Useful LINKS

Cluster FAQs

Thematic Transdisciplinary Cluster Course Inclusion Forms

Thematic Transdisciplinary Cluster Cover Form

Thematic Transdisciplinary Cluster Theme Application

Guidelines for creating Cluster SLOs

Courses available for inclusion in Clusters

Courses available for possible inclusion in Clusters

Transdisciplinary Clusters

Thematic Transdisciplinary Clusters are groups of thematic-related courses (at least three) that span academic disciplines. The purpose of Clusters is to foster in students the ability to recognize multiple viewpoints and to understand that problem solutions often depend on successfully recognizing and integrating those varied viewpoints.

Each three-course Cluster will explore an idea from three different perspectives and will provide students with the opportunity to integrate methods and information from different disciplines.

Developing Clusters: A two-step process

Step One: Propose

1. One or more faculty members recognize that several courses across departments have common themes (e.g., Evolution, Ethical Perspectives, Jazz Age, Climate Change, Cognitive Science). There can be an unlimited number of courses in any one Cluster; students are required to take only three.
2. These faculty then contact the faculty members in the other departments and discuss whether a Thematic Transdisciplinary Cluster is appropriate and what the rationale behind the cluster would be.
3. In collaboration, the faculty members create Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) from guidelines provided by the USAC [appended] that would be shared by the courses in the Cluster. (Of course, each of the courses may also have SLOs that are not shared.)
4. Together, the faculty members complete a Thematic Transdisciplinary Cluster Cover Form and Transdisciplinary Cluster Theme Application which lists:
   • the rationale behind the Cluster theme;
   • the common SLOs, derived from above-mentioned guidelines that all courses in the Cluster share;
   • a list of courses that could be included; and
   • the approval of the the departmental chair for the department initializing the application.
5. The University Studies Advisory Committee receives, evaluates, and approves the proposed Cluster themes or returns applications for revision.

Step Two: Populate

Once a Cluster Theme is created, faculty will submit single course proposals, via their departmental chairs, using a Cluster-specific submission mechanism, the Thematic Transdisciplinary Cluster Course Inclusion Form. If other Faculty members identify a course that might be appropriate for inclusion in a Cluster, including courses in the Common Requirements Components of University Studies (i.e. Capstone, Information Literacy, Writing Intensive, Quantitative and Logical Reasoning) or in the major, they may also submit a Cluster Inclusion Form. A properly completed form lists:

1. the rationale behind why the course should be included in the Cluster;
2. how the Cluster SLOs are addressed in the course;
3. a sample syllabus for the course which explicitly illustrates the course SLOs and highlights the common SLOs; and
4. an application signed by the respective Department Chair.

The Inclusion Form may then be submitted to the University Studies Advisory Committee for evaluation and approval.