Important Links
Schedule Navigation
Week 1: 8/26 & 8/28
Monday, August 26
- Introductions
- Questionnaire (on Canvas)
- Name Cards
- Short Group Activity
- Info-dump: Course, Syllabus, and Schedule
- IDS & CoLab Website
- Info-dump Discussion: What makes up an IDS major (and application)?
Wednesday, August 28th
- Group work and class discussion: Exploring and Defining Interdisciplinarity
- Info-dump: How to read your Degree Works
- Preparation for Wednesday Mentor Meetings & Expert Advice
- Work time
Homework due Wednesday:
On Wednesday, we will be unpacking the meaning of the word “interdisciplinary” and work together to build an understanding of how an interdisciplinarian sees the world and tackles problems. In preparation for that, please complete the following assignment on Canvas:
- Readings and Reflection: Interdisciplinarity
Due next week:
At our next class, you will be meeting with your IDS mentor for the first time and you will be telling them all about the major you’d like to create! In preparation for that, please complete the following assignments:
- Explore a Major (assignment on Canvas)
- Brainstorm a Major (assignment on Canvas)
Week 2: 9/2 & 9/4
Monday, Sept 2nd – NO CLASS (Labor Day)
Wednesday, Sept. 4th — Mentor Meetings
- Please complete the Discipline Code Survey if you haven’t yet! I need this information in order to know who to invite for our Expert Advice Workshop
- We will meet in our classroom and we will have our first Mentor Meeting. With your mentor you will discuss your goals and get oriented to the forms for the IDS Application.
- Access your IDS folder. (Bookmark this link!)
- Work on a draft of an IDS contract (see homework)
Homework due next week:
It may seem like it’s all going so fast, but for homework, you are going to be drafting the list of courses that will make up your major. Don’t feel like what you come up with now is written in stone — it will most likely change! You don’t need to know everything now, because part of the purpose of brainstorming is to see what obstacles and questions come up. Bring your questions next class!
- Draft your IDS Contract
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Once you have a contract drafted, it’s time to introduce your major. (Find this assignment on Canvas.) On Wednesday, you will workshop this piece of writing with your mentor.
- Introduce Your Major (assignment on Canvas)
Week 3: 9/9 & 9/11
Monday, Sept. 9th
- Discussing Expert Advice
- Faculty experts will be joining us on Wednesday, September 18th. We are in the process of inviting them now. Please review our list of experts and let Matt know by the end of class today if changes need to be made to the list of experts (if you need additional advice or no longer need certain disciplinary advice, for example).
- Please plan to be present for expert advice. A requirement of the class/ the IDS application is to get expert advice and describe what was said to you. If you aren’t present for expert advice, you will need to set up individual meeting(s) with faculty.
- Brainstorming expert advice questions together
- Talking about internships, independent studies, practica, and special topics courses
- Work time
Wednesday, Sept. 11th – Mentor Meeting
You will meet with your mentors (they will let you know when and where) and review your contract, “Introduce Your Major” assignment, and questions you have for expert advice
Homework due Weds.:
We have quite few assignments due on Wednesday so that you can go over them with your mentor. Make sure to complete the following by class time on Wednesday Sept 11th:
- Complete Draft your IDS Contract
- Complete Meet with Your Mentor (and Reflect!)
- Complete Introduce Your Major
- Start Questions for Expert Advice (you will finalize these with your mentor on Wednesday)
Homework due next week:
- Get your contract draft as far as you can take it on your own.
- Research prerequisites for any of the courses (“junior status”, “majors only”, specific courses, etc.) and add them to your Planning Guide.
- Familiarize yourself with the Expert Advice section of the program essay worksheet in your IDS folder. Fill in anything you can now, but most of it will be done after Expert Advice.
Start the Explain Your Courses Assignment (on Canvas).
Week 4: 9/16 & 9/18
Monday, Sept. 16th – WORK DAY
There is no official class meeting today, but the classroom is open for you to use and Matt will be in his office to answer any questions you have. This is a day to work in preparation for Expert Advice.
