This research assesses how interdisciplinary pedagogical interventions can prepare students to tackle complex problems, such as the refugee and migrant crisis. The co-authors created a six-week interdisciplinary module, introducing students to refugee and migrant rights, experiences, and challenges from two disciplinary pedagogical and substantive…

The emerging field of social entrepreneurship seeks to address social challenges in environments where traditional public sector institutions are weak or absent. With its explicit focus on solving problems, social entrepreneurship is inherently interdisciplinary. A well-designed undergraduate course in social entrepreneurship can enhance…

In the effort to create a multiculturally sensitive citizenry, addressing issues of immigration is critical in today's schools and society. Mathematics and social studies are subjects sensitive to the cultural and population shifts of society. Since STEM subjects and skills are what drive the 21st century classroom today, it is important that…

Employers increasingly desire new graduates to work across boundaries, in teams, and with developed soft skills, especially in public affairs. Likewise, students increasingly seek academic experiences for learning, practicing, and honing transferable, competency-based skills. This suggests instructors should explore alternative pedagogy engaging…

Purpose: Over the past few decades, universities have been recognized as ideal leaders for the development of policies and innovative solutions required to support the transition to sustainable societies. As a major stakeholder group, students play a significant role in moving this agenda forward; however, their actions remain understudied in the…

The University Studies program at Indiana State University, Terre Haute, is described with regard to program objectives, staffing, admissions, advisement, requirements, and enrollment. The program offers an alternative to meeting general education requirements. While it focuses on contemporary issues of value and choice, it is suitable for all…

Concern with the complexity of social problems and of public policy designed to cope with them has led to the identification of an interdisciplinary focus called the policy sciences. The concept includes both governmental and non-governmental decisions. The social sciences have provided structure with new methods such as operations research,…

The first and central issue in children's services is the extent to which government may limit or supplant parental action in the control, nurture, and direction of children. Three major governmental approaches include prohibiting behavior; prescribing behavior; and taking direct protective action. There are two legal issues related to prevention…

Provides background information and related learning activities for three areas of inquiry involving youth and violence: (1) "Evolution of the Juvenile Justice System"; (2) "The Literature of Crime and Poverty"; (3) "Youth Crime and Public Policy." Includes a list of six recommended Web sites. (MJP)

This paper delineates a process of rational decision-making and social action. To make a rational decision, the social actor must use concepts, generalizations and theories from the social sciences, knowledge which has high predictive value, and knowledge which constitutes the structures of the social science disciplines. He must also identify,…

The value, significance, and social utility of basic research in the behavioral and social sciences are examined. Following an introduction in chapter 1, there are 4 major chapters. Chapter 2 discusses how the research terrain has been divided among the disciplines of psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, geography,…

The purpose of this conference, held in February, 1969, was to examine the desirability and feasibility of focusing national problems more on the family, with the assumption that more concern with the family in planning and implementing national programs would help to: 1) avoid inadvertent damage to families; and 2) use the properties of the…

Presents 11 interdisciplinary projects that can be used as part of a unit of study on the Great Depression. The projects incorporate various styles of learning and disciplines, including art, music, mathematics, literature, and history. The projects include debates, dramatizations, creating newspapers, and collecting oral histories. (MJP)

The "ISSS Annual Conference Proceedings" is a peer-reviewed professional publication published once a year following the annual conference. (Individual papers contain references.) [For the 2009 proceedings, see ED504973.]