Interdisciplinary Studies
IDSC 099 Summer Science Institute This course consists of three one-week seminars with faculty from various departments in the sciences. Topics change from year to year, depending on faculty interests. Classes consist of a mix of lecture, hands-on activities, problem sets, and completion of an independent research project. For high school juniors and seniors. 6 credits; S/CR/NC; Summer; Jennifer M Wolff, Steven M Drew
IDSC 099 Carleton Undergraduate Bridge Experience The Carleton Undergraduate Bridge Experience is a six-week program designed to review quantitative skills and explore how these quantitative skills are relevant to disciplines ranging from biology and physics to economics and psychology. Topics may include functions (linear, exponential, logarithmic), geometry, trigonometry, and analysis and graphical representation of data sets. Students will work in teams on several activities, including exploring Carleton-specific data sets that can be used tell a story about the College and collaborating on problems that explore how particular quantitative skills are used in the sciences and social sciences. In addition, students review and practice their quantitative skills through self-paced work. 5 credits; S/CR/NC; NE; Summer; Melissa Eblen-Zayas
IDSC 099 Language and Global Issues Summer Institute Our world is a tangle of languages and cultures and market forces. The Language and Global Issues Institute provides tools for beginning to reckon with global issues. Each morning students have an intense experience of language immersion in one of the program languages (French or Spanish). In the afternoon class, they will participate in a multi-disciplinary seminar on a global issue such as immigration (taught in English). The program includes activities and excursions that reinforce the themes of the classes. For accepted high-school juniors and seniors. 6 credits; S/CR/NC; Summer; Shana L Sippy
IDSC 099 Summer Humanities Institute The Summer Humanities Institute brings together seminar, lecture, and individual and group research experiences in History and English Literature along with six art historical lectures to offer students an in depth and multi-disciplinary understanding of the legacies of the Roman Empire in Early Modern Europe. In the History component, students explore the world and thought of Niccolo Machiavelli, as he uses the Roman past to understand the Italian present. In the English component, students will examine in depth William Shakespeare’s use of Roman history as inspiration and context for drama but also as an ongoing tradition of performance. Lectures and discussion requiring significant preparation are complemented by daily supervised research throughout the course culminating in a public presentation of their original research. For high school juniors and seniors. 6 credits; S/CR/NC; Summer; William L North
IDSC 099 Summer Quantitative Reasoning Institute The Summer Quantitative Reasoning Institute (SQRI) is a three-week intensive training in quantitative methods in the social sciences. Instruction is divided into week-long courses in political science/international relations, economics, and psychology. Students work on group research projects in their single core discipline under faculty direction. Study includes classroom work, lab work, and some field trips. For high school juniors and seniors. 6 credits; S/CR/NC; Summer; Alfred P Montero
IDSC 100 Introduction Data Visualization The world is awash in data. How can we make sense of it all? Businesses, scientists, and academics of all backgrounds are increasingly relying on visualization to better understand and communicate about data. This course serves as an introduction to the theory and practice of data visualization. Students will learn the design principles common to effective visual displays of data and how to overcome the most prevalent mistakes made by practitioners. We will spend considerable time in the computer lab working to collect, analyze, and communicate about multiple datasets throughout the term. 6 credits; AI, WR1, QRE; Fall; Aaron M Swoboda
IDSC 100 Let's Talk about Race!: Exploring Race in Higher Education From Starbucks' failed "Race together" initiative to debates about Rachel Dolezal's racial identity to the Black Lives Matter movement, it is clear that race still matters in America. These incidents also demonstrate the difficulties of having discussions about race, especially across racial lines. Drawing on texts from multiple disciplines, this course will examine the history of racial categories with a particular emphasis on how race matters in higher education. This course will also incorporate readings and activities that will help students develop further their skills to have productive discussions about race, especially in the context of a small residential college. 6 credits; AI, WR1; Fall; Anita P Chikkatur
IDSC 100 Measured Thinking: Reasoning with Numbers about World Events, Health, Science and Social Issues This interdisciplinary course addresses one of the signal features of contemporary academic, professional, public, and personal life: a reliance on information and arguments involving numbers. We will examine how numbers are used and misused in verbal, statistical, and graphical form in discussions of world events, health, science, and social issues. Students will also apply quantitative reasoning skills to assist community organizations.
