As part of your degree, you must take a few classes that help you build clarity and confidence in the central purpose of your MDST degree and, more importantly, your ability to tell this story to others, such as the applications you will be making to jobs, grad school etc. These courses are taught by departmental faculty as well as professors from other departments.
INDS 330/H – Ways of Knowing
Required Course, 3 Credits
A writing intensive introduction to interdisciplinary studies usually taken during the sophomore second semester or junior year. Meets “WI” (Writing Intensive) requirements for GEP general education requirements.
How can the insights from various disciplines inform our understanding of difficult issues? This course explores the methods of different academic disciplines and their implications for an interdisciplinary understanding of complex problems. Each year students will examine a compelling issue (e.g., AIDS, energy policy) by integrating the contributions of several disciplines. Students will develop skills in interdisciplinary research and problem solving, oral and written communication, and in integrating diverse perspectives.
Department permission required.
Prerequisite: You must complete ENGL 100 or equivalent with a C or better.
Recommended Course Preparation: ENGL 226 Grammar and Usage of Standard English
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INDS 410 – Internship
You are required to complete 3 credits of INDS 410 or INDS 430
We strongly recommend that students gain professional experience in the field in which they plan to work. You may take INDS 410 as a way to gain credit for doing research and internships relevant to your degree. Students are required to add the 0-credit PRAC 98A to provide a richer experience through the Career Center.
Department permission required.
OR
INDS 430 – Special Topics
You are required to complete 3 credits of INDS 410 or INDS 430
A seminar course that examines the integrative nature of interdisciplinary studies applied to a specific focus. Different instances of the course deal with fundamentally different topics that each cut across academic disciplines. Each instance of the course is usually offered for 3 credits, but the course is repeatable for a maximum of 6 credits.
In the past, INDS 430 has covered such topics as:
- Kinetic Sculpture
- Interactive Food Game Design
- Astrobiology
Department permission required.
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INDS 480 – Capstone Project Seminar
Required Course, 3 Credits
Students will develop and submit a proposal for a capstone portfolio. This portfolio will demonstrate how the student’s degree has used UMBC functional competencies to advance the students post graduation goals.
Department permission required.
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INDS 490 – Capstone Project
Required Course, 3 Credits
An independent study in which students create and edit a web portfolio that demonstrates how the student’s degree has used UMBC functional competencies to advance the students post graduation goals.
Department permission required.
Prerequisite: INDS480 with a grade of C or better.
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