Interdisciplinary Courses

INTDSC 1000 Special Topics: 3 semester hours

Topics may vary from semester to semester, however, they will all focus in the cultural heritage of Great Britain with material taken from art, theater, literature, and selected topics in philosophy.

INTDSC 1003 University Studies: 1 semester hour

This course, required of all new freshmen in the College of Arts and Sciences, is designed to assist students in making the transition to the university experience and to UMSL by giving students the knowledge and tools needed to succeed as a scholar. The course will also familiarize students with the relationship between their education and their career and personal goals, and will assist in developing positive connections with faculty, staff, and peers at UMSL. Students will learn about faculty expectations, support services, and student life, as well as academic disciplines. The course counts toward the 120 credit hours needed for graduation.

INTDSC 1010 Information Research and Student Success: 1 semester hour

Students will use online library resources to learn search techniques for different types of information. Course content will be delivered through interactive, online tutorials and short, informative videos. Students will develop an understanding of academic research that will set a foundation for critical thinking skills. The course will help students in practical ways, such as for researching term papers, but also in more abstract ways, such as exposing them to the world of scholarship and academic knowledge.

INTDSC 1011 Introduction to Disability Studies: 3 semester hours

This course introduces the theory and scholarship of the interdisciplinary field of Disability Studies. Disability will be addressed as a matter of identity, culture, language, writing, power, education, politics, literature, art, and more.

INTDSC 1012 History of Disability: 3 semester hours

This course explores the history of disability from various perspectives, moving from antiquity to present day. Perspectives will include: the individual, society at large, the family, sexuality and disability, educational systems, and legal and ethical issues. Students will explore how these perspectives can drive public policy and service delivery systems. Students will gain knowledge and a foundational understanding of current legislation, Independent Living Philosophy, advocacy, empowerment, and self-empowerment that will enable them to create an organized and efficient independent living plan.

INTDSC 1030 Language and Communicative Arts Across the Disciplines: 3 semester hours

This course is designed to advance the academic skills of university-level students. This course consists of listening to academic lectures across the disciplines; reading texts and articles to supplement lectures; writing summaries, essays and responses to exam questions; understanding and editing grammar and sentence structure; phonetics and word stress patterns; presentation skills; and advancing skills in note-taking, critical thinking, and comprehension of advanced college-level vocabulary of various fields of study.

INTDSC 1234 Science Literacy: 3 semester hours

This course introduces students to terminology, concepts, and methods in the sciences. It will help them enhance their scientific literacy and creativity, so that they can communicate with confidence about how science pertains to their daily lives. Students will also explore how science has influenced American history and society and how it could impact our future.

INTDSC 1500 Prior Learning Assessment Portfolio Preparation: 1 semester hour

Prerequisites: Consent of the faculty coordinator for the BA in Organizational Leadership. This course is designed to help students identify areas of learning they may want to have evaluated for college-level equivalency. It will also guide students through the preparation and compilation of components that will be required for the evaluation of a portfolio of prior learning. This course is required for students to apply for Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) via portfolio review.

INTDSC 1700 Major and Career Exploration: 1 semester hour

This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to learn and explore various majors and career paths within a structured setting. Both informative and interactive, the course will provide students with the opportunity to learn broadly about college majors and their relationship to the 'world of work,' while also researching specifically the options they are interested in pursuing. The course seeks to assist students with answering two questions, "What do I want to study?" and "How do I want to make a life for myself (and family)?" Components of the course will also educate students about the current and projected employment market, and how to further research pertinent career information.

INTDSC 1999 Big History: From the Big Bang to the Present: 3 semester hours

Same as HIST 1999. An introduction to the humanities, social science, and science disciplines through a sweeping overview of natural and human history from the Big Bang to the present. Course will include lectures from faculty in various Arts and Sciences units, films, and group discussions.

INTDSC 2001 Introduction to Organizational Leadership: 3 semester hours

Same as SOC 2001. This course surveys current research and case studies of leadership with a strong focus on self-awareness and introspection as drivers of organizational leadership success. It invites students to consider leadership as a process more than a product.

INTDSC 3010 Peer Mentoring: 1-3 semester hours

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor. The objective of this interdisciplinary course is to prepare and support undergraduate students working across campus as learning assistants, tutors, peer mentors, student leaders, etc. The course will support the development of general pedagogical knowledge of active learning, leadership and facilitation skills, and effective communication and listening skills, that they will use to facilitate learning in settings where students are working collaboratively, reviewing course content, or receiving supplemental instruction to guide their success. This course may be repeated for up to 6 credit hours.

INTDSC 4001 Organizational Leadership Capstone: 3 semester hours

Same as SOC 4001. Prerequisites: SOC 2001 or INTDSC 2001. This course will help students achieve and demonstrate proficiency in organizational leadership. Students will apply insights gained from previous coursework into individual and group projects that identify and address real-world leadership challenges.