INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES (IDS)




IDS 1101, 1103; 1102, 1104. Interdisciplinary
Studies in Humanities and Social Science/(10, 6;
10, 6) F,F;S,S. Priority Enrollment Given to
Watauga Residential College Students.


A multidisciplinary study in the humanities and
social sciences in which basic problems of
civilization will be considered: problems of
subsistence and survival; problems of living
together; problems of ideology and aesthetic
satisfaction. The courses count as core curriculum
credit in English, social sciences, and the
humanities. Students may receive credit for either
1101 or 1103, but not both, for either 1102 or
1104, but not for both. (MULTI-CULTURAL; SPEAKING;
WRITING; CROSS-DISCIPLINARY: approved subject to
semester-by-semester recommendation by the Core
Curriculum Council chairperson and review by the
Council.) (CORE: HUMANITIES/SOCIAL SCIENCES)




IDS 2201, 2202, 2203, 2204, 2205, 2206.
Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities, and
Social Science/(6, 3, 1, 6, 3, 1).
F, F;S, F; S, F;S, S. Priority Enrollment Given to
Watauga Residential College Students.


A multidisciplinary study in the humanities and
social sciences in which basic problems of
civilization are considered. The courses are the
six-hour, three-hour or one-hour equivalents of
the 1101 and 1102 blocks. The courses count as
core curriculum credit in social science and the
humanities. (MULTI-CULTURAL; SPEAKING; WRITING;
CROSS-DISCIPLINARY: approved subject to semester-
by-semester recommendation by the Core Curriculum
Council chairperson and review by the Council.)
(CORE: HUMANITIES/SOCIAL SCIENCES)




IDS 2410. Introduction to Appalachian
Studies, Humanities/(3).On Demand.


This course will explore the Appalachian region
from a cross-disciplinary perspective, with
readings on Appalachia drawn primarily from the
humanities. Both historical and contemporary
issues will be examined, focusing upon national
and international as well as local and regional
contexts. This course will provide an introduction
to the Interdisciplinary Studies concentration and
the Arts and Sciences minor in Appalachian
Studies. Students who take IDS/AS 2410 cannot take
IDS/AS 2411 for credit. (Same as AS 2410.)
(WRITING; MULTI-CULTURAL; CROSS-DISCIPLINARY)
(CORE: HUMANITIES)




IDS 2411. Introduction to Appalachian
Studies, Social Sciences/(3).On Demand.


This course will explore the Appalachian region
from a cross-disciplinary perspective, with
readings on Appalachia drawn primarily from the
social sciences. Both historical and contemporary
issues will be examined, focusing upon national
and international as well as local and regional
contexts. This course will provide an introduction
to the Interdisciplinary Studies concentration and
the Arts and Sciences minor in Appalachian
Studies. Students who take IDS/AS 2411 cannot take
IDS/AS 2410 for credit. (Same as AS 2411.)
(WRITING; MULTI-CULTURAL; CROSS-DISCIPLINARY)
(CORE: SOCIAL SCIENCES)




IDS 2420. Introduction to Women's Studies,
Humanities/(3).On Demand.


This course will provide an introduction to the
study of women--both historic and contemporary,
using a variety of methodologies and materials
drawn primarily from the humanities. It will also
serve as an introduction to the interdisciplinary
discipline of Women's Studies for the
Interdisciplinary Studies concentration and the
minor in Women's Studies. Students who take IDS
2420 cannot take IDS 2421 for credit. (MULTI-
CULTURAL; CROSS-DISCIPLINARY) (CORE: HUMANITIES)




IDS 2421. Introduction to Women's Studies,
Social Sciences/(3).On Demand.


This course will provide an introduction to the
study of women--both historic and contemporary,
using a variety of methodologies and materials
drawn primarily from the social sciences. It will
also serve as an introduction to the
interdisciplinary discipline of Women's Studies
for the Interdisciplinary Studies concentration
and the minor in Women's Studies. Students who
take IDS 2421 cannot take IDS 2420 for credit.
(MULTI-CULTURAL; CROSS-DISCIPLINARY) (CORE:
SOCIAL SCIENCES)




IDS 2430. Introduction to Latin American
Studies/(3).F.On Demand.


