What is 'Interdisciplinary?'

At the college level, "interdisciplinary" refers to an approach to education and academic study that integrates knowledge and methods from multiple disciplines or fields of study.

It involves crossing the boundaries between traditional academic subjects to address complex issues or topics that cannot be fully understood or solved using a single disciplinary perspective.

In an interdisciplinary program or course, students might be exposed to concepts, theories and methodologies from various disciplines, such as humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and the arts. The goal is to foster a broader understanding of a subject by considering it from different angles and incorporating insights from different areas of expertise.

Interdisciplinary education encourages students to think critically, make connections between different disciplines, and develop problem-solving skills that can be applied to real-world challenges. It also promotes creativity and innovation by encouraging students to explore novel ways of approaching problems.

For example, an interdisciplinary program might combine elements of biology, ethics, law and policy to examine complex issues surrounding biotechnology and genetic engineering. Or an interdisciplinary course could explores the history, sociology and literature of a particular time period to gain a more comprehensive understanding of culture and society.

Overall, interdisciplinary education at the college level aims to prepare students for a world where many challenges and opportunities require a holistic understanding that spans multiple fields of knowledge.

Interdisciplinary Work In Action

What people are saying

The Agriculture Innovation Initiative is more than just a physical building. It starts with an idea that informs a physical space, and then that physical space changes behavior. These three new facilities are being designed in a way to promote the collision of ideas. We're putting departments, colleges and people together in new configurations, co-locating offices, sharing equipment and labs. These spaces are being designed with input from our faculty, students, stakeholders and industry partners on what they want to see from this project.

Susan Metzger, Director of Strategic Multidisciplinary Program Development