PSIS-PACS Integrative Studies

PSIS 1003. Introduction to Interdisciplinary Study.3 Credit Hours.

An introductory study of the concepts and practices of interdisciplinary inquiry, writing, critical thinking and problem solving across disciplines, and techniques for solving problems and writing papers from an interdisciplinary perspective. (F, Sp, Su)

PSIS 1113. Interdisciplinary Composition I.3 Credit Hours.

First in a series of two courses that help prepare students for interdisciplinary work by emphasizing writing and the conventions of academic discourse through natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Students will employ a variety of writing strategies, study expository prose models and interpret, critique, summarize and paraphrase test. (F, Sp, Su) [I-ENGL].

PSIS 1133. Interdisciplinary Composition II.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: ENGL 1113 or PSIS 1113, or equivalent. This course completes the series of composition courses by emphasizing argument, library research, and style. Through its emphasis on thinking rhetorically, providing evidence for assertions, creative thinking, and writing as a process, this course will prepare students for argument and research-based writing in academic interdisciplinary settings. (F, Sp, Su) [I-ENGL].

PSIS 2023. Strategies for Success.3 Credit Hours.

An exploration of useful skills and strategies for academic, professional, and personal success. Topics discussed include individual learning styles, emotional intelligence, time management, goal setting, effective listening and communication, organization, creative and critical thinking, interdependence and collaboration skills, and combating self-defeating patterns of thoughts and behaviors. (F, Sp, Su)

PSIS 2033. Writing for Success.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or departmental permission. An exploration of writing skills and strategies for academic essays, personal narratives and research. Topics include the selection of a research topic, development of a writing plan, the correct way to summarize and paraphrase, and the use of the APA citation style. (F, Sp, Su)

PSIS 3003. Interdisciplinary Inquiry.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or permission from adviser. Will focus on adult learning theory and development, assessment of prior learning, development of self-directed learning skills, educational and career planning and writing of portfolios and learning contracts. Designed for the returning, adult learner. Will also focus on preparation for academic writing and argumentation. (F, Sp, Su)

PSIS 3013. Effective Communication.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or departmental permission. Students will enhance their interpersonal and professional communication skills in this course. Special attention is paid to recognizing the role of listening in communication, in addition to enhancing verbal, nonverbal, written, and presentation skills. Throughout the course, students will apply these concepts to real world situations and reflect on the impact of communication in their personal and professional lives. (F, Sp, Su)

PSIS 3053. Digital Literacy & Data Analysis.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or departmental permission. This course is designed to increase students' knowledge and application of digital and quantitative data literacy. Students will also be introduced to principles of ethical decision-making. Using applied activities and analyses, students will learn how to utilize these skills in the real world and the workplace. (F, Sp, Su)

PSIS 3071. Life Design 101.1 Credit Hour.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or departmental permission. A holistic examination of a student's life, skill set, and career aspirations. Includes assessment inventories, personal reflections, and the development of action plans. (F, Sp, Su)

PSIS 3083. Life Design: A Better You.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or departmental permission. The Transformation Triad is designed to help students find ways to introduce more balance into their lives, uncover their purpose, and use that knowledge to produce meaningful change within themselves in order to lead their best life. Students will evaluate their life on a fundamental level and create balance along with a concrete plan for what will come after graduation. (F, Sp, Su)

PSIS 3153. Foundations of Ethics in Liberal Studies.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or permission from adviser. A foundation for the scholarly research and discussion of ethics. Topics will include historical and philosophical grounding in the consideration of ethics. The course will utilize an interdisciplinary approach to the inquiry of ethics. (F, Sp, Su)

PSIS 3243. Leadership in LGBTQ Studies.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Sophomore Standing or permission from an academic advisor. An introduction to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, (LGBTQ+) and marginalized individuals based on their sexual/romantic orientation. Empirical data is utilized to holistically explore the experiences of this community as a means of understanding factors and limitations in leadership. (F, Sp, Su) [III-SS].

PSIS 3343. Challenges in a Changing World.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or permission from adviser; PSSC 1313. Conformity and deviance in societies. Topics addressed include sexual behavior, drug use and crime and violence. It also looks at social problems expressed on a broader scale, including those associated with increased problems and associated urbanization and the outbreaks of war, terrorism and international conflict arising from inequalities occurring on an international scale. (F, Sp, Su)

PSIS 3953. Critical Inquiry in Interdisciplinary Studies.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Departmental permission and approximately 70% of program core complete. This course requires students to locate, critique, and integrate literature/concepts to demonstrate their understanding of the foundational principles of interdisciplinary studies and their primary area of concentration. During the course, students will complete a series of assignments that will be used in the development of a comprehensive ePortfolio, which will be constructed and finalized in LSIS 4953. (F, Sp, Su)

PSIS 4033. Innovative Problem-Solving.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or departmental permission. This course is intended to empower students to think clearly and analytically about information and beliefs. Students will be prepared to recognize bias and common fallacies in reasoning and evaluate informational resources. An introduction to innovative thinking and creative decision-making will help position students to tackle problem-solving at the personal, academic, and career levels. (F, Sp, Su)

PSIS 4353. Mediation: History, Theory, and Practice.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: junior standing or permission from adviser. The course provides an overview of the history of mediation as well as an introduction to substantive mediation theories and models. The practice of mediation will be introduced by examining its origins in both the court and community-focused movements. Contemporary applications and trends in mediation also will be examined. (F, Sp, Su)

PSIS 4483. Calendars, Culture, and Cosmos.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or departmental permission. This course details the many ways in which contemporary timekeeping is founded upon astronomy. It explores early derivations by cultures learning to keep time by observing movements of the Moon and Sun and traces this development to contemporary timekeeping systems. The calendars of many present cultures are examined in depth. (F, Sp, Su)

PSIS 4700. Advanced Topics in Liberal Studies.1-9 Credit Hours.

1 to 9 hours. Prerequisite: junior standing or permission from adviser; PSSC 2213; may be repeated with change of content; maximum credit nine hours. Specific course content will be defined each time the course is offered. A problem-oriented approach to interdisciplinary studies. Reading and research, arranged and directed in consultation with the instructor in specified areas of liberal studies. (F, Sp, Su)

PSIS 4953. Portfolio in Interdisciplinary Studies.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: PSIS 3953 and departmental permission. The practicum course for the Interdisciplinary Studies program requires students to create a comprehensive ePortfolio, which showcases their key learnings about effective communication, digital literacy, data analysis, innovative problem-solving, and their primary area of concentration. (F, Sp, Su)

PSIS 5233. Global Challenges in Leadership.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing and LSTD 5003, or permission from graduate advisor. This course is an exploration of global leadership challenges based on individual, organizational, and multi-cultural scenarios. Issues examined include cultural diversity, the role of women in global context, social and economic disparities, development of a global mindset and global leaders, leading multinational and culturally diverse teams, and challenges of expatriate leadership. (F, Sp, Su)

PSIS 5253. Cultural Communication in Leadership.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing and LSTD 5003, or permission from graduate advisor. A critical look at the value and necessity of cross-cultural communication in human development and interdisciplinary learning for quality interpersonal relations in communities and the workplace. The course will survey major theories of cultural communication and their intersections with race, gender, sexuality, and economics and will apply these concepts to real-world scenarios. (F, Sp, Su)

PSIS 5443. Latin American Archaeoastronomy.3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing. An exploration of Mesoamerican and Latin American calendrical systems and the importance of astronomy to the design of cities and monumental structures. Surveyed sites include Chichen Itza, Teotihuacan, Tenochtitlan, and Cuzco. Emphasis is placed on the methods used to conduct archaeoastronomy research based on evidence provided by contributing academic disciplines. (F, Sp, Su)

PSIS 5980. Research for Master's Thesis.2-9 Credit Hours.

2 to 9 hours. Prerequisite: graduate standing, LSTD 5003, LSTD 5013, and completion of first concentration core course; or permission of dean. May be repeated; maximum credit six hours. Research and writing of a thesis for completion of CLS graduate degrees. (F, Sp, Su)