Introduction to Interdisciplinary Theory and Concepts

IDS 300W is a writing intensive course that critically examines issues related to interdisciplinary perspectives, including the study of differences and similarities among academic disciplines. This includes an examination of the history, concepts, and the application of an interdisciplinary approach to a specific topic of study.

The course objectives for this class are to:

• Examine the interdisciplinary nature of work and education.
• Examine and explore the relationship between critical thinking and interdisciplinary learning.
• Examine the history and application of interdisciplinary study.
• Develop the ability to effectively use critical thinking skills in dealing with issues.
• Develop the ability to use an interdisciplinary research process to study problems.
• Improve writing skills overall.

The culminating assignment for this class was a research paper. This paper that was molded slowly over the course of the semester, was for the purpose of sharpening our research and writing skills while using multi- and inter-disciplinary theories and concepts. This paper required us to perform extensive research into a complex query of a topic of our choosing. The main requirement was to choose a topic that was capable of incorporating data from three diverse disciplines. Also throughout this paper’s creation, we were to further develop our skills in writing across disciplines by applying Repko and Szostak’s 10-step interdisciplinary research method to a discussion or argument on a real-world issue. Below is the final product of my paper regarding an interdisciplinary approach to preventing cyberbullying:

IDS-300W-Preventing-Cyberbullying-A-Interdisciplinary-Approach-by-Antonio-Shields-Updated