Minor in Interdisciplinary Problem Solving

About the Minor

The 21st century will be defined by the complexity and interconnected nature of human endeavors. The challenges of this interconnected world are vast and they will require problem-solvers who are both specialized and capable of working across many fields of knowledge. The Interdisciplinary Problem Solving minor provides students across the University the opportunity to develop applied problem-solving skills to meet these challenges. The focus of the minor is to help students integrate information, methods of inquiry, research skills, and experiential learning across multiple fields of knowledge. Students will be encouraged to draw from their major field of study while also exploring other fields related to addressing complex, real-world problems. The minor will also encourage experimentation and synthesis while students engage with models of interdisciplinary research.

Declaring the Minor

Students do not need to be a member of the Honors Program to take part in the minor. Symposium courses are open to all Drexel students. Because of the nature of the minor, success is dependent upon students showing self-discipline and being highly motivated and self-reliant. Students interested in minoring in Interdisciplinary Problem Solving should meet with staff from the Center for Interdisciplinary Inquiry. Please reach out to Charlotte Shreve to set up a meeting. We can discuss your personal, academic, and career goals and talk through how PSMI could support your aspirations.

1. Introductory Meeting
2. Anyone interested in applying to the Interdisciplinary Problem Solving Minor (PSMI) must meet with PSMI staff to discuss their academic goals, learn more about the minor's requirements, and review the application process and timeline.
3.  
4. Statement of Interest Form
5. 
   After the introductory meeting, students interested in declaring PSMI will be asked to fill out a statement of interest form. This form will help students think about how the minor can complement their current field of study – what kinds of problems are of interest? What are some of the relevant fields that would help address those problems? What specific courses might be of included? Students are also encouraged to revise their plan of study to demonstrate the incorporation of the minor into their curriculum and review this with their academic advisor.
6. 
    
7. Adding the Minor
8. Once these steps are completed, staff from the Center for Interdisciplinary Inquiry will submit the necessary forms to add the Interdisciplinary Problem Solving minor.

Program Requirements

*

Other courses may be substituted with the approval of the minor director.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Additional Information 

Please contact Charlotte Shreve at cs3859@drexel.edu with questions concerning the minor. For more information, please visit the Interdisciplinary Problem Solving minor webpage.