Interdisciplinary Studies

View Programs and Courses 

Faculty

Associate Professor: Greg Carroll, Chairperson

Professor: Pamela Shaw-George

Associate Professor: Elizabeth A. Duclos-Orsello

Assistant Professors: James P. Gubbins, Kimberly W. Poitevin

Instructor: Barbara J. Tierney

Faculty Emeriti

Professors: William A. Spohn, Alice M. Stadthaus, Albert M. Tosches

Programs Offered

Bachelor of Liberal Studies

Liberal Studies Concentrations:

American Studies  
Applied Ethics (Options: Business Ethics , Environmental Ethics , Legal Ethics , Medical Ethics , Social Ethics )
Health Professions 
Interdisciplinary Studies  
Peace and Intercultural Relations (Options: Africa , Asia/Oceania , European/Mediterranean , Latin America , Middle East , Nature , North American )
Philosophy of Art and Culture  
Public Policy  

Interdisciplinary Studies Minors

African-American Studies  
Asian Studies  
East European and Russian Studies  
Information Technology in the Arts and Sciences  
Latin American and Latino Studies  
Marine Studies  
Peace Studies  
Pre-Law Studies  
Religious Studies  
Urban Studies  
Women’s Studies  

Interdisciplinary Special Programs

First Year Experience
Intercultural Leadership Program (ILP)

Bachelor of Liberal Studies

The Bachelor of Liberal Studies allows a student to follow a specific 36 credits interdisciplinary plan of study in a liberal studies concentration.

The remaining elective credits are to be used to fulfill at least one of the following:

A concentration in Educational Studies

An additional concentration in Liberal Studies or another major or minor

Free electives available will be determined by the above choices.

American Studies Concentration

Elizabeth Duclos-Orsello, Coordinator

American Studies investigates the people, culture, and institutions of the United States. The complexity and variety of the subject matter necessitates that American Studies be an interdisciplinary field making use of a wide array of academic specialties in the arts, humanities, and human sciences in order to provide the student with a more comprehensive and unified view of the United States than is available within the limits of other academic specialties.

Applied Ethics Concentration
Philosophy of Art and Culture Concentration

William Cornwell, Coordinator

Both Applied Ethics and Philosophy of Art and Culture concentrations include courses in Philosophy and other disciplines from Art, English, History, Interdisciplinary Studies, Theater, Sociology and Psychology to Education, Social Work and Business, among others. It prepares students to join professions such as law, medicine, social work, psychology and others as well as for graduate school. Applied Ethics has five focus options: Business Ethics, Environmental Ethics, Medical Ethics, Legal Ethics, and Social Ethics. Students should choose one focus option and follow the requirements. These two concentrations will help students grasp representative ethical and aesthetic issues and ways of dealing with them, further their personal development, apply philosophical methods to intellectual problems, and see how ethical and aesthetic inquiry relate to other disciplines and human life more generally. It provides the foundation and unified vision for disciplines such as law, politics, humanities, and social science.        

Focus Option I - Business Ethics
 

PHL 203 - Business Ethics 
AND nine credits from the following, but no more than three credits from the Philosophy Department:
BUS 252 - Business Law I 
ECO___ Economics Elective
MGT 231 - Management Theory and Practice 
**PHL 209 - Social Ethics 
**PHL 305 - Social and Political Philosophy 
**PHL 350H - Topics in Ethics 
*SPC 301N - Negotiating Conflict 

Focus Option II - Environmental Ethics

PHL 224 - Environmental Ethics 
AND nine credits from the following, but no more than three credits from the Philosophy Department:
*BIO 208 - Environmental Problems: An Ecological Approach 
*BIO 301 - Conservation Biology 
*ECO 319 - Environmental and Natural Resource Economics 
*ENG 464 - Nature in American Literature 

Focus Option III - Legal Ethics

PHL 309A - Alternatives to Violence: Philosophical Approach                  
AND nine credits from the following, but no more than three credits from the Philosophy Department, with the exception of PHL325 (Symbolic Logic):
BUS 252 - Business Law I 
*COM 305 - Communications: Problems of Law and Ethics in Media 
CRJ 101 - Introduction to Criminal Justice 
CRJ 221 - Mediation 
*CRJ 410 - Comparative Legal Systems 
*CRJ 432 - Criminal Law 
*CRJ 435 - Ethics in Criminal Justice Decision Making 
HST 208 - History of American Constitutions 
HST 210 - Legal History 
HST 211 - Civil Rights in American History 
HST 432 - English Constitutional History 
IDS 260 - Introduction to Pre-law Studies 
IDS 265 - Peace and Peace Building 
**PHL 209 - Social Ethics 
**PHL 305 - Social and Political Philosophy 
**

Focus Option IV - Medical Ethics

PHL 218 - Medical Ethics           
AND nine credits from the following, but no more than three credits from the Philosophy Department:
*ECO 318 - Health Economics 
HIS 366 - History of Health Care (inactive) 
**PHL 209 - Social Ethics 
**PHL 305 - Social and Political Philosophy 
**PHL 350H - Topics in Ethics 
PSY 330 - Psychology and the Law 
SOC 314 - On Death and Dying 
*SOC 349 - Medical Sociology 

Focus Option V - Social Ethics

PHL 209 - Social Ethics 
AND nine credits from the following, but no more than three credits from the Philosophy Department:
HST 304 - History of Women and Religion 
HST 218 - U.S. Women’s History 
IDS 360 - Gender, Identity and Nationalism 
**PHL 305 - Social and Political Philosophy 
**PHL 350H - Topics in Ethics 
*SOC 301 - Social Thought II: Rebel Thought 
SOC 315 - Modern Life Styles 
*SOC 317 - Gender and Society 
*SOC 340 - Social Problems in the U.S. 
SWK 270 - Race, Class & Ethnicity: Their Impact Upon the Social Services 

* Has a prerequisite

** If this course happens to be a PHL course listed among the options, then it cannot be used twice to fulfill the requirements.

Interdisciplinary Studies Concentration

Barbara Tierney, Coordinator

The Interdisciplinary Studies concentration gives a student the opportunity to create an independent interdisciplinary course of study. This unique concentration was developed for a student who has a very specific professional objective/career and needs flexibility in planning a degree program. Students who create this independent course of study build a flow sheet reflecting courses that are cross disciplines. Any student interested in this concentration is required to meet with the Interdisciplinary Studies coordinator for information regarding eligibility. A formal proposal is required of each applicant that consists of a narrative including a statement detailing the student’s goals which support the flow sheet created by the student. It is strongly advised that students should apply prior to completing 60 credits. Once the proposal is completed, it is submitted to the Interdisciplinary Studies Academic Advisory Committee for review and final decision.

Limited enrollment in the Interdisciplinary Studies concentration is permitted for students from both Day and Evening College. A minimum of 72 credits is required in the Elective curriculum in this concentration. Of these elective credits, not more than 18 credits may be taken in the basic courses in the various subject areas. The remaining 59 or more credits must be taken above the introductory level in at least two disciplines and the program must show a progression through upper- division courses in the disciplines.

For further information regarding this concentration, admission requirements and approval of a plan of study, consult the Coordinator of the Bachelor of Liberal Studies major, Interdisciplinary Studies concentration located in the Interdisciplinary Studies Department.

Peace and Intercultural Relations Concentration

Greg Carroll, Coordinator

The Peace and Intercultural Relations Concentration within the Bachelor of Liberal Studies, Liberal Studies Major, is concerned with the issues of peace, sources of intercultural conflict, their resolution, and social justice. The program of study draws upon the strengths of a range of disciplines and focuses on developing an understanding of recent history, contemporary social/political structures, the problems associated with these structures, the ethical values embedded in these structures, potential conflicts, and possible paths to resolution. We live in a world where our ability to live peacefully with other peoples and cultures is crucial. In the Peace and Intercultural Relations Concentration, students are given the opportunity to engage in critical thinking and dialogue in order to develop the skills of conflict transformation. These skills can then be applied to one of seven different focus options, six of which are regionally based (see below for list of focus options). Many careers are increasingly requiring an understanding of, and sensitivity to, sources of conflict and possible alternatives. This is especially true in areas such as international relations, education, law, health care, and human services. The final course (taken in the senior year) is

Core Courses (24 Credits)

Focus Option III: Europe/ Mediterranean (12 credits)

Focus Option VI: North America (12 credits)
Choose four (4) courses in consultation with coordinator. Choose no more than two courses from one department.

Public Policy Concentration

Greg Carroll, Coordinator

The Public Policy Concentration within the Bachelors of Liberal Studies is geared towards students who are interested in developing an understanding of the complex nature of Public life. This program of study at Salem State is for those students who are interested in the pursuit of a career in the public realm. The Salem State College Bachelors of Liberal Studies: Public Policy Concentration has been created in consultation with a broad range of academic departments to produce a program designed to meet the needs of individuals interested in engaging with the questions of, and a career in public life. As currently constructed the program has a core of 7 courses. The core courses in the program have been carefully selected from existing course offerings at the college to engage with and support the college’s and programs aims of civic engagement and social justice. Students have the choice of two focus options that have been developed to extend a students understanding in one of two distinct directions, either urban planning or grassroots organizing.
 

COURSES IN THE CONCENTRATION (36 credits total)
Core Courses (21 credits)

Intercultural Leadership Program

The Intercultural Leadership Program is a freshmen learning community for culturally diverse students who are committed to academic excellence, leadership, mentoring and civic engagement. The ILP is centered on the interdisciplinary themes of global awareness, critical thinking, collaborative learning and community building. Students accepted in the ILP are given the opportunity to become a student mentor and to earn up to 24 credits in Composition I and II, World History I and II, Public Speaking for Social Justice, Seminar in Interdisciplinary Studies, Critical Reasoning and Mentoring. ILP students are encouraged to become active participants in their learning and to explore different ways of learning.

Interdisciplinary Studies Minors

The Department of Interdisciplinary Studies encourages and facilitates interdepartmental cooperation in the development of curriculum and programs. Courses and academic minors offer integrated approaches to learning and include components of community involvement and community service learning.