The SIS program began in the Fall semester of 2008, making the class of 2011 the inaugural class.
Interdisciplinary courses will be offered to all students during their sophomore year. The courses are designed to encourage students to compare and contrast disciplinary perspectives and to identify the connections and commonalities among disciplines. In addition, the program ensures that students have an opportunity to interact with many faculty early in their undergraduate careers.
The courses are organized in a number of ways. Several courses will be offered each semester. Students in a course may meet in a large group for a common lecture and in smaller discussion groups as appropriate. Course instructors will serve as lecturers, discussion leaders and facilitators. Some faculty may provide guest lectures or serve as co-instructors for the course. Each course will be organized in a fashion that facilitates an exciting interdisciplinary learning experience for its students.
SIS Courses for Spring 2010
SIS 2002-01 The Natural and Social Science of Aging
This course is designed to illustrate the interdisciplinary nature of the field of Gerontology, which is the study of aging. The structure of this SIS will illustrate to students the relevance of this field to a variety of majors and career options (e.g., biology and medicine, political science with policy formation and elder law, psychology with mental health; sociology with support systems and global aspects of aging, business with travel, entertainment, exercise with promotion of healthy aging, physical therapy, etc).
Instructor: Dr. Diane J. Martin (Education, The Center for the Study of Aging);
Co-Instructors: Dr. McCole, Dr. Baker, Dr. Mitschler, Dr. Lemke
McDaniel Plan: SIS; SCH
1 section, Tuesday 6:00-9:00 pm
SIS 2007-01 Madness, Genius, Creativity
Through lecture, discussion and analysis students will explore the relationship between the biography, literary and artistic (music and visual arts) expression and psychodynamics. The course will begin with background in the psychological understanding and diagnosis of mental disorders commonly associated with madness. The concept of madness will then be examined from the perspective of numerous disciplines – madness portrayed in art, music, theatre, literature, history and philosophy, as well as the genetics and biochemistry of madness.
Instructor: Dr. Mazeroff (Psychology) with co-instructors
McDaniel Plan: SIS; SCH; Psychology major/minor requirements
1 section, Tues/Thurs 8:20 – 9:50 am
SIS 2004-01 Katrinaville: A Tale of Two Cities
This course interfaces ethnography, urban studies, and musicology in the treatment of tricenntennial New Orleans. Three initial units present an historical overview with contemporary issues and the ruling oppositions and unities presented by artistic cultures, race, ethnicity, religion, geography, and political history. A final unit treats post-Katrina recovery with updates from the three disciplines. Students will engage in readings and discussions, give two reports, attend lectures, access documentaries and web materials, and complete a semester-long research project on the Creole city on a topic of their choice integrating two or more of the disciplines of musicology, urban studies, and ethnography.
Instructors: Dr. Catherine Bodin (Foreign Languages) with guest lecturers
McDaniel Plan: SIS, M; French major and minor requirements
1 section, Mon/Wed/Fri 10:20 am – 11:20 am
SIS 2012-01 Alcohol: Spirits, Muses, and Demons
Throughout history alcoholic beverages have played important roles in the lives of peoples around the world. This course will examine the different values and meanings global cultures have assigned to alcohol consumption. We will analyze relevant political, cultural, economic and metaphysical questions and histories as well as issues related to power and cross-cultural encounters. Our study of attitudes and beliefs will also include the construction of alcohol consumption as enabling essential human powers of expressivity, memory and group identity.
Instructors: Drs. Martine Motard-Noar (Foreign Languages), Vera Jakoby (Philosophy), Debora Johnson-Ross (Political Science and International Studies)
McDaniel Plan: SIS, IW, SCH
3 sections, Mon/Wed/Fri 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
SIS 2011-01 HN - Nanotechnology
Imagine a machine that can fit onto the cross-section of a piece of hair. This may sound like science fiction, but it is actually a major goal of the emerging field of nanotechnology. Such small machines could potentially be put on spacecraft and sent to the farthest reaches of our solar system or used in humans to cure cancer. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the basics aspects of the exciting and revolutionary new field of nanotechnology. Basic concepts from chemistry, biology, and physics will be introduced as needed to understand the tools used to create and study machines and structures on this very small scale. The course will then focus on selected technologies of commercial interest (e.g. carbon nanotubes, nanoelectronics, nanobiometrics). The impact of this new technology on society will be highlighted by examining the role of nanotechnology in art, the impact of quantum computing on computer security, business and economic implications, and the potential effects of these new materials on the environment.
Instructor: Dr. Nilsson (Chemistry) with guest instructors
McDaniel Plan: Sophomore Interdisciplinary Studies; Scientific Inquiry w/Lab
BLAR: Natural Science and Mathematics
1 section Honors; Tuesday/Thursday 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
SIS 2013-01 Feminist Methodologies
Since the 70’s, feminist theory has attempted to explain the conditions under which women’s lives are lived. Feminist theory is now a vast collection of diverse global perspectives on historical and cultural daily practices and experiences. This course will bring together faculty from a range of disciplines (including classical studies, English literature, history, political science, psychology, science, sociology and social work,) who will discuss the implications of feminist theory in their own field or their own scholarly work. The emphasis will be on the application of theory. Through discussions with participants and selected readings, students will explore important theories and theorists, and consider the value and limitations in this new construction of knowledge.
Instructor: Dr. Donna Evergates (History) with guest lecturers
McDaniel Plan: SIS, IDS; Women’s Studies
1 section, Monday 6:00-9:00 pm
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