"This text provides a comprehensive introduction to interdisciplinary studies with an approach that is conceptual and practical. Completely updated to reflect advances in the literature on research, learning, and assessment, the book describes the role of both disciplines and interdisciplinarity within the academy, and how these have evolved. Authors Allen F. Repko, Rick Szostak, and Michelle Phillips Buchberger effectively show students how to think like interdisciplinarians in order to facilitate theirworking with topics, complex problems, or themes that span multiple disciplines"--
Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies provides instructors and students in entry-level interdisciplinary courses and thematic programs with a comprehensive introduction to the field. Authors Allen F. Repko, Rick Szostak, and Michelle Phillips Buchberger introduce students to the cognitive process that interdisciplinarians use to approach complex problems and eventually arrive at more comprehensive understandings of them. Students learn how to think like interdisciplinarians, understand interdisciplinary processes, and assess the quality of their own work. Changes to the Fourth Edition include revised content on epistemology and methods, more on integrative strategies, reordering of some chapters, new assignment ideas, and new examples which include student examples and insights from the latest scholarly works.
Preface
About the Authors
Part I: Understanding Interdisciplinary Studies
Chapter 1: Interdisciplinary Studies in the Real World
Why Interdisciplinary Studies Matters
What Is Driving Interdisciplinary Studies Today?
The Academic Benefits of Pursuing an Interdisciplinary Studies Degree
Interdisciplinary Studies and Your Career Development
A Threaded Example: Basic Income
Critical Thinking Questions
Applications and Exercises
Chapter 2: The Rise of the Modern Disciplines and Interdisciplinarity
Why the Past Matters
The Rise of the Modern Disciplines
The Rise of Interdisciplinarity
Interdisciplinaritys Criticism of the Disciplines
Revisiting the Basic Income
Critical Thinking Questions
Applications and Exercises
Chapter 3: Interdisciplinary Studies Defined
Why Definitions Matter
Defining Interdisciplinary Studies
Differences Between Disciplinarity, Multidisciplinarity,
Interdisciplinarity, and Transdisciplinarity
Two Conceptions of Interdisciplinarity
Useful Metaphors of Interdisciplinary Studies
Basic Income Revisited
Critical Thinking Questions
Applications and Exercises
Chapter 4: Academic Disciplines
Disciplines and Disciplinarity Defined
The Epistemic, Social, and Organizational Dimensions of Disciplines
The Concept of Disciplinary Perspective
The Defining Elements of a Discipline
Typical Methods
Disciplinary Perspective and Basic Income
Critical Thinking Questions
Applications and Exercises
Chapter 5: The Intellectual Essence of Interdisciplinary Studies
Assumptions of Interdisciplinary Studies
Theories Supportive of Interdisciplinary Studies
Epistemology of Interdisciplinary Studies
How Interdisciplinary Studies Sees
Reflections on Basic Income
Critical Thinking Questions
Applications and Exercises
Part II: Thinking Critically About Interdisciplinary Studies
Chapter 6: The Interdisciplinary Studies Cognitive Toolkit
How She Did It
Intellectual Capacities
Values
Traits
Skills
Ethical Analysis
Ways to Apply Your Interdisciplinary Toolkit
Basic Income
A Recommended Assignment
Critical Thinking Questions
Applications and Exercises
Chapter 7: Thinking Critically About Disciplinary Perspectives
What It Means to Think Critically About Disciplinary Perspectives
Developing a Sophisticated Conception of Knowledge
Why Interrogate Disciplinary Perspectives (or Practice Critical
Pluralism)
How Interdisciplinarians Interrogate Disciplinary Perspectives
Basic Income
Critical Thinking Scenario
Critical Thinking Questions
Applications and Exercises
Chapter 8: Thinking Critically About Disciplinary Insights
Critical Thinking Attitudes
Categories of Statements
Critically Analyzing Disciplinary Insights
Critical Thinking About Basic Income
Critical Thinking Questions
Applications and Exercises
Chapter 9: Thinking Critically About Integration and Its Results
Three Alternative Approaches to Interdisciplinary Integration
The Broad Model Approach to Integration
The Result of Integration
Reflecting on What Was Achieved
Integration and Basic Income
Critical Thinking Scenario
Critical Thinking Questions
Applications and Exercises
Part III: Interdisciplinary Research and Writing
Chapter 10: An Interdisciplinary Research Road Map
The Power and Usefulness of Research
Disciplinary and Interdisciplinary Approaches to Research
The Broad Model of the Interdisciplinary Research Process
STEP 1: Define the Problem or State the Research Question
STEP 2: Justify Using an Interdisciplinary Approach
Critical Thinking Questions
Applications and Exercises
Chapter 11: Identifying Relevant Disciplines and Gathering Information About
the Problem
STEP 3: Identify Relevant Disciplines
STEP 4: Conduct a Literature Search
The Broad Model Rubric Applied to STEPS 3 and 4
Investigating Basic Income
Critical Thinking Questions
Critical Thinking Scenario
Chapter 12: Analyzing Insights and Reflecting on Process
Step 5: Critically Analyze the Disciplinary Insights Into the Problem
STEP 6: Reflect on How an Interdisciplinary Approach Has Enlarged Your
Understanding of the Problem
Basic Income Revisited
Conclusion
Critical Thinking Questions
Appendix A Intellectual Autobiography
Appendix B Student Portfolios, Blogging, and Vlogging
Appendix C Service Learning, Internships, and Alternative Projects for
Nontraditional Students
Appendix D The Broad Model Rubric: Instructor Version and Sample Student
Outline
Appendix E Answer Key
Glossary of Key Terms
References
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 programs 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.
