The Future of Interdisciplinary Studies

This issue considers the role of interdisciplinary studies within the academy, in general, and within the undergraduate curriculum, in particular. Also included are articles on the transformative power of art, a liberal education "scorecard," "inside-out" leadership, international education and Middle East development, general education metaphors, an innovative community-based research course, and Rachel Carson as an exemplar of the liberally educated citizen.

Table of Contents

President's Message

A Different Take on Excellence

By Carol Geary Schneider

From 1818 R Street NW

From the Editor

By David Tritelli

Interdisciplinary Studies at a Crossroads

By Ethan Kleinberg
Is the very success of interdisciplinary studies leading to their demise, and are they displacing and discrediting the traditional disciplines along the way?

Interdisciplinary Problem-Based Learning: An Alternative to Traditional Majors and Minors

By Robert J. Sternberg
Is it now time to think seriously about alternatives to the traditional undergraduate majors and minors that, in the large majority of cases, are focused on just a single field of inquiry?

Perspectives

The Transformative Power of Art

By Dana Gioia
There is only one social force in America potentially large and strong enough to counterbalance the profit-driven commercialization of cultural values, and that is our educational system—especially public education.

A Liberal Education Scorecard

By Michael R. Wick and Andrew T. Phillips
The scorecard is a visual tool that supports both intentionality and accountability in the design of student-centered programs of study. It can be used to guide the evolution of disciplinary experts into liberal educators.

Inside-Out Leadership

By Larry A. Braskamp and Jon F. Wergin
Until the academy reframes both the definition of academic leaders and the expectations of them, leadership roles will not attract those who are most capable of fulfilling them.

The Importance of International Education to Development in the Middle East

By Mark S. Ward
Approximately twenty thousand students, representing more than seventy nationalities and most of the world’s confessional groups, are attending classes at the four American universities in the Middle East this year. Among them are the future leaders of their societies and the world.

Previous Issues

See All

The Confounding Promise of Community: Why It Matters More Than Ever for Student Success

Winter 2019

Community engagement can be confounding. The insights, confrontations, and sobering realities... Read more
Building a New Liberal Education

Fall 2018

This issue of Liberal Education starts off looking at who and where our future students are and... Read more
Claiming the Narrative: Sharing Our Stories

Summer 2018

This issue explores approaches to claiming the narrative about the value of liberal education, with... Read more
The 2018 Annual Meeting: Can Higher Education Recapture the Elusive American Dream?

Spring 2018

Covering a wide array of topics—democratic engagement between universities and communities;... Read more
Quality, Equity, Democracy: Key Aspirations for Liberal Learning

Winter 2018

This issue explores the tenets of AAC&U’s recently released 2018–22 strategic plan—We ASPIRE:... Read more
Creating Inclusive Classrooms: Perspectives from Faculty Development

Summer/Fall 2017

This issue explores the role of faculty development in creating educational spaces that welcome... Read more
2017 Annual Meeting: Building Public Trust in the Promise of Liberal Education and Inclusive Excellence

Spring 2017

This Issue represents the theme of AAC&U's 2017 annual meeting, "Building Public Trust in the... Read more
Taking Stock of the Assessment Movement

Winter 2017

This issue examines higher education’s response to calls for greater accountability for student... Read more
Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation

Fall 2016

AAC&U has joined with more than a hundred diverse organizations and individuals as partners in... Read more
The Annual Meeting: How Higher Education Can Lead—On Equity, Inclusive Excellence, and Democratic Renewal

Summer 2016

This issue presents highlights of AAC&U’s 2016 annual meeting as well as an introductory... Read more
Liberal Education for an Inventive America

Spring 2016

At its best, a contemporary liberal education helps form students as creative, innovative,... Read more
What Happens to Quality in an Age of Disruption?

Fall/Winter 2016

At a time when technology is “disrupting” higher education and the federal government proposes “... Read more
Global Learning for All

Summer 2015

The summer 2015 issue of Liberal Education features a set of articles on “global learning,”... Read more
The LEAP Challenge

Winter/Spring 2015

This special double issue focuses on the LEAP Challenge, the next phase of AAC&U’s Liberal... Read more
Celebrating 100 Years of Leadership for Liberal Education

Fall 2014

This special anniversary issue features a look back at AAC&U's first one hundred years.
Leading Change from the Classroom

Summer 2014

This issue focuses on the leadership role individual faculty members can play as agents of... Read more
Quality, E-Quality, and Opportunity

Spring 2014

This issue presents highlights of the 2014 AAC&U annual meeting. Also included are articles on... Read more
Exploring Purpose and Vocation in College

Winter 2014

This special issue presents an overview of the Lilly Endowment's Programs for the Theological... Read more
Massive Open Online Courses

Fall 2013

The authors of this issue's featured articles take a hard look at the phenomenon of the MOOC, the... Read more
The Annual Meeting

Summer 2013

This issue features annual meeting presentations on the future of diversity, gender equity, and... Read more
What Do Employers Want from College Graduates?

Spring 2013

This issue presents the findings from a new national survey of employer priorities for college... Read more
Student Learning: What, Where, How

Winter 2013

In exploring the diversity of teaching formats and strategies that different faculty members at... Read more
Liberal Education for Sustainability

Fall 2012

This issue explores how a college or university’s commitment to sustainability can transform... Read more
Shared Futures, Difficult Choices

Summer 2012

This issue presents highlights of the 2012 AAC&U annual meeting. Also included are articles on... Read more
Diversity and Civic Learning: New Directions, New Research

Spring 2012

This issue examines underemphasized dimensions of diversity, new research about the links between... Read more
The Completion Agenda

Winter 2012

This issue presents several perspectives on the ongoing national efforts to increase college... Read more
Global Positioning: Essential Learning, Student Success, and the Currency of US Degrees

Summer/Fall 2011

This issue presents highlights of the 2011 AAC&U annual meeting, “Global Positioning: Essential... Read more
Special Issue: Civic Engagement and Psychosocial Well-Being

Spring 2011

Drawing from a national symposium convened by the Bringing Theory to Practice project, this special... Read more
Fresh Perspectives on Faculty Trends: Contingency, Diversity, and the Impact of the Recession

Winter 2011

A fresh look at several broad trends affecting the status and future of the professoriate,... Read more
Integrative Learning at Home and Abroad

Fall 2010

An in-depth look at integrative learning, including its relation to interdisciplinary studies, its... Read more
2010 Annual Meeting

Summer 2010

This issue presents highlights of the 2010 annual meeting. Also included are articles on the hidden... Read more
Liberal Education and Military Leadership

Spring 2010

Articles by educational leaders at West Point, the Air Force Academy, and the Naval Academy explore... Read more
The Humanities

Winter 2010

This issue features the changing role of the humanities in today's academy. It includes articles... Read more
A Symposium on Effective Practice

Fall 2009

Drawing from a recent public forum cosponsored by AAC&U and Clark University, this issue... Read more
The AAC&U Annual Meeting

Summer 2009

This issue represents the theme of the 2009 annual meeting, "Ready or Not: Global Challenges,... Read more
Special Issue: Liberal Education and the Disciplines

Spring 2009

Drawing from a recent initiative of the Teagle Foundation, this issue presents a series of reports... Read more
Liberal Education and Effective Practice

Winter 2009

This issue examines how the vision for college learning outlined in the 2007 report from AAC&U’... Read more
Globalization and U.S. Higher Education

Fall 2008

This issue explores the potential impact of the Bologna Process on higher education in the United... Read more
2008 Annual Meeting

Summer 2008

This issue represents the theme of AAC&U’s 2008 annual meeting, “Intentional Learning,... Read more
Science Education, Liberal Education

Spring 2008

This issue explores undergraduate science education, including a look at curricular and pedagogical... Read more
The Future of Interdisciplinary Studies

Winter 2008

This issue considers the role of interdisciplinary studies within the academy, in general, and... Read more
Faculty Leadership and Institutional Change

Fall 2007

This issue offers recommendations for strengthening faculty governance, examines campus practices... Read more
2007 Annual Meeting

Summer 2007

This issue represents the theme of AAC&U's 2007 annual meeting, "The Real Test: Liberal... Read more
Liberal Education and the "Big Questions"

Spring 2007

This issue examines how the “big questions” of meaning and purpose are explored within the context... Read more
Bringing Theory to Practice

Winter 2007

This issue provides an overview of the Bringing Theory to Practice project, an effort to advance... Read more
Faculty Work

Fall 2006

This issue foregrounds the need for a comprehensive and transformative approach to the... Read more
2006 Annual Meeting

Summer 2006

This issue represents the theme of AAC&U's 2006 annual meeting, “Demanding Excellence: Liberal... Read more
Academic Freedom

Spring 2006

Among the articles on the featured topic is an official statement from AAC&U’s board of... Read more
Leadership in the New Academy

Winter 2006

The theme of this issue of Liberal Education, "leadership in the new academy," explores issues... Read more
Educating for Personal and Social Responsibility

Summer/Fall 2005

The theme of the summer/fall issue, "educating for personal and social responsibility," explores... Read more
2005 Annual Meeting, Liberal Education and the New Academy

Spring 2005

This issue represents the theme of AAC&U's 2005 annual meeting, "Liberal Education and the New... Read more
The Future of Diversity

Winter 2005

With an eye to the future, this issue explores the present state of diversity on campus. It also... Read more
Beyond Computer Literacy

Fall 2004

This issue explores how computer technology broadens the range of experiences and resources... Read more
Cultural Studies and General Education

Summer 2004

The summer issue of Liberal Education explores the field of cultural studies and its impact on the... Read more
2004 Annual Meeting Practicing Liberal Education

Spring 2004

This issue represents the theme of AAC&U's 2004 Annual Meeting -- practicing liberal education... Read more
Looking Back, Looking Forward: 90 Years in Print

Winter 2004

The winter issue of Liberal Education celebrates ninety years of AAC&U history and publication... Read more
Realigning Faculty Roles

Fall 2003

Seen in the larger context of globalization, economic trends, and the changing academy, the nature... Read more
Cognition and Student Learning

Summer 2003

Features articles on how college students learn how to advance their intellectual and ethical... Read more
The Courage to Question: Liberal Education for the 21st Century

Spring 2003

A sampling of talks from the 2003 Annual Meeting illuminating what's happening in higher education... Read more
Taking Hold: Liberal Education Around the Globe

Winter 2003

Liberal education initiatives are proliferating around the world, along with other globalizing... Read more
Civic Engagement

Fall 2002

Presidential leaders have the opportunity to contribute the resources of their institutions to... Read more
Changing Course: Preparing Faculty for the Future

Summer 2002

A review of recent studies regarding new faculty and of graduate students aspiring to a faculty... Read more
Annual Meeting: Changing Students in a Changing World

Spring 2002

With the new millennium, the focus on public values that drive institutions and empower leaders has... Read more
Vital Signs: Voices from the Field

Winter 2002

Education creates an educated citizenry capable of the leadership essential to democracy. Liberal... Read more
Religion on Campus

Fall 2001

A qualitative analysis of religion on campus challenges prevailing assumptions about undergraduate... Read more
Expanding the Horizon of Liberal Education

Summer 2001

Liberal arts education has both economic and educational meaning, meanings often not in harmony... Read more
Degrees of Value: Technology, Markets, and the Aims of Education

Spring 2001

Technology's potential for student learning requires attention to specific standards and strategies... Read more