Wednesday, Sept. 18th — EXPERT ADVICE DAY
Mark this day in your calendar!
Sessions will be in the CoLab (Lamson 003) at 8.30am and 5:15pm. Snacks and drinks will be provided!
Schedule at this link
Please type your initials or first name into the “Student RSVP” column of the schedule for sessions you will be attending.
Homework due Weds.:
Get your materials in the best shape you can for Expert Advice.
Homework due next week:
For homework, you are going to be writing a paragraph where you describe the advice you received during Expert Advice and you are going to start explaining the courses that are in your IDS contract.
- Continue working on Explain Your Courses Assignment
- Write Expert Advice Explanation (on Canvas)
Week 5: 9/23 & 9/25
Monday, Sept. 23rd — Mentor Groups
If you didn’t make it to Expert Advice, you will need to connect with at least one faculty member to talk with about your program.
Wednesday, Sept. 25th — 8:45am start
Today, class will start at 8:45 am. Matt will be in the classroom at our usual time (8:15) if you want to come in to work, ask questions, etc.
- We will discuss the purpose of the Program Statement Essay and the required components and read an example essay together.
- We will go through the Planning Guide document together and discuss how to refer to your Degree Works, how to find prerequisites/ when classes are offered, etc.
- Work time for Planning Guide and finalizing Program Statement Essay.
Homework due Weds.:
Work on your materials! Get as far as you can on your own. We will talk about the program statement essay in class on Wednesday, but it’s helpful if you’ve already taken a look at the guidelines and sample essays on the IDS website.
Homework due next week:
Week 6: 9/30 & 10/2
Monday, Sept. 30th — Class starts at 8:45am!
- Program Statement Essay Draft is DUE. We will be peer reviewing essays together.
- For workshop:
Wednesday, Oct. 2nd – Mentor Groups
- You will meet with your mentors (they will let you know when and where) and you will review your IDS application with them, in preparation of submitting your completed application on Wednesday. Refer to the Review and Submit Your IDS Application assignment.
Homework due Weds.:
It’s about that time where you should be about done with your IDS contract, Planning Guide, and Program Statement Essay. If you aren’t finished yet, continue finalizing these documents in your IDS application folder. If you are ready to submit, refer to the Review and Submit Your IDS Application assignment.
If you are finished with your application materials, you can start the Final Reflection assignment for the course.
Homework due next week:
You have finished your IDS application! Your final assignment of the class is to reflect on your experience. What was the experience like of creating your own major? What skills did you practice? What does it mean to you to be interdisciplinary?
- Final Reflection
Week 7: 10/7 & 10/9
Monday, Oct. 7 – Class Starts at 8:45!
IDS APPLICATIONS DUE!
- It’s time to submit your completed IDS application! To submit your IDS application:
- Make sure everything is complete and up to date in your Foundations Drafts folder.
- email psu-ids@plymouth.edu with the subject “IDS Application Complete” and a sentence in the body saying that your Foundations folder is complete.
That’s it!
- We will talk about the final assignment due for the class.
Wednesday, Oct. 9 — Class starts at 8:45!
Current Interdisciplinary Studies student panel: advice and encouragement from current majors
Homework due Weds.:
- Final Reflection due by 10/14. See Canvas for guidelines.
Week 8: 10/14 & 10/16
Monday, Oct. 14th — Class starts at 8:45am!
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. What does it mean to have an Interdisciplinary degree after graduation?
Career resources:
- PSU Career Development advisors in the Academic & Career Advising Center (ACAC)
- Résumé and CV guide from Purdue Online Writing Lab
- What Can I Do with This Major?: Online tool to explore the possibilities different majors offer
- O*Net: Career exploration and job analysis
- Handshake: Internships & Student Employment
Homework: FINAL REFLECTIONS DUE (on Canvas)
Wednesday, Oct. 16th — Meet in Lamson 003 at 8:15am!
If your application materials have been submitted and accepted by the office, you are done and do not need to attend today.
All students who have yet to submit their IDS applications must attend this final class. We will be in the IDS Office (Lamson 003!)