Interdisciplinary Studies in Liberal Arts (ISLA)

Introductory exploration of science, technology, and society relationships from interdisciplinary perspectives in the arts, communications, humanities, and social sciences. Topic areas include ethics and public policy; gender, race and culture; media arts and society; science and risk communication. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 4 lectures.

Focus on methods, concepts and skills in the Interdisciplinary Studies major, and on career and graduate school opportunities. Refinement of individualized plan of study to reflect professional, educational, and personal goals. 4 lectures.

The intimate connection between the desire for artistic expression and current technologies that can assist that expression. Examination of technologies for theater, sound, cinema, gaming, and embodied media. Guest speakers with expertise. 4 lectures.

Introduces students to interdisciplinary research and how interdisciplinarity integrates with disciplinary methods and theories. Course content develops integrated foundational knowledge and perspective for conducting original interdisciplinary research in higher level courses. Preparation for ISLA 355, senior project, and senior portfolio. 4 lectures.

Humanistic investigation into the theoretical and practical applications of technology with specific reference to the social effects of technological change. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. For all majors. Non-technical. 4 lectures. Crosslisted as HNRS 304/ISLA 303. Fulfills GE Upper-Division C (GE Area C4 for students on the 2019-20 or earlier catalogs).

Exploration of contemporary issues in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), with an emphasis on public engagements with STEM research and teaching cultures. The Class Schedule will list topic selected. Total credit limited to 8 units. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 4 lectures. Fulfills GE Area Upper-Division B (GE Areas B5, B6, or B7 for students on the 2019-20 catalog).

Selective examination of the historical and cultural legacy of London within the development of Western civilization as well as its influence on the submission and eventual emergence of the non-Western world in the twentieth century. An analytical and interpretive study of how London shaped the social, economic, political and legal institutions of Western society. 4 lectures. Fulfills GE Upper-Division D (GE Area D5 for students on the 2019-20 or earlier catalogs).

Analytical and interpretive survey of the principal center of the English speaking world. The development of London from Roman administrative capital to modern cultural, financial and political colossus. Credit/No Credit grading only. 2 activities.

The interplay of values, media, and culture from an interdisciplinary perspective. Descriptive subtitles assigned to each course. The Class Schedule will list topic selected. 4 lectures. Total credit limited to 8 units with different subtopic; repeatable in same term. Crosslisted as HNRS/ISLA 320. Fulfills GE Upper-Division C (GE Area C4 for students on the 2019-20 or earlier catalogs).

Scientific investigation of the natural features of the Cal Poly landscape and their transformations by land management technology. Environmental, economic, social, and political effects of agriculture, resource extraction, construction technology. Educational, land-use, long term planning issues. 4 lectures. Crosslisted as AG/ISLA/SCM/UNIV 330. Fulfills GE Area Upper-Division B (GE Areas B5, B6, or B7 for students on the 2019-20 catalog).

Feminist approaches to the analysis of representations of whiteness in contemporary media, and considerations of the U.S. cultural values these images illuminate. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 4 lectures. Crosslisted as ISLA/WGQS 335. Fulfills GE Upper-Division C (GE Area C4 for students on the 2019-20 or earlier catalogs). Formerly WGS 335.

Creation of expressive technology-based pre-production works for standard television and film presentation to interactive technological environments. Pre-production script work, storyboarding, flow chart design, collaborative story creation, audience testing, and basic animatic construction. Visiting professionals work with students directly in collaborative workshops. 3 lectures, 1 activity.

Cinematic production including adapting a narrative for different presentation formats, storyboarding, lighting, sound recording, cinematography and editing. Production of short works designed as foundational pieces that can be built upon individually or in teams in independent study. Visiting professionals run collaborative production workshops. 2 lectures, 2 activities.

Interdisciplinary investigation of how human activities impact the Earth's environment on a global scale. Examination of population, resource use, climate change, and biodiversity from scientific/technical and social/economic/ historical/political perspectives. Use of remote sensing maps. Sustainable solutions. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 4 lectures. Crosslisted as AG/EDES/ENGR/GEOG/ISLA/SCM/UNIV 350. Fulfills GE Area Upper-Division B (GE Areas B5, B6, or B7 for students on the 2019-20 catalog).

Exploration of interdisciplinary research strategies, theory, and process, including contextualization, perspective taking, and integration. Development of knowledge and skills needed to conduct original interdisciplinary research. Preparation for senior project or senior portfolio. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 4 lectures.

Development of knowledge and skills needed to conduct original action-oriented ethnographic research. Grounded in the reflexive 'turn' in anthropology and critical race, science, technology and society, queer and feminist studies, students will engage questions of authority, representation, critical consciousness and justice. 4 lectures. Crosslisted as ANT/ISLA 393.

Examination of science communication in a variety of contexts. Issues covered may include: scientific journal articles, boundary-work, information deficit models, public understanding/awareness of science, accommodated science, mediated science, popular science. 4 lectures. Crosslisted as COMS/ISLA 395.

Independent study project focusing more than one discipline on a problem of study related to the liberal arts. May involve travel and/or independent research. Bibliography and study plan submitted in advance. Total credit limited to 8 units.

Onsite work with community and design team to develop and evaluate the use of innovative technologies as tools for community development and empowerment. Through guided discussion with instructor, guests, and community members, work through intercultural collaboration and design issues, conduct qualitative and quantitative research, and present works-in-progress. Field trip may be required. Total credit limited to 8 units. 4 lectures. Crosslisted as ISLA/LAES 411.

Advanced examination of selected interdisciplinary topic. Topics will be examined from perspective of multiple disciplines. The Class Schedule will list topic selected. Total credit limited to 8 units. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 4 lectures.

Extensive work experience in London. Administration, orientation, and supervision of independent work by the service provider. Intensive two-week orientation, eight-week full-time work assignment. Evaluation by instructor, internship supervisor, and employer. Credit/No Credit grading only. 4 lectures, 8 units of independent study.

Develop, maintain and lead teams in a project investigating complex multi-disciplinary issues in science, technology and society. Integrate knowledge across the minors. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 2 lectures, 2 activities.

Selection and completion of an interdisciplinary research or creative project that draws upon at least two disciplines. 4 seminars.

Supervised training, research, and work in public and private organizations. Evaluations by supervisor and written reports by student required. Major credit limited to 4 units; total credit limited to 12 units. Credit/No Credit grading only.

Focused interdisciplinary study of an issue impacting or impacted by the liberal arts, combining the insight and expertise of more than one of the liberal arts disciplines, especially as they interface with the sciences and technology and/or international studies in a study abroad setting. The Class Schedule will list topic selected. Total credit limited to 8 units; repeatable in same term. 2 to 4 lectures.