CGS Offers First Minor in Interdisciplinary Studies
New program, open to all BU students, focuses on collaborative real-world problem solving
By Chelsea Feinstein
A focus on interdisciplinary education and real-world problem solving has been a hallmark of the College of General Studies for decades. Now, for the first time, Boston University students from any school or college have the option of building the same skills through a new Minor in Interdisciplinary Studies.
The minor, launched by CGS this spring, is open to all BU undergraduates, whether they’re former CGS students who want to expand the problem-solving skills they’ve developed in their freshman and sophomore years, or they’re from any other school at BU and looking to build a foundation in the liberal arts.
“Our students, CGS students, have asked for this for a long time, because after they left our program, they wanted to continue the conversations and possibly take another class with one of their faculty members,” says Lynn O’Brien Hallstein, associate dean for faculty research and development. “It really has this dual audience, both for our own students to continue conversations and connections with us, but also for students from across campus who are interested in an interdisciplinary minor.”
The interdisciplinary studies minor focuses on the intersection of the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, and how thinking across these disciplines can help to solve problems. Students are required to complete two CGS 200-level courses; two interdisciplinary electives; a Cross-College Challenge course; and an interdisciplinary directed study. They’ll also participate in Capstone, a group research project.
The minor prioritizes experiences in working collaboratively and across disciplines to problem solve, says O’Brien Hallstein.
“I think the focus on problem-solving and at least two team-based experiences really will help students prepare for a changing world,” she says. “The last year has shown us that the world is changing rapidly, and what the minor really focuses on is cultivating and building skills for problem-solving across an interdisciplinary perspective. Companies are starting to think across boundaries rather than in silos, and this minor is in a really unique position to help students in a practical way.”
CGS Dean Natalie McKnight says that interdisciplinary, directed studies have been transformative for CGS students—and will be for all BU undergraduates.
“They learn so much in these intensive situations, and they get to know the faculty member so well—and the faculty member gets to know them,” McKnight says. “Students feel seen, heard, understood, and appreciated as human beings, and I think that’s essential in terms of getting the most out of the college experience and also essential for well-being.”
With BU Hub, the University-wide general education program, now hitting its third year, O’Brien Hallstein says the time is right for a minor focused on interdisciplinary studies.
“There are a lot of natural connections and conversations happening across campus about capacities and interdisciplinarity in general,” she says. “Lots of students are getting introduced to the idea of thinking in an interdisciplinary way, and so there has been a sea change around that. This minor asks students to continue to cultivate those ways of thinking in order to be successful in any kind of career they may have.”