Student Proposed Integrative Thinking Goal Cluster

Beginning with the class entering Fall 2004, students will be required to fulfill an Integrative Thinking Goal under the Gettysburg Curriculum. This requirement is intended for students to develop an understanding of multiple perspectives and approaches to studying the world around us; and, to give students an understanding of the connections and tensions between approaches to common issues, texts, and phenomena. Through this experience, students can learn not only how to approach problems from multidisciplinary perspectives, but as well they can come to appreciate the increasing fluidity of boundaries between disciplines.

It is expected that these courses will present a balanced treatment of the subject matter in accordance with the typical sophomore-level course.

The following general guidelines apply to this experience:

• Although the aim is for both courses to be taken in the sophomore year, it is possible for one to be taken in the first year or the junior year.
  
• Courses could, in certain circumstances, be taken concurrently.
  
• It is expected that this requirement will be completed by the end of the junior year.
  
• Students studying off campus are also encouraged to consider clustering a course taken off campus with a course taken at Gettysburg upon return from the off-campus experience (Option 3, below). Or, students could take one or both of their IDS/multidisciplinary courses off campus provided students make a portfolio posting upon their return (Option 1, below).

Students may fulfill the Integrative Thinking Goal in one of three ways:

Option 1.
Interdisciplinary courses: Students may successfully complete two designated interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary courses.

Interdisciplinary/Multidisciplinary courses are listed on the Registrar's website. IDS/multidisciplinary courses taken off- campus must be reviewed and approved in advance through the normal off-campus study process.

Option 2.
Faculty-designed clusters: Students may successfully complete two courses from different disciplines that are clustered by faculty around a common theme and engage in an integrative experience for the two classes.

This two-course cluster will be designed by faculty. A listing of course clusters will be posted on the Registrar's website.


Option 3.
Student-designed clusters: Students may identify and propose their own two-course cluster. This cluster can be composed of courses from any two departments or disciplines. They need not be designated IDS or multidisciplinary courses. In this case, the student must have approval of the cluster of courses and the form of the proposed integrative experience by the faculty member who will assess the acceptability of the product connected with the integrative experience. While courses in which cluster proposals are particular welcome are listed as "Cluster-Friendly" on the Registrar's website, a student proposal can link any two courses for an integrative experience.

A proposal form for student-designed clusters is included below.


The following guidelines will apply to students who choose Option 3:

• The two courase must be from different subject areas.
• Ordinarily, the approval for a student-designed cluster will come from the instructor in the second course.
  
• Students are expected to obtain approval before the drop/add date for the second course.
  
• The instructor of the second course will determine successful completion of the integrative experience.
  
• Students may propose a cluster after having completed the first course or before entering the first course.
  
• Students must pass both courses and successfully complete the integrative experience in order to fulfill the requirement.
  
• The integrative experience has to be assessed by a Gettysburg faculty member.
• The integrative project must be completed within the context of the second course and a confirmation of completion submitted by the instructor at the same time as the grade for the course.

The following are guidelines for students to propose ITR courses under Option 3

In proposing a two-course cluster to fulfill Option 3 of the Integrative Thinking Requirement (ITR), it will be helpful to the instructor of the second course if you can describe the ways in which the two courses will be connected, and the ways in which this sequence of courses will provide interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary perspectives.

• The two courses must be from different subject areas
• The student must meet with the instructor of the second course to talk through the responses that will be written on this form.
• Once in agreement, the student must complete this form, and the instructor and the student must sign it.
• The student must submit this signed form to the Registrar's Office, ideally by the add/drop deadline of the term in which the second course is to be taken.

Please provide the following information:

Student Name _____________________________

 

Course names, numbers, and instructors.



Order in which courses will be taken (if relevant).



What connection do you see between the two courses?






What kind of project (integrative experience) do you envision as a way to connect the two courses?



Instructor Name: ________________________ Signature ____________________

Student Signature _______________________ Date _____________