6 credits; AI, WR1, QRE; Fall; Neil S Lutsky
6 credits; AI, WR1, QRE; Fall; Neil S Lutsky
IDSC 103 Student Conversations about Diversity and Community In this course students participate in peer-led conversations about diversity and community at Carleton. Students complete readings and engage in experiential exercises that invite them to reflect on their own social identities and their attitudes toward race, gender, class, and sexuality. By taking risks and engaging in honest conversations and self-reflection, students work together to understand differences and to explore how to build communities that are welcoming and open to diversity. Students keep a weekly journal and write two reflective essays that are graded by faculty members. Required application form: https://apps.carleton.edu/dialogue/. 2 credits; S/CR/NC; NE, IDS; Winter; Adriana Estill
IDSC 110 Thinking with Numbers: Using Math and Data in Context This course will enhance students' quantitative skills and provide opportunities to apply those skills to authentic problems. Topics covered will vary depending on students in the class; possible topics include unit conversions, significant figures and estimation, exponents, logarithms, algebra, geometry, probability, and statistics. We will explore how these skills are relevant in contexts ranging from making personal finance decisions to understanding medical research reports. Prerequisite: Interdisciplinary Studies 099, Undergraduate Bridge Experience. 1 credit; S/CR/NC; NE, QRE; Fall; Melissa Eblen-Zayas
IDSC 128 Civil Discourse on a Diverse Campus: An Experiential Living-Learning Community Why is it so hard to get along? This residential course will meet once a week for the students’ first three terms at Carleton to connect the classroom to the dorm room by creating a cohort dedicated in engaging in difficult conversations that can help reduce the impact of conflict within individuals and our community at large. We will work with a basic theoretical framework and readings to help identify universal local and global issues that will be explored in open-ended class discussions and through exchanges with guest speakers. Assignments will include a journal and on campus outreach assignments. Prerequisite: Fall term by instructor approval, winter and spring term requires prior term registration in IDSC 128. 2 credits; S/CR/NC; NE; Fall, Winter, Spring; Stephanie M Cox
IDSC 130 Hacking the Humanities The digital world is infiltrating the academy and profoundly disrupting the humanities, posing fundamental challenges to traditional models of university education, scholarly research, and academic publication. This course introduces the key concepts, debates and technologies that are shaping the Digital Humanities (DH) revolution, including text encoding, digital mapping (GIS), network analysis, data visualization, and the basic programming languages that power them all. Students in this class will learn to hack the humanities by making a collaborative, publishable DH project, while acquiring the skills and confidence necessary to actively participate in the digital world, both at the university and beyond. 6 credits; HI, QRE; Winter; Austin P Mason
IDSC 198 FOCUS Colloquium This colloquium is designed to give students participating in the Focusing on Cultivating Scientists program an opportunity to learn and use skills in scientific study, reasoning, and modeling. The topics of this project-based colloquium will vary each term, and allow students to develop competencies in areas relevant to multiple science disciplines. 2 credits; S/CR/NC; NE; Fall, Winter, Spring; Deborah S Gross, Daniel L Hernández
IDSC 202 MMUF Research Seminar This seminar develops the skills needed to engage in and communicate advanced research. Each participant will work and present regularly on their ongoing research projects, and participate actively in an ongoing series of workshops and conferences. The seminar will also discuss in depth the nature of academia as institution and culture, and the role of diversity in the production of knowledge and teaching in American higher education. Open only to students with MMUF fellow status. Prerequisite: Participation in the Mellon Program/MMUF or MGSEF Program. 2 credits; S/CR/NC; NE; Fall, Winter, Spring; William L North, Marynel Ryan Van Zee
IDSC 203 Talking about Diversity This course prepares students to facilitate peer-led conversations about diversity in the Critical Conversations Program. Students learn about categories and theories related to social identity, power, and inequality, and explore how race, gender, class, and sexual orientation affect individual experience and communal structures. Students engage in experiential exercises that invite them to reflect on their own social identities and their reactions to difference, diversity, and conflict. Students are required to keep a weekly journal and to participate in class leadership. Participants in this class may apply to facilitate sections of IDSC 103, a 2-credit student-led course in winter term. 6 credits; S/CR/NC; NE, IDS; Fall; Anita P Chikkatur
