The Beyond Boundaries Program is a two or four year program that allows students to be a part of an ecosystem of interdisciplinary scholars intent on problem-solving through cross-discipline collaboration.
Pedagogical Approach
Beyond Boundaries’ curriculum and program requirements highlight the intentional educational methodology, beginning with the application essay prompt and continuing through a team-based seminar, interdisciplinary team teaching, and self-directed interdisciplinary learning.
Learning Objectives
Student’s participating in the Beyond Boundaries Program will be able to:
- Describe the value of interdisciplinary approaches to problem solving
- Apply disciplinary perspectives to interdisciplinary problem solving
- Assemble interdisciplinary teams around a problem or subject
- Design interventions/solutions based on interdisciplinary perspectives
- Facilitate and organize collaborative teams
Competencies
Participation in the program will give students the opportunity to gain important core competencies necessary for interdisciplinary thinkers. The program focuses on the following competencies:
- Depth of knowledge in one discipline or field of study
- Ability to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of multiple disciplines
- Ability to apply the approaches and tools from multiple disciplines to address a question or develop solutions
- Ability to work in a team with individuals trained in different disciplines
- Ability to communicate ideas based in one discipline or field of study to stakeholders trained in different disciplines
- Ability to communicate about interdisciplinary to general audiences
Program Completion
Students who participate in and complete the program requirements for their first two years will receive a milestone notation on their official transcript.
Program students then have the option to leave the program after year two or continue to participate for years 3 and 4. Those who complete years 3 and 4 will received an additional milestone notation on their official transcript.
The minimum GPA requirements needed to maintain eligibility for Satisfactory Academic Progress are dictated by the specific program of study. In each case, per the requirements of 34 C.F.R. 668.34(a)(4(ii), the federal student aid program requires a minimum of a C average to maintain eligibility for aid, but an individual degree or certificate program may have a higher minimum GPA for federal Satisfactory Academic Progress. Beyond Boundaries Program students are required to maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA. To be in good academic standing in the program on a semesterly basis, students are expected to complete a minimum of 12 units per semester with a minimum 2.0 semester GPA.