When you bake something (i.e. cakes, cookies, cupcakes....) you need to integrate multiple ingredients: eggs, flour, sugar, salt, water, baking soda...individually these things are very different from each other but somehow come together to make something delicious. The important aspect of interdisciplinary studies is not just being aware of your different backgrounds and view points, but to integrate the different perspectives and practices together to create a new unique approach. The reason this is important is because the main benefit of an interdisciplinary approach is the unique viewpoint it creates. For example, if someone's major is Hospitality Management and one area is Education then a way to integrate those areas is when it comes to training in the Hospitality field. Effective training involves using teaching techiniques. And to teach someone how to be a professional in the Hospitality field they need to understand the importance of service. So, when training one needs to teach well.
From a professional aspect, integrating multiple studies can be very valuable. Being well educated in more than one area gives you a unique approach to any job or even a single decision. Having studied psychology, for example, can help you in any position that involves dealing with a lot of different people on a regular basis. Realistically, what job wouldn't be easier if you had a little knowledge about how and why people act the way they do. In addition, knowing and understanding people gives you a leg up on the best way to communicate with them and get what you want. Therefore, integrating psychology into education is logical. We are not going to retell you why we think our areas of study play off each other well only because we did that in a previous post and would like to spare you having to read it again. However, it is something for you to think about in your current position. Consider how you can incorporate all of your skills and knowledge to make you better at a specific career. Maybe more than one career.
Think about a time when you may have integrated two viewpoints to make a decision. Was there ever a time when you maybe thought about advice from your mother and advice from your friends to make a decision? How can your areas of study be best integrated?
I can't think of anything specific off the top of my head, but I know there were times in high school where I had to make a decision and I had advice and opinions of other people to consider. Depending on the situation, it might be helpful or not to have differing views. Sometimes it might be hard to take a portion of 2 view points and combine them into one decision. In other situations, you may need as much advice you can get, in which case you have several options and people to pull from.
ReplyDeleteFor the IDS degree, I think that it is beneficial to have different points of view and advice from different areas of study to combine into one focused area. I feel that with my ares of study in science, education, and social science (anthropology), I will be very equipped and prepared for overseas teacching. I have developed a love for other cultures which I am able to combine with my enjoyment for teaching science.
One of the many ways I have combined two subjects happened at one of my previous jobs. It was a non-profit arts organization, and my love of art as well as my knowledge of technology combined together perfectly to create a website as well as a more organized business for them. I'm hoping the same thing will happen wherever I go with my degree. Thats one of the thigns I like about it! My focus in Art as well as my minors in IT and Tech Education will hopefully combine perfectally for something like teaching graphic arts or, as I found at from a Microsoft rep at the job fair, I could even be a software promoter.
ReplyDeleteI find that good example of an interdisciplinary approach in a abstract sort of way could be relationships. Sometimes, one can be together with someone who to say the least, is not a good significant other for whatever reason. You know it, and your friends, since they are not in your particular situation, use logic to answer the question as to whether you should stay with that person or move on. To them, they see it as "let's be logical, dump him, and find someone better." However, on your side, you want to go with how you feel, not logic. Long story short, you have two different perspectives, one is your feeling and the other is your logic. Together you integrate these to decide which outcome is the best decision for you.
ReplyDeleteAs for myself, I find that integration (being able to merge) of my areas and major is very important. For example, I currently have my areas in Behavioral Sciences and Commerce with a minor in Education, is not only going to be helpful in my future work, but currently very helpful in an independent study I am participating in which I have to analyze differnt travel industry business practices, create a presentation to teach the class, and make behavioral modification suggestions for the travel industry. All of this involves different aspects of my Interdisciplinary degree.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that integration is the only way that a career oriented person can find there way in the fast evolving industries. Employers today want to hire a person who will not only fit the needs of the company today, but will be able to integrate other aspects of knowledge and move and grow with the company. The Interdisciplinary Degree will show a potential employer that you can manage about anything.
ReplyDeleteI believe I may have to change my areas of study based on a new direction that I am taking in my life. However, I just started here at UCF and I feel that my courses that I have already taken will still fall in place when I change areas of study. I am considering a change to Travel and Tourism, Digital Media, and keeping my Education minor. If anyone has a comment on how they feel I could use my new areas of study feel free to comment. Thanks Shari L. Weber
ReplyDeleteThe integration of my areas of study and minors are all completely geared towards my two very opposite, but educationally intertwining career paths. First, if I were interested in applying for a job in the Criminal Justice field my minor of Criminal Justice paired with my areas of Public Affairs and Behavioral/ Social Science will show that I have experience with this information. I have experience studying and understanding people as well having a certificate in CSI. This certificate demonstrates that I have some added knowledge and experience with forensics and could better serve as an officer or lab tech in solving homicides and other evidence infested cases. Despite these assets my main career goal is to become an actress. My minor in Theatre serves as an aid for furthering my education in the Fine Arts. Ultimately my Theatre minor is going to help me achieve my goal of receiving my Masters in Fine Arts. The admission director will see that I am a serious and well-rounded student with determination and knowledge in the field of Performance Arts as well as Behavioral Sciences.
