Interdepartmental Studies
COORDINATOR
Joe Latulippe, Ph.D., Associate Provost for Academic Support and Accessibility
In its attempt to serve students’ educational needs, Linfield offers some courses that do not fit readily into the established academic disciplines. These are taught as Interdepartmental Studies (IDST) courses, described on the COURSES tab.
Students at Linfield may pursue degrees in subject areas that span two or more academic disciplines, such as International Business. For descriptions of these programs, please see their pages in the catalog.
Linfield also provides students the opportunity to design their own interdisciplinary majors within carefully prescribed guidelines. For further information on Individual Majors, see the Degrees and Programs section of the catalog.
COURSES
Paracurricular Courses
IDST 007 FIRST SEMESTER SEMINAR (1 credit)
Focus on the transition to Linfield's liberal arts environment, the resources of the Linfield community, and the process of setting goals and making intentional decisions. Faculty advising group and peer led laboratory. Must be taken by first-year students starting in the fall or spring semester. Graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.
Total Course fees: $25.00
(EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING)
IDST 008 ONLINE FIRST YEAR SEMINAR (1 credit)
Focus on Linfield's liberal arts curriculum and the resources specific to students in the online degree program. Must be taken within one year of enrollment in an online degree program at Linfield by all non-nursing students with fewer than 45 credits upon matriculation. Graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory. OFFERED THROUGH ONLINE AND CONTINUING EDUCATION (OCE) ONLY.
(EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING)
IDST 009 FIRST SEMESTER TRANSFER STUDENT SEMINAR (1 credit)
Focus on the transition to Linfield, the resources of the Linfield community, and the process of making sound academic and career choices. Faculty advising group meetings and peer led laboratory. Must be taken by transfer students in their first semester. Students entering Linfield with 45 or more transferable credits (or with an Associate Transfer Degree or equivalent) at the start of their first term are exempt from taking this course. Graded Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory.
Total Course fees: $25.00
(EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING)
IDST 010 LEARNING SKILLS (1 credit)
Focus on enhancing academic success by strengthening learning and study skills, developing more effective ways to communicate, and understanding how to locate and use relevant resources. Demonstration of effective approaches to learning through the application of newly acquired skills.
(EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING)
IDST 030 DIGITAL LITERACY: CONSUMING INFORMATION RESPONSIBLY (2 credits)
An engagement with the world of digital information, fake news, and social media in an increasingly perilous online landscape using critical thinking skills, and evaluation techniques. OFFERED THROUGH ONLINE AND CONTINUING EDUCATION (OCE) ONLY.
IDST 031 INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION: DEPARTURE & REENTRY (1 credit)
This is required of all who study at one of Linfield's semester-abroad sites.
(EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING)
IDST 040 COMMUNITY SERVICE ABROAD (1 credit)
Community Service Abroad Community service activity designed to foster social responsibility among participants in Linfield-administered abroad programs. Focus on integrating the academic experience abroad with the larger world beyond the classroom in the host country. This course is required of students studying in select semester/year abroad programs. Only for semester abroad students.
Typically offered: Fall and Spring Semesters, Annually
(EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING)
IDST 052 CAREER PLANNING & PREPARATION (2 credits)
The transition from campus to career success. Goal-setting, decision-making, and job hunt preparation (resume writing, interview techniques, and job hunt strategies). For senior students. Offered by the Office of Career Development.
(EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING)
IDST 060 RESIDENT ADVISOR TRAINING (1 credit)
Skills and techniques required of Resident Advisors (RAs). Student personnel philosophy, student development theory including leadership development, multicultural understanding, communication skills, social responsibility and collaboration.
Prerequisites: Good Academic Standing required.
(EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING)
IDST 062 RESIDENT ADVISOR IN-SERVICE CLASS (1 credit)
For current residence life staff members only. Focus on pro-active leadership, community development, and use of campus resources in the residence halls. Issues faced by student staff members coordinating their own education with the needs of their residents. Offered through the Housing Office.
(EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING)
IDST 070 PEER ADVISOR DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING (1 credit)
Focus on the knowledge, values, and skills to practice academic advising at Linfield University. Academic advising skills and techniques, the mission of Linfield, value of the liberal arts, academic programs offered, and student development theory will be covered. May be repeated for credit. For students who have secured Peer Advising positions only.
Prerequisites: Instructor consent.
IDST 072 REG & ORIENTATION LEADER IN-SERVICE (1 credit)
Focus on effective class facilitation, academic advising strategies, and use of campus resources in First Semester Seminar and the advising relationship. Issues faced by student leaders managing their own educational needs with the needs of their advisees. May be repeated for credit. For current Registration and Orientation Leaders only.
Prerequisites: Instructor consent.
IDST 080 FIRST GENERATION PEER MENTOR LEADERSHIP (1 credit)
The FGPM course prepares student mentors to facilitate the process of improving social and academic integration of first-generation students at Linfield University. The primary goal of this course is to engage students with the Linfield University community and direct the use of tools and resources designed to help students achieve social integration characterized by a sense of belonging and academic integration characterized by academic success. Peer mentoring will support student engagement, retention, and persistence in the University.
Prerequisites: One year of participation in the Linfield First Scholars program.
IDST 090 GLOBAL ISSUES FORUM (1 credit)
Readings in contemporary global issues and events and weekly discussion in small seminar groups. Required of all International Studies minors. May be repeated.
(EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING)
IDST 098 ORIENTATION TO INTERNATIONAL STUDY (1 credit)
Readings and presentations on selected topics related to program of study and cultural issues, preparation for international travel, and discussion in small seminar group. Offered fall semester in preparation for specific January term off-campus course. May be repeated.
Prerequisites: Acceptance in the associated January term course.
Typically offered: Fall Semester
(EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING)
Interdepartmental Studies Courses
A list of the department’s infrequently taught courses can be found on the Registrar’s webpages.
IDST 110 INTRODUCTION TO COLLEGE WRITING (4 credits)
Introduction to academic life at Linfield University: instructor-student course expectations, classroom interactions, course terminology, e-mail etiquette, and availability of learning resources. Development of facility in reading academic sources, note taking, synthesizing information, and using academic sentence structures to write academic reports, essays, and research papers. Building fluency in academic vocabulary, competence in classroom discourse and oral presentation skills.
IDST 161 DISCOVERING AMERICAN CULTURES THROUGH FILM (4 credits)
An introduction to various American cultural groups and their struggles. Presents historical background and current challenges different groups face. Short readings, television episodes, and feature films introduce content. Strengthen presentation and writing skills with an emphasis on writing. For students whose first language is not English or those who would benefit from additional writing instruction. Meets concurrently with ELCP 161. 4 credits. (US)
IDST 170 READINGS IN LITERATURE (4 credits)
An introduction to reading, discussing and writing about literature with a focus on short stories. Instruction in writing literary analysis essays as well as creative writing pieces. Improve structure, grammar, and academic vocabulary in writing. For students whose first language is not English or those who would benefit from additional writing instruction. Meets concurrently with ELCP 170. 4 credits. (CS)
(CREATIVE STUDIES)
IDST 250 WRITING THE PORTFOLIO (3 credits)
Instruction for OCE students identifying college level learning acquired in prior life experience and documenting that learning through a portfolio submitted for faculty evaluation. Completion of a learning autobiography and two course challenges (with remaining course challenges written independently). OFFERED THROUGH ONLINE AND CONTINUING EDUCATION (OCE) ONLY.
Prerequisites: INQS 126 or equivalent.
IDST 285 SERVICE LEARNING PRACTICUM (2-4 credits)
Interdisciplinary activity providing opportunity to partner closely with community-based project or program with supervised academic reflection, integration, and application. Active participation in civic service experiences that applies hands-on experience, knowledge, and skills to local, national, or international communities and organizations. Includes a minimum of 40 hours of service with a community partner. May be repeated once for credit. Graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.
IDST 287 CAREER EXPLORATION INTERNSHIP (2-10 credits)
Internships specifically devoted to career exploration. A one-time work experience related to a student's major or career goal. Intern works in a professional setting with supervision and guidance from a practicing professional. Open to all students. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisites: Approval of the Office of Career Development.
(EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING)
IDST 290 CAREER EXPLORATION TOPICS (4 credits)
Structured experiential process for learning more about careers via the perspective of a selected field. Development of goal setting, self-marketing, information gathering, and job and internship search strategies and skills. Site visits, informational interviewing, and guest speakers offering meaningful interaction with employers. May be repeated once for credit with different topic.
Total Course fees: $250.00
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor.
Typically offered: January Term
IDST 295 INTERDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE & MATH SEMINAR (1 credit)
Discussions of scientific thinking and approaches originating from different disciplinary perspectives, including interdisciplinary problem-solving that clearly recognizes and reflects the value of broadly-trained teams of scientists.
Prerequisites: BIOL 210 or CHEM 210 or PHYS 210 or MATH 170.
IDST 298 SPECIAL TOPICS: JAN TERM TRAV (4 credits)
Topics vary according to faculty availability and interest. Past topics include Career Exploration Experience.
Typically offered: January Term
IDST 320 HISTORY OF WESTERN THOUGHT I (3 credits)
Historical perspectives on the contributions that great works of literature and thought have made to our understanding of the world and the place of humankind in it. Great works from ancient and classical Greece and Rome, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and Reformation, the modern and contemporary world. OFFERED THROUGH ONLINE AND CONTINUING EDUCATION (OCE) ONLY.
(GLOBAL PLURALISM, ULTIMATE QUESTIONS, VITAL PAST)
IDST 321 HISTORY OF WESTERN THOUGHT II (3 credits)
Historical perspectives on the contributions that great works of literature and thought have made to our understanding of the world and the place of humankind in it. Great works from ancient and classical Greece and Rome, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and Reformation, the modern and contemporary world. OFFERED THROUGH ONLINE AND CONTINUING EDUCATION (OCE) ONLY.
(GLOBAL PLURALISM, ULTIMATE QUESTIONS, VITAL PAST)
IDST 387 INTERDISCIPLINARY CAPSTONE INTERNSHIP (2-10 credits)
Capstone internship experience integrates coursework and knowledge which enables a student to demonstrate broad mastery of learning in a specific industry while working under the guidance of a practicing professional. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisites: Approval of departmental internship supervisor required.
(EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING)
IDST 485 SENIOR SEMINAR (4 credits)
First semester of capstone experience for senior- standing students in selected OCE majors. Theories and methods of analysis with a focus on preparing students for IDST 490. Leads to completion of proposal for senior project. OFFERED THROUGH ONLINE AND CONTINUING EDUCATION (OCE) ONLY.
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor.