Interdisciplinary+Studies

//Interdisciplinary Studies //
The idea of “Interdisciplinary Studies” exists in most North American colleges and universities. These schools offer different programs, all depending on their clientele (i.e. Jewish Studies would be offered in areas where there is a significant Jewish population, and so forth). Women and Gender Studies, a mélange of history, sociology and literature, among others, is one of the more popular interdisciplinary programs in Canadian universities of today.

While Interdisciplinary Studies are popular in the upper echelons of educational society, it can also be found and promoted at the secondary school level. In Ontario, the Ministry of Education has established a curriculum which includes Interdisciplinary Studies. The document gives broad guidelines, thus allowing much freedom to the educators to implement a program geared to their students’ and their own interests. The document acknowledges that “our world is increasingly interconnected and interdependent. Communications networks exchange information around the globe, creating new forms of collaboration and transforming the nature of work and learning, [thus allowing for] new areas of study develop to advance human knowledge and respond to the challenges of our changing world with insight and innovation”. (The Ontario Curriculum: Grades 11 & 12 – Interdisciplinary Studies, p.3).

With this document and its guidelines, educators are able to “create” their own course of study, and this, by taking overall and specific expectations from different subjects, and combining them. The Ministry of Education gives some examples within the curricular document, but leaves the door open for a variety of options. In fact, the document promotes (indirectly, of course) Arts integration, thus allowing students from all spheres to be introduced to different aspects of artistic culture, particularly Visual Arts.

 One of the few obstacles in creating an interdisciplinary course in an Ontario school is the school itself. Success of such a course lies heavily on the teacher-creator and the administration – whether or not the course is to be offered. With candid discourse and a proven interest by students, administrators may be inclined into offering such courses, especially if there is no course of similar nature already established by the Ministry.

Ontario Ministry of Education (2002) The Ontario Curriculum: Grades 11 & 12 – Interdisciplinary Studies.
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**IDC4U – Introduction to Gender Studies **
The following is a recent example of an interdisciplinary course developed by an in-service teacher.


 * Description **

 This course is an introduction to the study of Gender. Using an interdisciplinary approach, students will learn about the complexities of gender and how it evolved through time and through cultures. Students will also be encouraged to "produce" various works (visual, literary, dramatic, etc), taking into account their own perceptions of Gender.

Elements of the following courses have been incorporated into the development of the course, IDC4U - Introduction to Gender Studies:
 * AVI4M – Gender Representation in Contemporary Art//Creation component (projects relating to Art & Gender)
 * CGU4U – Cultural ideas of Gender
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">CHI4U or CHF4U - Gender in Canadian History (or Franco-Ontarian History, depending on the school)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">CHY4U – Gender History, with emphasis on the History of Woman.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">EAL4U or FLO4U – Gender Representation in Literature (Either French or English)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">EWC4U or FAE4O - Writer's Craft - Creation component (Either French or English)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">HSB4M or HHS4M - Sociological/Anthropological aspects of Gender Studies
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">LVV4U – Gender Representation in “classical culture”, including Art and Literature