Hello Cornerstone mentees and welcome to the second week of this blog. Last week we spent some time introducing ourselves and learning about what everyone was studying. This week we are going to work on the integration of those areas. Throughout the week a lot of you mentioned that you were not sure how your study areas could be integrated into a coherent whole and how it can be difficult to explain your degree to people. In order to figure this out we need to first understand what integration is. Think about how you would define integration and how it makes interdisciplinary studies different from being multidisciplinary. If you can, provide examples of how you have already integrated your major and/or minor areas. If you are still working on that, try to brainstorm a little. Think about what your ideal future career would be and then try to relate your current studies to those goals. How will your areas integrate and help in your future career? How important is it in your future career to be able to explain interdisciplinarity? How do you think it could give you an advantage over those with traditional degrees?
Another way to help start to look at things from an interdisciplinary perspective is to look at a current news story and think about the problem at hand from an interdisciplinary viewpoint. If an interdisciplinary solution has already been reached describe how it is interdisciplinary or, on the other hand, describe a theoretical interdisciplinary solution that could exist.
In the comments, post your thoughts about integration and how you can integrate your subject areas while trying to give examples. Also, post as a link to a news story and write about the actual or theoretical interdisciplinary solution associated with it.
As always, please sign your post with your full name.
~The Mentors
hello everyone!!
ReplyDeletehope everyone had a great weekend. i have ben working many years on this education stuff mostly for the reasons of owning this little private drugstore in town where i live which also just happens to be the place where my father has worked for the past 39 years. our plan was and is to buy this store and business from the current owner and then operate it ourselves course the pan has changed a bit because I am no longer on the track of becoming a pharmacist which makes it a little easier on the business but never the less it will still work out i hope?
so with my study areas of business, biomedical/life sciences and health this three will help me greatly in this business. The health will help me in the billing and understanding how and why insurance companies do what they do and how to get our money from them and the business area itself will help in just day to day runnings and the the life and biomedical will help in understanding the customer and how and what is wrong with them, plus there is an old fashion soda fountain in the place so also having to run a lunch counter business is involved? The three areas combined as a whole will service me well in the future. I think that these areas are essential to a business like this to survive especialy with walgreens and CVS on every corner. I dont know just trying to start the week off for everyone, let me know if im wrong with my intergration
Justin Sikes
Justin,
DeleteThanks for starting the week off for everyone. I think that your minor/major will definaltey be integrated. Good luck on your future.
Patricia Alis Priest
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Deletethat is something that has been a plan of mine for many many years however in the past few years i have been brewing beer and have come up with a lot of great reciepts. I have been thinking about opening my own brew pub/ tapas restuarnt, i just dont think that my major will work with it. Is that a big deal? my areas of study are health, life/biomedical science and business. i can see the buiness but the others are kinda fuzzy to me. what do you guys think? thanks talk to ya later
DeleteJustin Sikes
I think that if you do decide to purchase the business that all three of your areas of study will be beneficial. You will be able to integrate biomedical sciences, health, and business very easily if your idea is still to own a pharmacy. Good for you for making this big decision and to provide a service to patients that is more intimate than a chain pharmacy.
DeleteAngela Boyd
Hello Justin,
DeleteThanks for kicking things off. I think that you have a good idea of integrating your areas into running a pharmacy to be sure, whether you start from scratch yourself or work your way up a management ladder somewhere. As for thinking about a restaurant, I think that your areas are still of help in that case. Obviously, at first glance it isn't as obvious a link as a pharmacy but the skills that you learn of how to integrate ideas and to think outside the box can be translated to many different areas, not simply the ones that you are studying at this moment.
Chanel Mosby
Justin,
DeleteI think both of your plans would work out well with your major/minor areas. I think the pharmacy is achievable, because it is something that you have given a lot of thought to, and something that runs in your family. I think that your disciplines definitely fit best there, but they would also give you a good base with managing a restaurant, especially the business discipline. As long as you are doing something that you want to be doing, I think that you can make any disciplines work!
Bri Darby
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI think you have a great idea planned out! All of your disciplines can be integrated really well together for running a pharmacy. I love the idea of having a little lunch counter. It will make your business seem more inviting.
DeleteI agree with everyone else in saying go for the brewing side job! If it's something you love to do and you can make a little cash out of it, go for it.
-Amanda Brashear
I would define integration as taking multiple ideas, concepts, and topics and using them all together, whether they are related or not, for a common purpose. It is different from multidisciplinary because in this area of study there is no integrating of topics. A way that I have integrated my areas is by using the knowledge I have learned in classes from one area and used it to be successful in classes from another area. In my future career of pharmacy, I will be able to integrate all three of my areas of study. This is because they all deal with sciences and health therefore, I can use the science information I have learned to understand the chemical side of pharmacies and the health information I have learned to help the patients. Because I have studied these several different areas and for the reasons I listed above I believe I have an advantage to those who have only studied science or health individually who are going into the pharmacy profession.
ReplyDeleteA current story that is handling its problem through an interdisciplinary point of view is working on closing down pill mills throughout Orlando. The solution to this problem results through integrating the area of pharmacy and law enforcement to discover and close down pill mills throughout Orlando. This problem also involves the area of study of health.
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-03-07/health/os-prescription-drugs-arrests-20110307_1_pill-mills-moratorium-on-new-pain-pain-clinic
Angela Boyd
Hey Angela!