This interdisciplinary course will introduce
students to the study of Latin America through
discussion of the region's geography, history,
politics, economics and culture. Readings
emphasize the social sciences and will address
topics such as indigenous civilization,
colonialism and contemporary conflicts over the
process of development. The course will also serve
as an introduction to the Interdisciplinary
Studies concentration in International Studies:
Latin America and the interdisciplinary minor in
Latin American Studies. (MULTI-CULTURAL;
CROSS-DISCIPLINARY)




IDS 2500. Independent Study/(1-4).F;S.




IDS 2530-2549. Selected Topics/(1-4).F;S.On
Demand.




IDS 3000. Histories of Knowledges/(3).F;S.


This course introduces central concerns of
interdisciplinary studies through analyses of
histories of knowledge production, definition, and
categorization, cultural derivations and
influences on what we know, the significance of
paradigms and media, and the importance of
perspective and situation in shaping what we
define as knowledge. (WRITING; MULTI-CULTURAL;
CROSS-DISCIPLINARY)




IDS 3150. Interdisciplinary Praxis/(3).F;S.


This course provides an overview of
interdisciplinary praxis by means of selected
readings in theories and philosophies of
interdisciplinarity and in interdisciplinary
practices. It moves from broad investigations to
students' application of them to both their
concentrations and the portfolio each IDS major
must complete for graduation. The course will
introduce the concepts and requirements for the
portfolio and assist students in preparing a plan
to satisfy the portfolio requirement. (WRITING;
CROSS-DISCIPLINARY)




IDS 3200. Science and Culture/(3).S.


The goals of this course are: to explore the
impact of science on other aspects of culture
through paradigm shifts, methodologies,
relationships to technology, metaphors, and so
forth; to consider the cultural contexts in which
science operates, e.g., the political, religious,
social constraints which affect scientific
research choices, applications and interpretation
of data; and to discuss the influences, dangers
and opportunities science offers the total
community. Prerequisite: completion of core
curriculum science requirement. (CROSS-
DISCIPLINARY)




IDS 3250. Internet Studies/(3).On Demand.


This seminar explores the emerging
interdisciplinary field of Internet Studies.
Topics covered may include the digital divide,
virtual communities, race and gender in
cyberspace, and topics in cyberculture. These and
other issues may be explored for their social,
political, psychological, economic, cultural,
ethical, and artistic implications. This seminar
will also help students develop their critical
reading and writing skills in connection with the
World Wide Web, explore Internet research
methodologies, and introduce students to some of
the technical and editorial issues involved in Web
page design and publication. This course is
required for the concentration in Internet Studies
under the B.A. degree in Interdisciplinary
Studies; and it is also a required course for the
undergraduate minor in Internet Studies. There are
no prerequisites. (WRITING; CROSS-DISCIPLINARY;
COMPUTER)




IDS 3251. Principles of Agroecology/(4).F.


This course will focus attention on agricultural
systems from an ecological perspective, and how
such systems can contribute to a more sustainable
society. Topics covered in the class will include
basic ecological concepts (i.e., the biological,
chemical and physical factors and their
interactions) and their application to
agricultural systems, production and consumption
aspects of food systems, and address ways to
facilitate the promotion of sustainable
agriculture. The lab, required to be taken in
conjunction with this course, provides an
opportunity to practice the agroecological
principles discussed in the lectures in hands-on
activities. Lab activities include (but are not
limited to) growing fruits and vegetables, keeping
farm records, and gathering biophysical,
ecological data necessary to start and run a
garden based on sustainable principles. Working
both individually and in small groups, students
will learn various gardening as well as gathering
techniques and methods. Field trips to area farms
may be included as part of the lab.




