Describes the design and advocacy of the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz and Contemplative Studies curriculum at the University of Michigan School of Music. Considers issues, such as the structure of the curriculum, the reconciliation of contemplative studies and conventional notions of academic rigor, avoidance of possible conflicts between church…

An experimental interdisciplinary freshman course taught at North Carolina State University was intended to introduce principles of general systems theory; to provide examples through lectures and readings of applications of these principles in a wide variety of fields; and to introduce and provide practice in critical questioning and evaluation.…

In this article we examine a flexible curricular approach known as the "Option." The Option enables students to supplement traditional majors with a coherent set of courses and other educational experiences in a related, often interdisciplinary field. Options can act as curricular bridges between mainstream academic fields and problems of…