Interdisciplinary Studies

ID 140: Health and Social Inequality: Rural/Urban Perspectives (study away)

Health begins where we live, work and play. Students are immersed in public, private, and community-based organizations in Northfield (rural) and Minneapolis-St. Paul (urban) to gain an understanding of the social determinants of health (environmental conditions, resources and supports) and the relationship to individual health outcomes through service learning. A special emphasis is placed on the impact of socioeconomic status, geographic location, and disability on health disparities. Offered occasionally during January Term. Apply through Smith Center for Global Engagement.
Prerequisite: one course in sociology/anthropology, gender and sexuality studies, social work, family studies, economics, political science, environmental studies, or nursing.

ID 150: Explorations in Science

This interdisciplinary, topics-based course explores contemporary issues in science with emphasis on developing students' understanding of scientific and quantitative approaches to problem solving. Specific topics, ranging from environmental chemistry and public health to biomechanics and genetics, vary from year to year. Students attend nine hours of lectures or small group discussion sections, two to three hours of quantitative workshops, and four hours of laboratory per week. The course is taught with WRIT 109. Offered annually during the summer. Does not count toward any major.
Prerequisite: acceptance into the Summer Bridge Program.

ID 202: Human-Spatial Interaction

Organized around three current issues, this is an interdisciplinary course examining human-spatial interaction within Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The topics of study include, for example, global warming, potable water issues, and the Palestinian dilemma. The course is deliberative in nature with a focus on the development of critical thinking skills. Offered during summer session I.

ID 205: Creativity Practice and Theory

In this course, students disrupt, transform, and create things and ideas to practice and apply innovative thinking. Improvisation, role playing, and creativity exercises prompt music, spoken word, dance and physical movement, writing, drawing, painting, and basic building to initiate problem solving. In addition, students read and write about creativity theory to guide their practice. Students collaborate to design their learning space, to engage with the local community, and to work with guest instructors. Offered annually in the fall semester.

ID 222: Exploring Digital Humanities

This interdisciplinary course explores the concepts, methods, and debates of digital humanities - using digital tools to explore humanities disciplines such as literature, history, and philosophy along with their broader engagements with arts, social sciences, and other fields. Topics are drawn from current cultural texts, critical theories, and networked environmental issues. Students learn through hands-on research projects that examine the social, cultural, and ethical contexts of digital scholarship as well as its applications and impacts. Offered during January Term.

ID 229: Arts Management

This course provides an overview of the key issues that face arts administrators. Topics addressed include strategic planning, budgeting, fund raising, audience development, and human resource management as each relates to the unique setting of the arts. Case analysis and guest speakers provide opportunities to explore application of key concepts. Offered annually. Counts toward business and management studies and film and media studies concentrations.

ID 234: Human Geography

This course provides an examination and application of the key content, skills, and perspectives of human geography. The lens of the geographer focuses on the spatial distribution of phenomena over the surface of the earth, asking the questions "where?" and "why there?". The practices and skills of geography are used to investigate a variety of issues in a region of the world, including environmental problems, the culture and management of sacred places, and the reasons for war and the need for peace. Counts toward environmental studies major (social science emphasis).

ID 241: Health Care Challenges: An Interdisciplinary Dialogue

This course shows students how anthropologists and economists approach the broad category of health care. Students explore how the two social sciences define health, conceptualize institutions, build accountability into systems, and treat the maladies of complex human beings. While the course highlights differences between the two disciplines, it also considers where they overlap. Offered periodically.

ID 242: The Arts and Democracy: An ID Fine Arts January Term in Washington, DC

This course explores the dynamic arts and governance environment of Washington D. C. Students meet arts professionals in varied fields; visit galleries, museums, theaters, music and dance performances, arts and civic organizations; and develop strategies for practicing citizenship and democratic engagement through artistic expression. Counts toward studio art, art history, music, theater, and dance majors, as well as arts management studies. Offered during January Term. Apply through Smith Center for Global Engagement.
Prerequisite: at least one fine arts course or arts management course or permission of the instructor.

