Bridging Bridging Disciplines Disciplines ProgramsPrograms

Spring 2012Spring 2012

BDP Team Christine AndersonChristine Anderson, Associate Academic Advisor: , Associate Academic Advisor:

Cultural Studies, Film Studies, Global Studies, Human Cultural Studies, Film Studies, Global Studies, Human Rights & Social Justice, Social Inequality, Health & Policy; Rights & Social Justice, Social Inequality, Health & Policy; internship contactinternship contact

Lauren CampbellLauren Campbell, Academic Advising Coordinator: , Academic Advising Coordinator: communication, recruitment, faculty contact, communication, recruitment, faculty contact, assessmentassessment

Jeanette HermanJeanette Herman, Assistant Dean for Academic , Assistant Dean for Academic Initiatives and Director, Bridging Disciplines ProgramsInitiatives and Director, Bridging Disciplines Programs

Erin ThomasErin Thomas, Associate Academic Advisor: , Associate Academic Advisor: Children & Children & Society, Conflict Resolution & Peace Studies, Ethics & Society, Conflict Resolution & Peace Studies, Ethics & Leadership, Innovation, Creativity & Entrepreneurship; Leadership, Innovation, Creativity & Entrepreneurship; BDP Student Advisory Council, newsletter, alumni BDP Student Advisory Council, newsletter, alumni developmentdevelopment

Rose MastrangeloRose Mastrangelo, Associate Academic Advisor & , Associate Academic Advisor & Archer Center CoordinatorArcher Center Coordinator: : Digital Arts & Media, Digital Arts & Media, Environment, Social Entrepreneurship & Non-profitsEnvironment, Social Entrepreneurship & Non-profits

Katie MattesonKatie Matteson, Administrative Associate: Keeps it all , Administrative Associate: Keeps it all going!going!

Bridging Disciplines Programs

Allows students to individualize their Allows students to individualize their education education

19 hours of coursework and research 19 hours of coursework and research and/or internship experiencesand/or internship experiences

Transcript-recognized certificateTranscript-recognized certificate

11 different concentrations11 different concentrations

Open to all students in all majorsOpen to all students in all majors

Started in 2002Started in 2002

Program within School of Undergraduate Program within School of Undergraduate StudiesStudies

Bridging Disciplines ProgramsInterdisciplinary Certificates

Children & SocietyChildren & Society

Conflict Resolution & Peace StudiesConflict Resolution & Peace Studies

Cultural StudiesCultural Studies

Digital Arts & MediaDigital Arts & Media

EnvironmentEnvironment

Ethics & LeadershipEthics & Leadership

Film Studies (no longer accepting new students)Film Studies (no longer accepting new students)

Global StudiesGlobal Studies

Human Rights & Social JusticeHuman Rights & Social Justice

Innovation, Creativity & Entrepreneurship Innovation, Creativity & Entrepreneurship

Social Entrepreneurship & Non-profitsSocial Entrepreneurship & Non-profits

Social Inequality, Health & PolicySocial Inequality, Health & Policy

Eligibility Requirements

Environmental Sciences Environmental Sciences majors CANNOT majors CANNOT pursue Environment BDPpursue Environment BDP

International Relations & Global Studies International Relations & Global Studies Majors CANNOT pursue Global Studies BDPMajors CANNOT pursue Global Studies BDP

Public HealthPublic Health majors CANNOT pursue PH majors CANNOT pursue PH strand in Social Inequality, Health & Policystrand in Social Inequality, Health & Policy

Minimum of 2 semesters Minimum of 2 semesters remaining at UT to remaining at UT to apply apply

Bridging Disciplines Programs

Breakdown of Requirements

Coursework: Foundation Courses

Foundation CoursesFoundation CoursesBDP 101: Forum Seminar:BDP 101: Forum Seminar:

One hour introduction to the interdisciplinary One hour introduction to the interdisciplinary study of BDP topicstudy of BDP topic

Available to any 1Available to any 1stst or 2 or 2ndnd year OR any BDP year OR any BDP studentstudent

Usually offered one time a year for each BDP Usually offered one time a year for each BDP topictopic

Other foundation courses vary by BDPOther foundation courses vary by BDP

Coursework: Courses in a Strand

What is a strand? What is a strand?

