IST 585 Introduction to Graduate Integrative Studies

Introduction to Graduate Integrative Studies introduces students to graduate level work in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary areas of study that are integrative by nature.

In this course students think deeply and theoretically about knowledge--its acquisition, distribution, organization, and evaluation; identify and articulate the problem and research agenda that will inform the student’s work in the MAIS graduate program; prepare for graduate level interdisciplinary research and scholarship; and begin the graduate portfolio for MAIS.

Successful students are prepared to integrate different disciplinary or professional insights and perspectives at the graduate level with continued focus on a specific problem or issue.

Integrative Thinking

• • Students in IST 585 plan and produce an informed scholarly work that addresses a specific problem in a scholarly or applied field.

Critical Thinking

• • Students in IST 585 defend a thesis or proposed solution with informed arguments and that address conflicting conclusions from other experts.

Communication

• • Students in IST 585 produce writing that is sensitive to the expert audiences both inside and outside the academy, and that recognizes the state of the art in specific relevant fields.

Information Literacy

• Students in IST 585 generate relevant and reliable information from scholarly sources and use that information properly in an interdisciplinary project.

All students will create a portfolio of their work. The portfolio will include at least the following.

• Welcome to My Portfolio

This is the opening page to the portfolio. Introduce the reader briefly to yourself and your work. A short paragraph is all that is needed since you are also including pages that go into more detail.

• Resume

Include your resume. Highlight your experiences at NKU. Help potential employers understand the nature and value of a degree in Integrative Studies. Mention the projects and experiences you are most proud of.

• Intellectual Autobiography (IST 585, updated in IST 793)

Include a brief autobiographical essay describing your intellectual journey to the MAIS program.

• Prospectus for the IST 585 Project (IST 585)

The development of and research for an interdisciplinary thesis or hypothesis centered on the disciplines on which you are focused in the project for this course.

• Annotated Bibliography (IST 585)

Submit an annotated bibliography of at least six entries, three of which you will annotate.

• Research Project for IST 585 (IST 585)

Your  research project will demonstrate that you can integrate perspectives, methods and insights from different disciplines. Includes properly formatted bibliography.