Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies

Allen F. Repko, PhD, is the former director of the interdisciplinary studies program in the School of Urban and Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Arlington, where he developed and taught the program’s core curriculum for many years. The program is one of the largest in the United States. Repko has written extensively on all aspects of interdisciplinary studies, has twice served as coeditor of the interdisciplinary journal Issues in Integrative Studies, and has served on the board of the Association for Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS). Rick Szostak, PhD, is professor and chair of economics at the University of Alberta, where he has taught for 34 years. He is the author of a dozen books and 50 articles, all of an interdisciplinary nature. Several of his publications address how to do interdisciplinary research, teach interdisciplinary courses, administer interdisciplinary programs, or organize information in order to facilitate interdisciplinarity. As an associate dean, he created the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Alberta, the Science, Technology and Society program, an individualized major, and two courses about interdisciplinarity. He has twice served as coeditor of the interdisciplinary journal Issues in Integrative Studies. He was president of the Association for Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS) from 2011 to 2014. He can be contacted at rszostak@ualberta.ca.  Michelle Phillips Buchberger, PhD, is an assistant professor of integrative studies at Miami University. She previously proposed, developed and chaired the B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies program at Franklin University. She currently co-chairs the Alpha Iota Sigma international honors society for interdisciplinary studies and has presented and written on topics including teaching interdisciplinary studies online, working with nontraditional students, and creative thinking in interdisciplinary studies. She teaches several courses about interdisciplinarity, including theories and methods of interdisciplinary studies and integrative studies seminars, as well as Film Studies and Liberal Studies. She has a PhD in English Literature, which she also teaches. She can be contacted at buchbem@miamioh.edu.

• PrefaceAbout the AuthorsPart I: Understanding Interdisciplinary StudiesChapter 1: Interdisciplinary Studies in the Real WorldWhy Interdisciplinary Studies MattersWhat Is Driving Interdisciplinary Studies Today?The Academic Benefits of Pursuing an Interdisciplinary Studies DegreeInterdisciplinary Studies and Your Career DevelopmentA Threaded Example: Basic IncomeCritical Thinking QuestionsApplications and ExercisesChapter 2: The Rise of the Modern Disciplines and InterdisciplinarityWhy the Past MattersThe Rise of the Modern DisciplinesThe Rise of InterdisciplinarityInterdisciplinarity’s Criticism of the DisciplinesRevisiting the Basic IncomeCritical Thinking QuestionsApplications and ExercisesChapter 3: Interdisciplinary Studies DefinedWhy Definitions MatterDefining Interdisciplinary StudiesDifferences Between Disciplinarity, Multidisciplinarity, Interdisciplinarity, and TransdisciplinarityTwo Conceptions of InterdisciplinarityUseful Metaphors of Interdisciplinary StudiesBasic Income RevisitedCritical Thinking QuestionsApplications and ExercisesChapter 4: Academic DisciplinesDisciplines and Disciplinarity DefinedThe Epistemic, Social, and Organizational Dimensions of DisciplinesThe Concept of Disciplinary PerspectiveThe Defining Elements of a DisciplineTypical MethodsDisciplinary Perspective and Basic IncomeCritical Thinking QuestionsApplications and ExercisesChapter 5: The Intellectual Essence of Interdisciplinary StudiesAssumptions of Interdisciplinary StudiesTheories Supportive of Interdisciplinary StudiesEpistemology of Interdisciplinary StudiesHow Interdisciplinary Studies “Sees”Reflections on Basic IncomeCritical Thinking QuestionsApplications and ExercisesPart II: Thinking Critically About Interdisciplinary StudiesChapter 6: The Interdisciplinary Studies “Cognitive Toolkit”How She Did ItIntellectual CapacitiesValuesTraitsSkillsEthical AnalysisWays to Apply Your Interdisciplinary “Toolkit”Basic IncomeA Recommended AssignmentCritical Thinking QuestionsApplications and ExercisesChapter 7: Thinking Critically About Disciplinary PerspectivesWhat It Means to Think Critically About Disciplinary PerspectivesDeveloping a Sophisticated Conception of KnowledgeWhy Interrogate Disciplinary Perspectives (or Practice Critical Pluralism)How Interdisciplinarians Interrogate Disciplinary PerspectivesBasic IncomeCritical Thinking ScenarioCritical Thinking QuestionsApplications and ExercisesChapter 8: Thinking Critically About Disciplinary InsightsCritical Thinking AttitudesCategories of StatementsCritically Analyzing Disciplinary InsightsCritical Thinking About Basic IncomeCritical Thinking QuestionsApplications and ExercisesChapter 9: Thinking Critically About Integration and Its ResultsThree Alternative Approaches to Interdisciplinary IntegrationThe Broad Model Approach to IntegrationThe Result of IntegrationReflecting on What Was AchievedIntegration and Basic IncomeCritical Thinking ScenarioCritical Thinking QuestionsApplications and ExercisesPart III: Interdisciplinary Research and WritingChapter 10: An Interdisciplinary Research “Road Map”The Power and Usefulness of ResearchDisciplinary and Interdisciplinary Approaches to ResearchThe Broad Model of the Interdisciplinary Research ProcessSTEP 1: Define the Problem or State the Research QuestionSTEP 2: Justify Using an Interdisciplinary ApproachCritical Thinking QuestionsApplications and ExercisesChapter 11: Identifying Relevant Disciplines and Gathering Information About the ProblemSTEP 3: Identify Relevant DisciplinesSTEP 4: Conduct a Literature SearchThe Broad Model Rubric Applied to STEPS 3 and 4Investigating Basic IncomeCritical Thinking QuestionsCritical Thinking ScenarioChapter 12: Analyzing Insights and Reflecting on ProcessStep 5: Critically Analyze the Disciplinary Insights Into the ProblemSTEP 6: Reflect on How an Interdisciplinary Approach Has Enlarged Your Understanding of the ProblemBasic Income RevisitedConclusionCritical Thinking QuestionsAppendix A Intellectual AutobiographyAppendix B Student Portfolios, Blogging, and VloggingAppendix C Service Learning, Internships, and Alternative Projects for Nontraditional StudentsAppendix D The Broad Model Rubric: Instructor Version and Sample Student OutlineAppendix E Answer KeyGlossary of Key TermsReferences