ID 257: Arts and Literature of Australia and New Zealand (study abroad)

This course examines how history and place have shaped artistic expression in unique subcultures of Australia and New Zealand, focusing on literature, drama, dance, and visual arts. Students meet with working artists, attend live performances, and connect literature and art to the built environment and geographical locales on Australia's East Coast and in New Zealand. Assignments integrate research on cultural contexts and analysis of art forms. Offered alternate years during January Term. Apply through Smith Center for Global Engagement. Counts toward English major.

ID 258: Theater in London (study abroad)

A full immersion in the art of theater, students attend approximately 22 performances at London and Stratford theaters. The course includes the reading of play texts, dramatic criticism, group discussions, and backstage tours. England, a theatrical center of the English-speaking world, enables students to experience a wide variety of theatrical performances ranging from traditional to modern. Excursions to Stratford-upon-Avon and other locations offer additional cultural perspectives. Offered annually during January Term. Apply through Smith Center for Global Engagement. Counts toward Theater and English majors.

ID 270: Topics in Interdisciplinary Studies

Students study a particular topic from field(s) in Interdisciplinary Studies. Topics vary from year to year depending on the instructor. Class work depends on the topic and instructor but is consistent with the amount of work in other 200-level ID courses. May be repeated if topics are different. May count toward majors/concentrations if approved by the chair/program director of that major/concentration.
Prerequisites: determined by the instructor for each offering.

ID 271: Topics in Interdisciplinary Studies

Students study a particular topic from field(s) in Interdisciplinary Studies. Topics vary from year to year depending on the instructor. Class work depends on the topic and instructor but is consistent with the amount of work in other 200-level ID courses. May be repeated if topics are different. May count toward majors/concentrations if approved by the chair/program director of that major/concentration.
Prerequisites: determined by the instructor for each offering.

ID 294: Academic Internship

ID 295: Internship and Reflection Seminar

This seminar integrates the liberal arts with the experience of work and the search for a vocation or career. Course content is composed of virtual class sessions that connect academic theories/analyses of work with each student's particular internship experience. Students also consider and articulate the value of the liberal arts for their pursuit of a creative, productive, and satisfying professional life. Offered annually during January Term.
Prerequisite: Internship applications must be approved through the Piper Center before students will be allowed to enroll.

ID 296: Global Engagement Seminar

This .25 credit online course supports the curriculum of study abroad and away semester and year-long programs with Smith Center for Global Engagement-approved providers. It is not for students who are going on faculty-led study abroad and away programs. Students read articles and chapters exploring intercultural communication, globalization, and identity. Students reflect on their experiences in their study abroad or away location, discuss global systems that connect learning, and also engage in discussions of identity across borders. Course topics include identity, globalization, intercultural communication, adjusting to a new environment, defining culture, and understanding through intercultural practices. Offered fall and spring semesters.
Prerequisite: registration in study abroad or away semester or year-long program.

ID 298: Independent Study

ID 300: OLE Experience in Practice (non-credit bearing)

This course transcripts a student's OLE Experience in practice [OEP] when that OEP is done through CURI, Magnus, Steen or other academic non-credit-bearing experiences. As a zero-credit pass/no pass course, certification will be done by the respective director after completion of the individual experience.

ID 325: Case Studies in Public Health

Students explore public health challenges from multiple lenses through literature and case studies designed to integrate and enhance individual skills and vocational interests. Working in interdisciplinary teams, students articulate questions and develop research and response proposals based on literature, data at hand and the skills acquired from prior courses including the OLE Core. Integrating viewpoints, assessment modalities and communication within the team and with external audiences are emphasized. Local and global issues are included. Counts toward public health studies concentration.
Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification, declared public health studies concentration, or permission of instructor.

ID 394: Academic Internship

ID 396: Directed Undergraduate Research

This course provides a comprehensive research opportunity, including an introduction to relevant background material, technical instruction, identification of a meaningful project, and data collection. The topic is determined by the faculty member in charge of the course and may relate to their research interests. Offered based on department decision. May be offered as a 1.00 credit course or .50 credit course.
Prerequisite: determined by individual instructor.

ID 398: Independent Research