ReplyDeleteCristina Gutierrez
I really enjoy your analogy with baking. It is very true with IDS. Some concentrations seem like they wouldn't go together but actually they make perfect sense.
ReplyDeleteI think having an education background helps me with my current job as a waitress. When I have to train someone new I understand not everyone has the same learning type, and they have to be taught different ways.
I think the skills I learn in this program give me the upper hand later in life with interviews and job experiences.
Shari,
ReplyDeleteI know you want to keep your education minor, I don't know your current concentrations but if you are thinking travel and tourism, maybe a concentration in humanities. You can learn about cultures and how people work together. You might want to keep this suggestion in mind.
Wow great comments....I am so glad that I know a little bit more about you guys and where you want to go. Erica I am right there with about teaching abroad. It should be fun.
ReplyDeleteShari, I think that it is important for you to explore different fields and how you personally enjoy them. If you love digital media and teaching explore internships so that you get a hands on experience. I'm sorry I don't know much about these areas and I don't know how much time you have to discover what you want to do, but "doing" is the most eye opening experience. I can say that one of my major changes came from my summer internship in PR. I hated every second of it and as a result a major change seems vital. I know this isn't a direct answer and I hate answers like this but depending on what your reason is for changing your major, I think that you should put a lot of thought into it and make sure you like what your putting all this work into. That is the best way to make the degree work the best.
Shari.... I once was an English major. Then I took a Tourism Management course as an elective and I feel in love. What is it about Hospitality Management that interests you? The Rosen College is a phenomonal campus and there are many benefits to taking courses there.
ReplyDeleteCristina.... I think your acting background would actually help you become a forensics officer. You would be able to put yourself into the mindset of those involved because my understanding is that acting requires you to put yourself in someone's else way of thinking, behaving, and living.
ReplyDeleteI too, have a similar integration with the teaching abroad. My first concentration is "commerce" where I am doing business, marketing, managment, and hospitality. Second, I am taking "modern languages" so I can travel abroad and easily converse. Third, my minor is education so I can have some background in teaching strategies. I feel that my courses of study open a lot of possibilities. I can be a teacher here, or I can teach English abroad, or I can open my own business of a language school. So many possibilities with everything I can integrate!
ReplyDeleteShari, those areas of major are all very open. First, I will start of by saying even if a particular job doesn't come to mind right away, that you should still pursue those areas of major if they are what interest you. You may find a job that utilizes all three areas, or you could find a job that really only incorporates two and you could somehow use your knowledge from the third to help open new possibilities. Also, if you are entreprenurial you could open a little side business if in your primary job you don't use a whole lot of one area. This is how I like to think about it. I always try to keep in mind that not every job that comes our way which we take will incorporate our favorite areas. Travel and Tourism, Digital Media, and Education are all great picks!
ReplyDeleteWow Christina! Those are some very different areas of study! But I would definitely not give up on any of those if those are your interests. Also, I agree though with Dani, you could very well utilize your acting in Forensics by putting yourself in their shoes and trying to get in the mindset of a criminal, not that you should be one yourself obviously, haha.
ReplyDeleteAlso, as Natyeli suggests, internships are a great way to find out if you would truly enjoy one of your majors. I figure that is why so many people change their majors in college. They think they want to do a major, but once they take some classes, realize that it really is not an area of interest and would rather do something else.
Everyday at my job (at Publix) I have to integrate at least two of my areas of study, Communication and Hospitality Management. Publix is all about serving the customer and making sure that you can meet all their needs as efficiently as possible. I feel that these two areas of study help me immensely in dealing with problems that occur everyday because hospitality deals with everything that has to do with service and communication deals with basically how to communicate with another person successfully. For example, at least 6-10 times a day I will have a customer that will believe that a product is buy one get one free and I know that it is not and I will have to explain that it is possibly just the wrong size or flavor and try and find the product that is BOGO for them. I then go and retrieve the right size or whatnot and bring all the choices they have and let them choose and that's what I believe to be hospitality management, going out of your way to make a customer happy by not just saying no to them but giving them choices. I have to be able to communicate with the customer in a way that lets them know I am not trying to be rude but that I want to help them get everything that they need at the price they want it at. I pretty much need these two areas of study and integrate them together to make my day run as smoothly and productively as possible.
ReplyDeleteCustomer service seems to be something that encompases several different areas. It's very crucial to any business and, even in a fast food restaurant, customer service can be a great experience for anyone who is studying in the IDS major.
ReplyDeleteI have a question for the mentor...
ReplyDeleteI posted 3 times for this week's topics LAST week. Do I need to make three more posts about the same topics to gain points for this week?
Lol thank you Jess and Dani. The idea of putting myself in the mind of the criminal is actually one the reasons why I started to seriously consider combining my areas of study. Also who better to be an undercover agent then someone with extensive acting training?
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ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Jess that a lot of people, including myself, change their majors throughout their college career and that internships would help but I wish I had time to actually participate in one. Does anyone know of any that are just over the summer?
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