Designing Interdisciplinary Science/Humanities Courses: Challenges and Solutions

Abstract

Abstract Interdisciplinary teaching requires substantial effort to integrate the disciplines, especially when a wide interdisciplinary gap exists, such as when a course bridges the sciences and humanities. Creating successful science/humanities courses requires more than good intentions; it demands awareness of the challenges that faculty encounter in such courses, along with specific strategies to meet these challenges. We compile findings from theories, case studies, and instructional guides in the interdisciplinary literature, along with faculty interviews and our own teaching experience, to present seven main challenges and suggested strategies for each. Keywords: interdisciplinaryteam teachingpedagogycollaboration ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A preliminary version of these findings was presented at the National Collegiate Honors Council conference (October, 2011). Our thanks to Augustana College for supporting this research through the Carole Bland award, and to all the faculty members who generously agreed to be interviewed for this project.