IDSC 235 Perspectives in Public Health This course will explore the many dimensions of public health within the United States and provide an introduction to community based work and research. Public health is by nature interdisciplinary and the course will address local public health issues through the lenses of social, biological, and physical determinants of health. In addition to readings and discussions, the course will incorporate the expertise of visiting public health practitioners and include site visits to local public health agencies. Students will work collaboratively with a community partner on a public health-related civic engagement project selected during Fall term and continued during Winter Break. This is the first course of a two course winter break program. Prerequisite: Interdisciplinary Studies 236 required winter term. 3 credits; S/CR/NC; IDS, NE; Fall; Debby R Walser-Kuntz
IDSC 236 Public Health in Practice This course is the second part of a two-term sequence beginning with Perspectives in Public Health. Over the winter break, students will spend two weeks exploring a variety of public health organizations both locally (Minneapolis/St. Paul) and nationally. During the winter term, students will complete their final public health-related civic engagement project in collaboration with a community partner, set their individual project back into the wider context of public health, and prepare to present their experience to a broader audience. Prerequisite: Interdisciplinary Studies 235. 6 credits; IDS, ARP; Winter; Debby R Walser-Kuntz
IDSC 251 Windows on the Good Life Human beings are always and everywhere challenged by the question: What should I do to spend my mortal time well? One way to approach this ultimate challenge is to explore some of the great cultural products of our civilization--works that are a delight to read for their wisdom and artfulness. This series of two-credit courses will explore a philosophical dialogue of Plato in the fall, a work from the Bible in the winter, and a pair of plays by Shakespeare in the spring. The course can be repeated for credit throughout the year and in subsequent years. 2 credits; S/CR/NC; HI; Fall, Winter, Spring; Laurence D Cooper, Alan Rubenstein
IDSC 265 Topics in Public Health This five-week introductory course will explore a variety of topics in public health through readings, discussion, guest speakers, and a final research paper. The seminar will examine the social, environmental, economic, and political forces that influence health outcomes. An important goal of the course is to help each participant think about their position in public health, reflecting on past public health related experiences and/or looking ahead to upcoming opportunities. 2 credits; NE; Not offered 2016-17
IDSC 280 Learning from Internships Carleton does not grant credit for internships, but valuable off-campus learning experiences can be integrated into the academic program. Although the specific nature of internship experiences will vary, internships are opportunities to apply and extend one's academic skills and interests into work in non-academic settings. This course will involve carefully monitored work experiences in which a student has intentional learning goals. Achieving these goals will be measured through reflective writing assignments, as well as written work in connection with assigned readings. Prerequisite: An internship and learning contract approved by the Career Center Director of Internships. The internship must be a minimum of 6 weeks and 180 hours and approved in advance by the instructor and the Career Center Internship Program Director. 1 credit; S/CR/NC; NE; Fall, Winter, Spring; Peter J Balaam
IDSC 289 Science Fellows Research Colloquium This colloquium develops the skills needed to engage in and communicate scientific and mathematical research. Topics will vary each term, but will include searching and reading the primary literature and communicating results orally and via posters. The colloquium will also explore the landscape of academic scientific research and how to negotiate the expectations of being a research group member. Prerequisite: Instructor Permission. 1 credit; S/CR/NC; NE; Fall, Spring; Jennifer M Wolff
IDSC 298 FOCUS Sophomore Colloquium This colloquium is designed for sophomore students participating in the Focusing on Cultivating Scientists program. It will provide an opportunity to participate in STEM-based projects on campus and in the community. The topics of this project-based colloquium will vary each term. Prerequisite: Interdisciplinary Studies 198 as first year student. 1 credit; S/CR/NC; NE; Fall, Winter, Spring; Trish Ferrett
IDSC 398 Team-Based Global Issues Research Seminar How can we understand a refugee crisis in Europe, the health and environmental effects of a sulfide-ore mine in Minnesota, or destruction of archeological sites in the Middle East? Complex topics like these require multiple specialists working across disciplines. IDSC 398 invites students with advanced (typically Comps-level) skills to develop a team-based project dealing with a regional, national, or international issue that has global significance. Projects are shaped in consultation with the seminar leaders, but are largely independent. Typically separate from departmental Comps. Normally done over three consecutive terms starting in the Fall. For more, see https://apps.carleton.edu/collab/gei/. Prerequisite: Instructor Permission. 2 credits; S/CR/NC; NE; Fall, Winter, Spring; Scott D Carpenter, Trish Ferrett, Stacy N Beckwith