Six of the BDPs require that a strand, or focus:Six of the BDPs require that a strand, or focus:

Children & SocietyChildren & Society Global StudiesGlobal Studies

Cultural StudiesCultural Studies Social Inequality, Health & PolicySocial Inequality, Health & Policy

Ethics & LeadershipEthics & Leadership Social Entrepreneurship & Social Entrepreneurship & Non-profitsNon-profits

For These BDPs, no strand is needed:For These BDPs, no strand is needed:

Digital Arts & MediaDigital Arts & Media

EnvironmentEnvironment

These BDPs have special strand requirements as outlined These BDPs have special strand requirements as outlined on their respective curriculum sheets:on their respective curriculum sheets:

Conflict Resolution & Peace StudiesConflict Resolution & Peace Studies

Human Rights & Social JusticeHuman Rights & Social Justice

Innovation, Creativity & Entrepreneurship Innovation, Creativity & Entrepreneurship

Connecting ExperiencesTypes of experiencesTypes of experiences•InternshipsInternships•Independent researchIndependent research•Research assistant to faculty memberResearch assistant to faculty member•Independent Creative Project for Digital Arts & MediaIndependent Creative Project for Digital Arts & Media

Other important information about experiencesOther important information about experiences•Most BDPs require 6-9 hours of Connecting ExperiencesMost BDPs require 6-9 hours of Connecting Experiences•Provides hands-on, real world experience related to BDP topicProvides hands-on, real world experience related to BDP topic•Each CE usually completed in one semesterEach CE usually completed in one semester•Students are enrolled in and earn 3 credit hours for each Students are enrolled in and earn 3 credit hours for each

experience (we have BDP credit available)experience (we have BDP credit available)•Experiences can happen almost anywhere- in Austin, the Experiences can happen almost anywhere- in Austin, the

U.S., abroad– think Archer Program, UT in LA, thesisU.S., abroad– think Archer Program, UT in LA, thesis•Gives students an opportunity to work with a faculty mentorGives students an opportunity to work with a faculty mentor•Students must propose each CE and receive approvalStudents must propose each CE and receive approval•Scholarships are availableScholarships are available

Applying to the BDPsPart I: EssayPart I: Essay Application formApplication form

2-3 page essay about intellectual interest in specific 2-3 page essay about intellectual interest in specific

BDPBDP

See application essay guidelinesSee application essay guidelines

Part II: Applicant AppointmentPart II: Applicant AppointmentApplicant Appointment: Meet with specific BDP advisor Applicant Appointment: Meet with specific BDP advisor

once application is receivedonce application is received

Create an individual coursework and connecting Create an individual coursework and connecting

experience plan to go with your essay and application experience plan to go with your essay and application

cover sheetcover sheet

March 8 DeadlineMarch 8 Deadline

BDP FAQsNo quota on acceptancesNo quota on acceptances

GPA only part of the applicant profileGPA only part of the applicant profile

Faculty panelists make decisions during Faculty panelists make decisions during finals weekfinals week

Students notified in December or MayStudents notified in December or May

Must reapply to switch BDPsMust reapply to switch BDPs

Can be in more than 1 BDPCan be in more than 1 BDP

Usually only 1 course from MAJOR can Usually only 1 course from MAJOR can count in a strand count in a strand

Students have 1 year after graduating to Students have 1 year after graduating to complete certificate requirements. complete certificate requirements.

Feedback from BDP AlumniFeedback from BDP AlumniWhat did you value most about your BDP What did you value most about your BDP experience?experience?

““I felt I had ownership of my education by being able I felt I had ownership of my education by being able to create my own academic plan. I wasn’t to create my own academic plan. I wasn’t constrained by the discipline of my degree plan. I constrained by the discipline of my degree plan. I learned to combine aspects of different disciplines to learned to combine aspects of different disciplines to create an education that was unique and my own.”create an education that was unique and my own.”

“ “I appreciated that I could diversify my knowledge in I appreciated that I could diversify my knowledge in my subject area rather than specializing and only my subject area rather than specializing and only experiencing one department’s vision.” experiencing one department’s vision.”

““The connecting experiences--I gained hands-on The connecting experiences--I gained hands-on experiences, worked with professors, developed experiences, worked with professors, developed communication skills in the workforce, traveled, and communication skills in the workforce, traveled, and learned how to multi-task.”learned how to multi-task.”