IDS 3300. Seminar I/(3).F;S.


This course is designed as an intensive
investigation of a question, theme, problem,
theory, process, or analytic framework, the study
of which requires interdisciplinary,
transdisciplinary, and/or multi-disciplinary
approaches to understanding. Method and other
techniques of knowledge production will be
explicitly addressed and applied in the context of
the course topic. The topic of this course will
vary, and barring duplication of subject matter, a
student may repeat the course for credit.
Prerequisites (required for IDS majors only): IDS
3000 (Histories of Knowledges) and IDS 3150
(Interdisciplinary Praxis). (SPEAKING;
CROSS-DISCIPLINARY)




IDS 3500. Independent Study/(1-4).F;S.




IDS 3520. Instructional Assistance/(1).F;S.


A supervised experience in the instructional
process on the university level through direct
participation in a classroom situation. Grading
will be on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis
only. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing. May
be repeated for a total credit of three semester
hours.




IDS 3530-3549. Selected Topics/(1-4).F;S.On
Demand.




IDS 3700. Seminar II/(3).F;S.


This course is designed as an intensive
investigation of a question, theme, problem,
theory, process, or analytic framework, the study
of which requires interdisciplinary,
transdisciplinary, and/or multi-disciplinary
approaches to understanding. One or more
transdisciplinarity will be explicitly defined and
applied in the context of the course topic. The
topic of this course will vary, and barring
duplication of subject matter, a student may
repeat the course for credit. Prerequisites
(required for IDS majors only): IDS 3000
(Histories of Knowledges) and IDS 3150
(Interdisciplinary Praxis). (WRITING;
CROSS-DISCIPLINARY)




IDS 3900. Internship/(3-12).F;S.


Supervised work in an appropriate field
experience. Student must get approval from the
advisor of the B.A. in interdisciplinary studies
program prior to enrolling. Graded on S/U basis
only.




IDS 4100. Artists and Cultures/(3).On Demand.


This course critically examines the lives,
cultural settings and achievements of artists
whose work expresses the major intellectual and
spiritual pre-occupations of an age. The emphasis
is on art in context. Students will examine how
art and artists effect, and are affected by,
science, philosophy, theology, history and other
disciplines. Examples of artists and milieux which
might be treated include Leonardo and Florence,
Shakespeare and London, Dostoyevski and St.
Petersburg, Hugo and Paris, or Virginia Woolf and
London. (WRITING; CROSS-DISCIPLINARY)




IDS 4200. Interdisciplinary Thinkers and
Thinking/(3).On Demand.


This course will critically explore one or more of
the following: (1) the interdisciplinary aspects
of such thinkers as Aristotle, Marx, William Irwin
Thompson, Gregory Bateson or Gerda Lerner; (2)
integrative systems such as general systems
theory, social ecology or comparative
civilizations; or, (3)  contemporary theoretical
issues such as the relation between literary post-
modernism and constructive post-modernism. The
goal will be to illustrate the methods and
contributions of interdisciplinarity. (WRITING;
CROSS-DISCIPLINARY)




IDS 4530-4549. Selected Topics/(1-4).F;S.On
Demand.




IDS 4550. Senior Seminar/(3).F;S.


In this class, students will have the opportunity
to draw together the diverse strands of their
interdisciplinary studies, reflect on the
connections among these strands, and produce an
in-depth senior project focusing on their
concentration within the major. Students will have
the opportunity to reflect on methodology - how
one brings together data, methods and practices
from diverse disciplines, both academic and
non-academic. Students will be asked to present
and discuss aspects of projects in class and
present their final projects in a public forum to
students and faculty. The final portfolio is to be
turned in to the student's Senior Seminar
professor before the end of the student's last
semester. Prerequisites: Senior standing and IDS
3000 and 3150. Corequisite or prerequisite: IDS
3300 or 3700, or consent of the instructor.
(WRITING; SPEAKING; CROSS-DISCIPLINARY; COMPUTER)