Are you considering applying to WashU’s Beyond Boundaries Program?
Great, here’s what you should know!
What will I learn?
As a student in the Beyond Boundaries program you will gain skills in collaborative and interdisciplinary problem solving. We know that the challenges facing society are complex and need collaboration to tackle them. Beyond Boundaries provides training in the skills you need to engage in conversations with people from other disciplines, put together interdisciplinary teams, and work with others towards a solution.
What does the program offer?
The program is designed to support your individual interests and build your skills as an interdisciplinary practitioner.
Skill building: In the first year of the program you will participate in the Beyond Boundaries seminar where you will explore who you are as an interdisciplinary practitioner, develop skills, and participate in collaborative problem solving. After your first year, you will attend once a semester Beyond Boundaries workshops to continue to hone your skills.
In addition to the Beyond Boundaries seminar, you will take a course taught by an interdisciplinary teaching team around key areas of interest. You get the choose the Beyond Boundaries class or classes that are most exciting for you and explore that issue from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Support for your interests: Years 2-4 of the Beyond Boundaries program are designed to support your individual interests through self directed learning. At the end of the first year you will develop a plan to explore your interest. Plans include activities such as attending lectures, reading books, taking classes, meeting with experts, completing internships, studying abroad, and more. The Beyond Boundaries team will support you in your learning through one-on-one meetings and feedback on your reflections about your learning. If you choose to complete years 3 and 4 of the program, you will have the opportunity to complete an interdisciplinary capstone project with support from Beyond Boundaries faculty.
Connection to Community: The Beyond Boundaries community is a growing group of students and alumni. Through Beyond Boundaries events you will have the opportunity to connect with your cohort and the students who have come before you.
What are the resources available to support me?
Beyond Boundaries Faculty: Jenni Harpring, director of the Beyond Boundaries program and Jonathan Stitelman, the assistant director, both have a background in interdisciplinary practice and teaching, They co-teach the Beyond Boundaries seminar and are available to meet with students one on one to explore ideas and opportunities.
Beyond Boundaries Program Manager: Simone Picker is a master of all things Beyond Boundaries and can support students in navigating the program. She is always happy to welcome students to the Beyond Boundaries program and serves as the primary supervisor of student staff.
Peer Mentors: All first year students are paired with a peer mentor to support the transition to the Beyond Boundaries program.
Student Program Staff: The Beyond Boundaries program has a student staff team that support programming, events, and storytelling. This group is an excellent group to connect to for support on your interdisciplinary journey.
Beyond Boundaries Community: By becoming a Beyond Boundaries student you are part of a growing network of current students and alum who engage with the world through an interdisciplinary lens.
How do I apply?
Students apply to the program on the Common App with a supplemental essay that asks about a ‘big question’ they are interested in addressing. This big question guides their time in the program. For some students the question stays the same, for others it changes over time.
Beyond Boundaries Profile
The Beyond Boundaries Program is a 2 or 4-year academic program that prepares students for interdisciplinary practice and collaborative problem-solving. Students apply to the program with a question they want to answer or problem they are interested in solving. This question guides their time in the program. Through academic course work, self-directed interdisciplinary learning, workshops, and events students learn from experts and peers engaged in combining skills and knowledge from multiple backgrounds to address real-world problems. Students are part of a network of scholars intent on applying an interdisciplinary mindset to their work. Students begin their time at WashU in Beyond Boundaries as well as one of the undergraduate schools.
The program is divided into 2 phases, students must complete the first phase by the end of their sophomore year and have the opportunity to commit to an additional phase that extends through their senior year. A transcript notation signifies a student’s completion of each phase of the program.
- Phase 1 (first and sophomore years):
- First Year – 6 Credits
- Beyond Boundaries Seminar: designed to introduce students to collaborative problem solving and develop skills in interdisciplinary practice. (1 credit in the fall, 2 credits in the spring)
- Beyond Boundaries Courses: taught by interdisciplinary teams around a subject or practice; open to all first year students (3 credits in the fall OR spring)
- Second year
- Self-Directed Interdisciplinary Learning: students explore interdisciplinary practice and share their experiences
- Beyond Boundaries Workshops: Once a semester workshops on key skills for interdisciplinary practice
- Overall Program
- Cross Cohort programming: Social events designed to connect students across cohorts
- Coaching from the Beyond Boundaries Team
- Peer mentoring: connections between first and second year students
- First Year – 6 Credits
- Phase 2 (junior and senior years):
- Self-Directed Interdisciplinary Learning: students explore interdisciplinary practice and share their experiences
- Beyond Boundaries Workshops: Once a semester workshops on key skills for interdisciplinary practice
- Cross Cohort programming: Social events designed to connect students across cohorts
- Coaching from the Beyond Boundaries Team
- Optional capstone project