The Interdisciplinary Self-Designed Program is a customizable graduate program designed primarily for working adults. Though students typically take courses in a wide variety of fields, there are common intellectual goals for all students. The skills that contribute to these goals are introduced and assessed in the Core or equivalent courses, developed in the electives and demonstrated in the student's program culminating project, either the thesis/integrating project or an alternative. Students may use these goals as a way of understanding the rationale behind the design of the program. They may also think of them as guideposts or rubrics for self-evaluation over their course of study. Specifically, students who entered the Program after Summer 2008, will use these goals in the self-evaluation exercise of the Midpoint Essay and the Culminating Point Essay. Even students who entered the program before the requirement was instituted will find these goals useful in thinking about their academic progress. Faculty will also use them to evaluate an individual student's intellectual growth in the capstone.
Students in the program are also asked to review these goals when formulating the Statement of Academic Purpose, and to incorporate the goals that apply to their individual degree plans. Applicants are required to include at least two of the below Learning Goals in the learning goals enumerated in his or her Statement of Academic Purpose.
LEARNING GOALS AND OUTCOMES
- Students will demonstrate multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary approaches in research and writing in their capstones or other major writing projects.
- Students will be able to use their knowledge of the methods and approaches of at least one particular academic or professional discipline to complete academic writing projects.
- Students will be able to analyze and interpret discourse and media in a variety of academic, literary, professional and popular genres.
- Students will be able to research and write in a variety of academic and/or professional genres, including expository essays, critical analysis, research papers, white papers, etc., culminating in an extended capstone, analyzing and incorporating a variety of academic and technical resources in appropriate scholarly and professional formats.
- Students will be able to analyze the social and/or historical context of phenomena and value systems in social and institutional settings.
- Students will demonstrate multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary approaches in research and writing in their capstones or other major writing projects.
- Students will be able to use their knowledge of the methods and approaches of at least one particular academic or professional discipline to complete academic writing projects.
- Students will be able to analyze and interpret discourse and media in a variety of academic, literary, professional and popular genres.
- Students will be able to research and write in a variety of academic and/or professional genres, including expository essays, critical analysis, research papers, white papers, etc., culminating in an extended capstone, analyzing and incorporating a variety of academic and technical resources in appropriate scholarly and professional formats.
- Students will be able to analyze the social and/or historical context of phenomena and value systems in social and institutional settings.
- Students will demonstrate multi-disciplinary and/or inter-disciplinary approaches in research and writing in their capstones or other major writing projects.
- Students will be able to use their knowledge of the methods and approaches of at least one particular academic or professional discipline to complete academic or technical writing projects.
- Students will be able to analyze and interpret discourse and media in a variety of academic, literary, professional and popular genres.
- Students will be able to research and write in a variety of academic and/or professional genres, including expository essays, critical analysis, research papers, white papers, etc., culminating in an extended capstone, analyzing and incorporating a variety of academic and technical resources in appropriate scholarly and professional formats.
- Students will be able to analyze value systems in social, professional and institutional settings.
UNIQUE FEATURES
Simplified Application Process: an uncomplicated application process that can be completed in a few weeks’ time.
Year-round admission: The program admits students on a rolling basis.
Convenient class times: Classes meet in the evening once each week and are available on both DePaul’s Loop and Lincoln Park Campuses.
Tuition scholarships:Partial tuition scholarships are available for qualified students.
Personal advising at every stage, from admission to graduation.
Workshops that assist returning students with graduate level writing and library research.
Parking facilities close to classrooms.
Faculty who are selected by the director for their excellence in teaching and their interest in adult learners.
Small classes, especially in the core or equivalent courses, to encourage discussion and exchange of ideas.