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.
Admission Requirements
The Interdisciplinary Problem Solving minor is open to all University students that meet the criteria for acceptance. 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. All applications for the minor will be submitted to the director of the minor.
The following are the requirements that students must meet to be considered:
- Required essay: Student statement of interest and desired goals
- Required recommendation form: A member of the Drexel community (i.e. faculty, staff, advisor, etc.) must complete a recommendation form on the applicant's behalf. Strong recommendations speak to the applicant's collaboration skills, collegiality, initiative and resourcefulness, and their ability to work independently. Students will be provided the link to the recommendation form after the introductory meeting.
Program Requirements
| Required Courses | ||
| CSDN 210 | Methods of Interdisciplinary Inquiry | 3.0 |
| CSDN 220 | Integrative Research Methods | 3.0 |
| HNRS 302 | Honors Colloquium (Take two times) | 6.0 |
| Electives * | 12.0 | |
| Students choose 12 credits of electives; suggested courses include the following: | ||
| Ethnobotany | ||
| Introduction to BMES Design I: Defining Medical Problems | ||
| Introduction to BMES Design II: Evaluating Design Solutions | ||
| Biomedical Engineering Freshman Seminar I | ||
| Advanced First Year Business Seminar | ||
| Introduction to Civil, Architectural & Environmental Engineering | ||
| Engineering Economic Analysis | ||
| Principles of Communication | ||
| Qualitative Research Methods | ||
| Environmental Communication | ||
| Environmental Science and Society | ||
| Introduction to Computing and Security Technology | ||
| Introduction to Information Systems | ||
| Introduction to Data Science | ||
| Sustainability: History, Theory and Critic | ||
| Introduction to Entrepreneurship | ||
| Technology Management | ||
| Management Information Systems | ||
| Design Thinking in Product Design | ||
| Psychology of Sustainability | ||
| Global Environmental Movements | ||
| Total Credits | 24.0 | |
| * | 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 Dr. Katie Barak at ksb89@drexel.edu with questions concerning the minor. For more information, please visit the Interdisciplinary Problem Solving minor webpage.
