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SMC Academic Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Interdisciplinary Studies. Report and Recommendation April 18, 2006. Scope & Function of Ad Hoc Committee:. to explore the most appropriate institutional arrangements to
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SMC Academic SenateAd Hoc Committee on Interdisciplinary Studies Report and Recommendation April 18, 2006
Scope & Function ofAd Hoc Committee: • to explore the most appropriate institutional arrangements to • best support SMC’s current and future multi- & interdisciplinary studies programs & curricula • (e.g., Women’s Studies, Women’s College, Center for Environmental & Urban Studies, Environmental Studies, Urban Studies, Service-Learning Program, Ethnic Studies, Gender Studies, timely topic courses, …)
Composition of Committee • 10 active faculty members • 9 “interested faculty” participants • These 19 members came from: • Communications • Earth Sciences • English • ESL • History • Library • Life Sciences • Philosophy • Social Sciences
Summary • The committee recommends the creation of a Department of Interdisciplinary Studies • to support and enhance the intellectual, professional, and personal growth of students and faculty at SMC
Definitions • Multidisciplinary: • two or more disciplines are organized around a common theme or topic • different disciplines are used as "lenses" to explore a problem or issue • Examples: Women’s College, Center for Environmental and Urban Studies, paired courses, learning communities, ...
Definitions • Interdisciplinary: • two or more disciplines are integrated and complement each other in the exploration of subject matter • teaching cuts across disciplines • Examples: Women’s Studies, Environmental Studies, Urban Studies, Ethnic Studies, Media Studies, …
Why Interdisciplinary Studies? • addressing community needs • few courses/programs explore and develop the connections that cut across disciplines • students benefit from both • specialized knowledge in disciplines & • how the disciplines intersect • Interdisciplinary Studies provide this integrated learning environment
Why Interdisciplinary Studies? • trend toward interdisciplinary studies in higher education & interdisciplinary careers • Santa Monica College has an obligation to facilitate access, entry, and success for students in interdisciplinary fields.
20 most popular Baccalaureate degrees awarded from CA public institutions (2004)
Why a DEPARTMENT?(and not just a “program” or “center”) • A department • provides a “home base,” • provides equitable voice & funding, and • legitimizes and institutionalizes IDS • current programs & courses are orphans and are marginalized • increases effective & efficient use of college resources • current configuration: meager, piecemeal, disarray • provides students (and faculty) with appropriate support
What is the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies? • comprised of: • academic programs currently “standing alone” • Women’s College / Women’s Studies, • Environmental and Urban Studies, • Service-Learning Program • individual courses/curricula which are fundamentally interdisciplinary
What is the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies? • Goal: • to facilitate & promote the academic & intellectual experience of students and faculty through: • multi- and interdisciplinary curriculum development and delivery • academic events • leadership opportunities • community-based experiential & service-learning
What is the Structure of the Department of IDS? (What programs belong?) • association of multi- & interdisciplinary programs and courses • programs (and courses) would be autonomous in critical decision making (hiring, curriculum, …) • share resources (department chair, secretary, equipment, …) • 5 major elements
Interdisciplinary“Stand-Alone” Courses Learning Communities / Paired Courses /Block Courses with emphasis or theme Experiential Education Department ofInterdisciplinaryStudies Interdisciplinary Academic Degree Programs (AS or AA) Stand-Alone Programs (Multidisciplinary)
Women’s Studies AA (established) Environmental Studies AS / AA (pending) Ethnic Studies AA (future) Urban Studies AA (future) • Enhances potential for: • ensuring required course offerings • development of additional degree programs Interdisciplinary Academic Degree Programs(AS or AA)
Learning Communities / Paired Courses /Block Courses with emphasis or theme Department of Interdisciplinary Studies Interdisciplinary Academic Degree Programs (AS or AA)
Race & Ethnicity Media Borderland Environment Global Gender Sexuality Enhances potential for: • team teaching across (not just within) disciplines • student “cohorts” moving through programs together • responding to community desires for curricula Learning Communities /Paired Courses /Block Courses with emphasis or theme (examples)
Interdisciplinary“Stand-Alone” Courses Learning Communities / Paired Courses /Block Courses with emphasis or theme Department of Interdisciplinary Studies Interdisciplinary Academic Degree Programs (AS or AA)
Interdisciplinary Studies XX (future) Environmental Studies 7 Women’s Studies 10 Urban Studies 8 Interdisciplinary“Stand-Alone” Courses (examples) • Enhances potential for: • diverse teaching from varied & multiple perspectives • development of additional curricular offerings
Interdisciplinary“Stand-Alone” Courses Learning Communities / Paired Courses /Block Courses with emphasis or theme Experiential Education Department of Interdisciplinary Studies Interdisciplinary Academic Degree Programs (AS or AA)
Service-Learning (reestablish) Field Study Cooperative Education Course-Based Internship Experiential Education • Enhances potential for: • institutionalizing learning that directly engages learner • students to test skills and facts, sharpen problem-solving, & work collaboratively
Interdisciplinary“Stand-Alone” Courses Learning Communities / Paired Courses /Block Courses with emphasis or theme Experiential Education Department of Interdisciplinary Studies InterdisciplinaryAcademic Degree Programs(AS or AA) Stand-Alone Programs(Multidisciplinary)
Enhances potential for: • strengthening and developing program depth & breath • more effective use of concentrated resources • equitable voice Ethnic Studies Center(future) Center for Environmental and Urban Studies / Environmental College (established) Women’s College / Women’s Center (established) Stand-Alone Programs (Multidisciplinary)
Interdisciplinary Studies XX (future) Environmental Studies 07 Women’s Studies 10 Interdisciplinary “Stand-Alone” Courses (examples) Urban Studies 8 Race & Ethnicity Media Service-Learning (reestablish) Borderland Learning Communities / Paired Courses / Block Courses with emphasis or theme (examples) Experiential Education Field Study Environment • Department of Interdisciplinary Studies • --chair • --secretary Cooperative Education Global Gender Course-Based Internship Sexuality Interdisciplinary Academic Degree Programs Stand-Alone Programs (Multidisciplinary) Ethnic Studies Center (future) Women’s Studies AA (established) Environmental College/ Center for Environmental and Urban Studies (established) Environmental Studies AS / AA (pending) Women’s College / Women’s Center (established) Ethnic Studies AA (future) Urban Studies AA (future)
City College of San FranciscoInterdisciplinary Studies Departmenthttp://www.ccsf.edu/Departments/IDST/