Spring Break
College of Liberal, Applied Arts introduces new studies
By: Brittany Logan
Issue date: 11/10/08 Section: News
The College of Liberal and Applied Arts will celebrate its new Office of Interdisciplinary Programs at an open forum from 4 to 5 p.m. today in the Baker Pattillo Student Center, Room 2.106.
The planning for this new office began in April 2008, and the office will house several different minors for students.
"(The forum) is for administration, faculty and students to see what interdisciplinary studies is about," Dr. Michael Martin, assistant professor of English and philosophy, said.
Martin will give a 10- to 15-minute presentation that will cover the interdisciplinary majors and minors that are offered within this office. Also all of the directors will be there to answer questions.
The minors covered under the interdisciplinary studies program are American studies, international studies, gender studies, Latin American studies, and leadership studies. Another study that was added recently was religious studies, which will focus on the academic and cultural views.
The office also oversees the Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies program, a specialized degree option that brings together courses from several departments within the University. The purpose of this degree is to serve students with professional interests that cannot be met by existing degree programs. The degree helps those students work with the coordinator to develop an individualized major. Possible area of study are only limited by the courses taught at SFA.
Martin said interdisciplinary studies tries to challenge a student by saying, "Here is a topic. Now what is the value of looking at it in different ways?"
According to the program's Web site, "These programs allow students the opportunity to broaden their undergraduate education and develop the ability to address complex social and cultural issues from a multi-faceted perspective."
He said the program would not be possible without the administrative support from Dean Brian Murphy, Associate Dean Mark Barringer, and Dr. Richard Berry, provost.
"I owe a lot to Alyssa Blanchette, a graduate student who has been helping set up the office," Martin said.
The Office of Interdisciplinary Studies is located in Ferguson 178. For more information visit http://www.2.sfasu.edu/oidp/.
blogan@thepinelog.com
The planning for this new office began in April 2008, and the office will house several different minors for students.
"(The forum) is for administration, faculty and students to see what interdisciplinary studies is about," Dr. Michael Martin, assistant professor of English and philosophy, said.
Martin will give a 10- to 15-minute presentation that will cover the interdisciplinary majors and minors that are offered within this office. Also all of the directors will be there to answer questions.
The minors covered under the interdisciplinary studies program are American studies, international studies, gender studies, Latin American studies, and leadership studies. Another study that was added recently was religious studies, which will focus on the academic and cultural views.
The office also oversees the Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies program, a specialized degree option that brings together courses from several departments within the University. The purpose of this degree is to serve students with professional interests that cannot be met by existing degree programs. The degree helps those students work with the coordinator to develop an individualized major. Possible area of study are only limited by the courses taught at SFA.
Martin said interdisciplinary studies tries to challenge a student by saying, "Here is a topic. Now what is the value of looking at it in different ways?"
According to the program's Web site, "These programs allow students the opportunity to broaden their undergraduate education and develop the ability to address complex social and cultural issues from a multi-faceted perspective."
He said the program would not be possible without the administrative support from Dean Brian Murphy, Associate Dean Mark Barringer, and Dr. Richard Berry, provost.
"I owe a lot to Alyssa Blanchette, a graduate student who has been helping set up the office," Martin said.
The Office of Interdisciplinary Studies is located in Ferguson 178. For more information visit http://www.2.sfasu.edu/oidp/.
blogan@thepinelog.com
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