Courses

INTD 210
Introduction to Gender and Women’s Studies (3)
Gender and women’s studies begins with Hanisch’s premise that “the personal is political” as means of thinking about personal issues as broader political structural issues, resulting in various levels of privilege and oppression. We investigate “first wave” feminism, second wave concerns and critiques, and third wave ideologies and queer theories. We examine the constructed nature of gender and identity via historical, theoretical and cross-cultural texts to develop conscious approaches to thinking about the intersections of race, sexuality, and class. In addition, the course seeks to sharpen students’ critical awareness of how gender operates in cultural contexts and in our own lives in order to participate on social change. We read a diverse group of historical and contemporary feminist and queer writers, activists, and theorists.

INTD 301
The Gateway Seminar (3)
The required Gateway Seminar in the Interdisciplinary Studies program surveys the history of disciplines as they are studied in colleges and universities. These disciplines, psychology, religious studies, fine arts, etc., traditionally constitute what becomes a student’s major and minor degree program. From that vantage point, the Gateway Seminar then turns to study the various disciplines as they are constituted at Naropa. With this background, students then choose their INTD mentors and create their Learning Agreement, which is the template for their own program in Interdisciplinary Studies. This approach ensures that students bring an informed and educated perspective to their unique focus. Open to INTD majors only. This course is a prerequisite to INTD program of studies.

INTD 310
Feminist and Queer Methods of Inquiry (3)
Feminist and queer scholarship informs methods of information gathering and distribution. Feminist and queer scholarship challenges philosophies of science and how science has begun to address these challenges. We then examine how feminist, queer, and contemplative ways of knowing can inform the research process and explore postcolonial, diasporic, and critical race perspectives on feminist epistemology. Students take a contemplativ4e tour through diverse methods of inquiry, including but not limited to memoir, observation, participant observation, archival research and experimentation. Through personal reflection and observation of gender in the world, students create diverse work products that both bear witness to gender in the everyday world and stand in resistance to oppressive power structure.

INTD 380
Advanced INTD Research Seminar (3)
This course aims to foster INTD research methods by providing students with skills necessary for work in their chosen areas of study, through a critical comparative examination of the practices, protocols, theories and methods of disciplinary education as these have developed intellectually and institutionally over the past several centuries. In systematically comparing the methods and rhetorical strategies of different disciplines, and focusing upon the history of modern educational practices, the course develops critical thinking and research skills essential to laying a foundation for work during the subsequent thesis-writing semester. At the same time, the seminar fosters the community-building work of Interdisciplinary Studies as a contemplative forum for the discussion of broad academic issues confronting university education today.

INTD 480
The Capstone Seminar (3)
The final component of the Bachelor of Arts program, the Capstone Seminar is designed to guide students through their senior thesis, a scholarly paper with annotated bibliography, and a portfolio of course work that reflects the student's cumulative knowledge at the end of the degree program. This thesis is evaluated by two mentors from the student's chosen fields of study, as well as by the chair of Interdisciplinary Studies. Prerequisite: INTD 301. Open to INTD majors only.

INTD 490
Special Topics (3)
The Special Topics Seminar investigates the application of theories and methods of interdisciplinarity to specific historical, critical and theoretical issues and problems. Specific topics are announced each semester