Curriculum
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| Introduction to College Writing | 4 | Research Writing | 4 | ||
| IN100 course (First Year Seminar) | 4 | Fundamentals of Speech Communication | 4 | ||
| MI190: Ways of Knowing | 4 | Liberal Arts course | 4 | ||
| Liberal Arts course | 4 | Liberal Arts course | 4 | ||
| Sophomore Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| MI290: Sophomore Seminar | 4 | Liberal Arts Course | 4 | ||
| Liberal Arts course | 4 | Major related course* | 4 | ||
| Major related course* | 4 | Liberal Arts course | 4 | ||
| Elective course | 4 | Elective course | 4 | ||
| Junior Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| Major related course* | 4 | MI390: Junior Seminar | 4 | ||
| Major related course* | 4 | Major related course* | 4 | ||
| Major related course* | 4 | Elective course | 4 | ||
| Elective course | 4 | Elective course | 4 | ||
| Senior Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| MI490: Capstone Seminar | 4 | MI490: Capstone Seminar | 4 | ||
| MI490 or Major related course | 4 | MI490 or Major related course | 4 | ||
| Elective course | 4 | Elective course | 4 | ||
| Elective course | 4 | Elective course | 4 | ||
* Major related courses are selected by the student as part of the Academic Plan
Core Curriculum
MI190 Ways of Knowing (4 credits)
Course Description: Shaped by student interests, this course aims to foster self-direction, agency, and community-building. Through the introduction and modeling of interdisciplinary modes of inquiry, students address questions across selected disciplines. Students learn how to pursue a genuine question and evaluate evidence in the liberal arts through individualized, as well as collaborative, inquiry-based learning. Students will work to develop, research, and communicate answers to the emergent questions both individually and collaboratively.
MI290 Sophomore Seminar: Project-Based Learning (4 credits)
Course Description: This course is intended to introduce project-based learning. Course materials will focus on a set of key problems and their relationship to each student’s proposed courses and curricular focus. Emphasis will be placed on the benefits of working across and between disciplines in order to generate and pursue a research question and develop critical reflection skills. The course guides students in the multi-step process of completing a sustained project. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing and completion of MI190.
MI390 Junior Seminar: Theories, Sources, and Methods (4 credits)
Course Description: Responding to students’ topical and disciplinary interests, this seminar supports juniors in developing skills and gaining familiarity with bodies of knowledge needed to work at an advanced undergraduate level in one or more related fields. Students will identify a methodological approach for capstone work and articulate why this method is appropriate to their aims. They will learn to navigate key terms, theories, and debates related to questions and problems they plan to explore in capstone work. Students will also consider audiences and applications for their work both within and beyond the academic context as they lay a strong foundation for independent interdisciplinary work. Prerequisites: Junior standing and completion of MI290.
MI490 Senior Seminar: Capstone in Interdisciplinary Studies (8-16 credits)
Course Description: Advanced work toward completion of the interdisciplinary capstone project(s). This seminar involves students reviewing each other’s work and collaboration on their research and creative processes. It supports students as they work with readers/viewers and content in their chosen fields. In the Spring, each student’s capstone project(s) is (are) evaluated in an oral examination by a committee including an external examiner. This determines the student’s grade for all MI490 credits. Prerequisites: Senior standing and completion of MI390. May be repeated for credit, with a minimum of 8 credits and a maximum of 16 credits spread over one year.
MI299 Marlboro Institute Capstone Co-Curricular (1 non-tuition credit)
Undergraduates of all levels will participate and assist in the senior capstone work of Marlboro Institute seniors. Students will get to see first-hand the process of preparing and completing a substantial project, which will be of particular benefit to students in the IDS program. There are numerous ways a student might be involved, from data collection in the social sciences, to participating in performing arts shows to assisting with visual art installations. All students will help peer-review at least one capstone essay, as well as discuss peer-review methods and ways of giving useful feedback. At the end of the semester, students will help organize senior presentations for the community as well as graduation celebrations.
