A New Model for Training Graduate Students to Conduct Interdisciplinary, Interorganizational, and International Research

Examining Undergraduate Student Attitude towards Interdisciplinary Education

“…To accomplish this mission, solutions to socio-environmental problems require input from professionals throughout multiple disciplines (Schmidt et al, 2012). A major societal demand is to keep pace with population growth, and produce more food in the next 50 years than has been produced in the past 10,000 years combined (UN Conference on Sustainable Development, 2007).…”

“…Interdisciplinary learning experiences focus on bridging research and policy, exploring problems, and developing solutions to take action to solve those local and global socioenvironmental issues (Schmidt et al, 2012). Perhaps undergraduate interdisciplinary programs can be developed as a method to redesign the college experience through teamwork, multidisciplinary studies, and entrepreneurial thinking practices.…”

“…The need for interdisciplinary education in academia is beginning to gain momentum, most notably at the graduate level (Morse, Nielsen-Pincus, Force, & Wulfhorst, 2007;National Academy of Sciences et al, 2005;Schmidt et al 2012). As the need for future leaders to solve complex problems continues to grow, interdisciplinary approaches to train those leaders to be proficient in collective thinking and cross-disciplinary communication is necessary (Schmidt et al, 2012).…”

“…As the need for future leaders to solve complex problems continues to grow, interdisciplinary approaches to train those leaders to be proficient in collective thinking and cross-disciplinary communication is necessary (Schmidt et al, 2012). Research efforts from professionals in multiple disciplines should be integrated to become aware of the complex, socio-environmental problems currently needing attention (Morse et al, 2007;NRC, 2009).…”

“…A review of the literature reveals much of the current research on interdisciplinary education focuses on research teams at the graduate level (Morse et al, 2007;National Academy of Sciences et al, 2005;Schmidt et al, 2012). Given the need to produce a workforce prepared to be successful in the 21 st century, interdisciplinary programs at the undergraduate level may provide a solution to help bridge the gap to provide the necessary teamwork, problem solving, communication, and critical thinking skills current industry leaders report lacking in recent college graduates (Carnevale, Smith, & Melton, 2011).…”