This case study examined the transdisciplinarity and complementarity of a double degree program in undergraduate chemistry and computer engineering, based on the perspectives of its graduates. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eighteen graduates to explore how well the program integrated both disciplines and prepared them for the job…

On February 16, 2016, the National Academy of Engineering held a forum to discuss proposed changes to criteria used by ABET (formerly the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) to accredit engineering programs in colleges and universities around the world. The Forum on Proposed Revisions to ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission…

Providing opportunities to foster students' civic engagement during their undergraduate education is a goal of many universities. There are a variety of ways in which students participate in community service and in community change efforts and social change initiatives; capturing how students integrate these experiences into their broader…

This paper recommends that faculties of Social Work incorporate Disability Studies in their curriculum by embracing its interdisciplinary deconstructionist perspective. Disability Studies encourages Social Work to move beyond person-in--the-environment and anti-oppressive approaches to find more effective ways of removing barriers for persons with…

Scope and method of study: The study is national in scope, exploratory, and utilized a combination of qualitative and quantitative social science methods. Findings and conclusions: Interdisciplinary environmental (IE) programs in higher education in the United States are both diverse and dynamic in their curriculum designs. Though these…

The purpose of this study was to create knowledge about peace economics content of Midwest undergraduate peace studies programs, barriers that constrain economic content expansion, and strategies to overcome these barriers. A 40 question survey of directors and 4 director interviews were used to gather data to test hypotheses on the curriculum…

The open university is a flexible adult education system which utilizes and interdisciplinary approach and embraces a wide range of subjects. Each course consists of correspondence packages, a series of television and radio programs, organized tutorials and counseling systems. The author explores the establishment of such open universities in this…

The many forms of interdisciplinarity in higher education institutions and the various ways it has been used to advance curricular changes are examined. Definitions of interdisciplinarity and its variants (multi-, pluri-, and transdisciplinarity) provide a conceptual framework for the examination. In this study, interdisciplinarity is understood…

Proposes a multidisciplinary graduate program in rural studies within the land grant university context. Requires a universitywide Rural Studies Center to coordinate efforts across the various colleges. Students could earn dual-title master's and Ph.D. degrees in rural studies and applied economics, sociology, geography, public administration,…

The program development project described in this report was undertaken at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to develop faculty expertise and experience in undergraduate teaching in gerontology and to lay the foundation for an interdisciplinary, undergraduate minor in gerontology. Three core courses for the minor in gerontology were…

Radford University's program in Appalachian Studies, which was begun in 1981 in order to acquaint students with the distinctive Appalachian subculture, is presented in this report. The program has grown to encompass 15 courses in six disciplines. Core topics are history, culture, folklore, and literature, but many other subjects are included. Most…

The Northern Kentucky University Bachelor of Science in Applied Sociology and Anthropology (ASAN), which is described in this report, involves a strong liberal arts background combined with a thorough preparation in social science research skills. ASAN students take introductory and basic methods courses in sociology and anthropology, applied…

A compendium of reports of experimental instructional projects and educational programs generated by teachers at 10 midwestern universities is presented. Most of the items report changes in a particular discipline area, but these arrangements can frequently be adapted for use in other departments and interdisciplinary programs. Subject matter…

The Carnegie-Mellon University Program in Technology Humanities, which has been renamed the Program in Technology and Society, is described. The program was initiated in 1975 to stimulate interest, teaching, and research in the relationship between technology and society. The major achievements of the program in relation to its courses, support…

A total of 72 papers on nontraditional and interdisciplinary programs are presented in 11 tracks: (1) Assessing Learning Outcomes and Providing Quality in Non-Traditional Degree Programs (8 papers, including "Assessing the Quality of a Non-Traditional Degree Program: A Case Study," by Solomon Deressa and Mary Sue Simmons); (2)…