas of concentration through careful analysis and creative synthesis, producing a major senior thesis project that exhibits skill in interdisciplinary understanding. Repeatable up to 9 credits subject to graduation requirements. **COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLOs) At the successful conclusion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Formulate an appropriately interdisciplinary question that draws upon the elements of both emphasis areas to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the issue or problem. 2. Design and follow an appropriately academic and systematic research process. 3. Synthesize emphasis area research and perspectives to develop a more complex understanding of the subject of interest. 4. Apply the standard research, documentation, and communication methods of two academic disciplines in the thesis project. 5. Complete a research-based project and/or paper that demonstrates integrative understanding of an interdisciplinary issue, as well as disciplinary competence in two areas of emphasis. Prerequisites: INTS 3100 (Grade C or higher), senior status, and instructor permission. FA, SP, SU.