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Interdisciplinary Studies
Located in Groover Hall
First Year Seminar • First Year Seminar Experiential • Great Books • Scientific Inquiry • Senior Captone
Interdisciplinary Studies, also known as IDS, serves as the hub in introducing students into the liberal arts and modeling the essence of interdisciplinarity. First Year Seminar and First Year Seminar Experiential represent the beginning bookend, and Senior Capstone is the closing bookend of the College of Liberal Arts undergraduates' education. The department office houses five interdisciplinary general education programs that provide a holistic and integrated approach to liberal education by bringing the resources of western civilization heritage and disciplines to bear on contemporary cultural issues and concerns. The programs include:
- First Year Seminar (FYS) – students learn the skills of analysis, interpretation, discussion and writing that are crucial to all the other courses of a liberal arts education. FYS encourages and enables students to value the mind, to see beyond the surface, to find their true vocation and to act responsibly and ethically. It is part of the common core for all College of Liberal Arts students.
- First Year Seminar Experiential (FYS/X) – this variation of the FYS program has an experiential component that gives students a hands-on experience, such as community service, as well as a wilderness ropes-course exercise.
- Great Books – students study and discuss the writings of the classic writers and thinkers of western civilization, providing them a solid foundation for basing judgments and making decisions.
- Scientific Inquiry – this program provides a general introduction to science by drawing from the natural, behavioral and social science, helping students gain skills in the practice of the methodology of science and improve their critical thinking skills.
- Senior Captone (SCP) – these interdisciplinary seminars focus on significant questions and issues not regularly explored elsewhere in the curriculum. Seniors for different majors come together to share and compare their perspectives and expertise. Spiritual and ethical values are explored, as well as intellectual ones.
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Interdisciplinary Studies Faculty and Staff
Mary Ann Drake, Ph.D.
Professor M.A. in Human Development, Pacific Oaks College; M.A. in Liberal Studies, St. Johns, Santa Fe; Ph.D. in Psychology, The Fielding Institute drake_ma@mercer.edu(478) 301-5616
Douglas Thompson, Ph.D. Assistant Professor B.A., Dominion University; M.Div., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Ph.D., University of Virginia Thompson_d@mercer.edu(478) 301-2017
Randall Harshbarger, J.D.
Assistant Professor BA, Dartmouth College; J.D., Columbia University Harshbarge_r@mercer.edu(478) 301-5460
Faculty News
Dr. Mary Ann Drake, professor and chair of interdisciplinary studies, and Dr. Doug Thompson, professor of interdisciplinary studies, visited Oxford, England, Oct. 7-11. The purpose of the site visit was to establish a new summer study abroad program for the Honors Program. The new study abroad program focuses on the ideas of calling to care and engaging the other. This program will be offered in partnership with Mercer’s long-standing partner, The Oxford Overseas Study Course, which is directed by Dr. Francis Warner, Dean of Degrees, St. Peter’s College. The study abroad program will be offered in the second summer session of 2007.
Dr. Mary Alice Morgan, professor of English, and Dr. Mary Ann Drake, professor of interdisciplinary studies, were awarded a grant from the Gannett Foundation to purchase two laptops for use in classes to advance digital story work with students and in the community.
Dr. Doug Thompson, assistant professor of interdisciplinary studies and southern studies, and Dr. Wil Platt, professor emeritus of history, edited a collection of sermons preached during University Worship from 2001 to 2005. The volume contains an introduction and history of worship/chapel. Other CLA faculty whose sermons are included in the book are Dee Bratcher, Rick Wilson, Bryan Whitfield, John Dunaway, Paul Lewis, Richard Fallis, Darlene Flaming, Janell Johnson, Scott Nash, Mary Alice Morgan, Frank Macke and Anya Silver. The volume is available through Mercer University Press.
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