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Interdisciplinary Signature Areas

A key component of the strategic plan for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is a set of seven interdisciplinary signature areas.  These cutting edge initiatives are based on proposals prepared by faculty from across the college and university, and approved by faculty, staff, students, and administrators in the college.  They reflect a major development in higher education to engage in research and teaching about contemporary topics by incorporating perspectives from multiple disciplines.  This interdisciplinary approach differs from traditional scholarship which involves a single field of inquiry by seeking to integrate knowledge from related areas of study. 

The CLAS Signature Areas are (in alphabetical order):

Click the links here for a short description in the page below. Links at the left provide more in-depth information on those areas where web sites have been developed.

Each signature area focuses explicitly on making connections across various disciplines to address local and global issues.  Combined, they include most of the academic units of the college, and they encompass diverse teaching, research, and outreach activities.

Center for Public Humanities

This Center is based in the belief that the public mission of the humanities disciplines (Literature, History, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Art History, Musicology, etc.) is to enrich public discussions about art, the historical past, and the diverse cultures of the world. Scholars can only accomplish this mission by forging connections with groups and institutions outside the university walls. Our planned activities include lectures to audiences at an international art center (The Laboratory of Art and Ideas), book publishing ventures, and workshops in digital storytelling. The work that we sponsor will help to establish the university as — in the words of the Academic Master Plan— "an indispensable partner and valuable problem-solver in the external community."

Center for Public Humanities Web Site »

Environome Science

The environome is the companion to the genome, and refers to the social/environmental factors that interact with underlying genetic makeup to affect health. It encompasses the majority of disease and health problems, because very few diseases result solely from genetic factors alone. For example, the environome includes the growing prevalence of low-cost, energy-rich food that has increased the probability that people with genes predisposing them to obesity will, in fact, become obese. Faculty in this program will work to identify the key aspects of the environome, and teach undergraduates and graduate students the concepts and methods they need to contribute to this work.

Environome Science Web Site »

Geospatial Technologies

The Geospatial Technologies Signature Area provides the opportunity to expand already established activities in CLAS with the potential to become regionally and nationally recognized. Geographic technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing (RS), and global positioning systems (GPS), are increasingly utilized to study spatial relationships in a wide variety of application areas. These resources enable faculty and students to collaborate across departments and colleges/schools, and to link with the Colorado and international communities. The overarching purpose of this signature area is to promote spatial thinking throughout CLAS by building the capacity of geo-spatial technologies for supporting undergraduate and graduate education, as well as student and faculty research.

Geo-spatial Technologies Web Site »

Innovative Learning Research

This initiative combines two proposals for signature areas: Science and Mathematics Education, and T.R.U.E. Learning: A Model for Teaching through Research in Undergraduate Education. The primary goals of this initiative are to promote and elevate undergraduate research by supporting student engagement in faculty-mentored multidisciplinary research and to “enhance learning for undergraduates pursuing science-based careers, enlighten citizens seeking to understand our complex, technology-driven world, and educate teachers who will engage all of our children.” 

T.R.U.E. Original Planning Proposal (PDF) »
Science & Mathematics Eduation Original Planning Proposal (PDF) »

Social Justice, Civic Engagement and Critical Consumption

This is an interdisciplinary theme through which students can acquire the intellectual tools and moral commitment to participate effectively and responsibly in the world. The new curricular focus involves a freshman seminar, first-year learning community, undergraduate minor and Master's level certificate program as well as faculty colloquia to stimulate collaborative research among faculty. "Critical consumption" refers to the challenge of reflection upon and critique of the myriad of ideas, images, and goods that compete for our attention. Achieving social justice involves the creation a global society where everyone is granted the same human rights and access to public resources. Civic engagement "means working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities." Twenty-first century students need global perspectives on citizenship that are informed by and can contribute to processes of civic engagement in all parts of the world.

Social Justice, Civic Engagement, and Critical Consumption Web Site »

Sustainability

Sustainability is a widely used concept applied to "development", "livelihoods", "farming", and a host of other issues. Questions of sustainability are currently among the most important facing humankind and are receiving tremendous attention in the media, in government, and in international planning circles. Because issues of sustainability do not arise from single causes, nor can solutions be developed within narrow disciplinary frameworks, a multidisciplinary perspective is necessary to evaluate and understand the problems, and identify and implement solutions.

Sustainability Web Site »

Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS)

The Signature Area in WGSS is planned to enhance three areas of development:

  1. To provide a resource for faculty interested in gender-related scholarship and spur interdisciplinary and cross-campus collaboration.
  2. To address student demand for coordinated gender-related courses and a more visible minor. Students have already signaled their interest by creating a student group devoted to gender issues (GISA).
  3. To further the college's commitment to a broad definition of diversity and inclusion.

WGSS Original Proposal (PDF) »