DeleteI think that's definitely a way to integrate your areas. It helps that your areas seem very similar to begin with, being all sciences. It gets a little more difficult to distinguish once you add disciplines that have different approaches to problems.
Also, the pill mill thing is a great example of an interdisciplinary problem. I actually did this very topic in my cornerstone group research project. Let me know if your interested in any additional information regarding this topic and I'll keep you updated.
Michelle Puikis
Angela, I agree you will have an advantage over other collegegs in the pharmacy industry having the skill to integrate more than one area of study. Good luck!
DeletePatricia Alise Priest
Hello Angela,
DeleteYou seem to have a really good grasp on how you would integrate your fields of study into your future career. I can definitely see how your degree specializations would help a lot in a pharmaceutical career and I agree that I think that combination would give you an edge, at least I would think that way if I were looking to hire people for a pharmacy.
Also, a very interesting news story that you found, I actually didn't know about that at all and it's certainly interesting to see a good example of an interdisciplinary problem.
Chanel Mosby
hi Angela!
Deletewhen i was a molecular/micorbiology major i thought that ti would be the best major to come from when i got into pharmacy school but now that im in this program i see it as not being as helpful yes maybe because of the high level of chemistry classes that you will not have to take in pharm school. but this program is for the logical and common sense people we can do book smart stuff well but being able to mix things up with different areas of study is easier for us, book smart people just know whats in the book and not really much more or are not able to think outside the box as much. You dont need a biology or micro degree to get into pharmacy school you can have whatever degree but i think for you haveing this degree will only help get you into a pharmacy school more over a person with just a biology degree because it shows that you have a more working knowledge of things and being able to integrate things together shows that you are a problem solver. good luck with it!
Justin Sikes
Hi Angela!
DeleteI think you have found a very good way to integrate your disciplines. My two major areas are health and social sciences as well, and I think there are a lot of really cool ways to integrate them. I have always been interested in medicine, and I think it would be cool to study diseases and how they affect people socially and mentally. Have a good week!
Bri Darby
HI Angela,
DeleteI would have to agree with our peers in saying that you most certainly have a firm grasp in the concept of integration. It certainly does help when the disciplines are closely related.
I think it is great that you have already been able to apply knowledge from some of your classes to others you have or are taking, that kind of overflow of information can be invaluable. It certainly goes a long way toward making you a well rounded student and individual, and plays into the strengths of your various disciplines.
Kudos!
~Ann Ross
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHey Angela!
DeleteYou seem like you have a good understanding of the major, and it's so cool that you know exactly what you want to do as your career! It's probably one of the first posts I've seen that makes it clear and easy to integrate the disciplines, and I agree with you that it is probably more beneficial to you to be an interdisciplinary student, rather than pursuing a normal agree.
-Tanya Hunt
Hi everyone! This week’s topic is kind of a toughie because I still don’t know what I want to do as a career. I just get all these people telling me to take the classes I want to take and everything will work itself out in the end. I know my ideal career would be to work with the Centers for Disease Control in a position where they could send me all over the world and investigate outbreaks of certain diseases. That would combine my Life/Biomedical Sciences and Humanities well and I love to travel anyway. Since my minor is in French, maybe having a foreign language under my belt will aid me. Unfortunately, it seems like a pretty competitive career choice and without any higher math classes, it seems a far stretch for me. Maybe having the Humanities component will help me though, in this field or another, who knows.
ReplyDelete-Amanda Brashear
I know through the CDC they have epidemiologist and that would be a graduate degree in the sociologist field so it's not a medical degree at all. They also have health advisers. I have searched jobs on their site before and I saw many jobs that were in other countries. They also have doctors that work for them, but an epidemiologist is not a medical degree. I think the IDS degree will set you apart from other job seekers because you will have such a wide stretching body of knowledge. Maybe you could email there human resources department and inquire what education they look for in their different positions? That would give you an idea of the courses that would set you apart. A second language is always a great way to stand out also!
DeleteMelissa Castorino
Thank you for the advice, Melissa! I will definitely take a better look at that.
Delete-Amanda Brashear
Wow Amanda!
DeleteI cannot believe how much we seem to share in common! Although I am not able to traipse all over the world(as much as I would love to) the job that you describe is something that I would love to do! I am fascinated with epidemiology and disease pathology.
I also have absolutely no idea what I want to do with my degree yet! I think I would love to work on research in a lab somewhere. Perhaps with clinical trials or something? I have thought about looking into whether or not there is research like this at UCF that I can get involved in...do you happen to know?
~Ann Ross
Hey Amanda,
DeleteWe seem to also have quite a bit in common, being that we are both going with the flow and trying to take classes that interest us. I can't say that I'm too familiar with the Centers for Disease Control, but if you're passionate about it and it's truly what you want to do, then make it happen! You could always get a masters degree that involves some of the classes you mentioned you needed. Hope it all works out for you, traveling would be a blast!
Tanya Hunt
Hello Amanda,
DeleteIt's good to see that you have something in mind that you'd like to do. The best thing I can think of is to try to get some more information by looking up job postings and viewing the responsibilities and requirements. You may find that there are some that match up very well to what you are looking for. Good luck!
Chanel Mosby
Amanda-
DeleteI think that your future plan is so great. That woudl be and awesome job. I belive having a foreign langauge under your belt is a benefit for you with out a doubt. Good luck you never know what might come your way.
Patricia Alise Priest
Integration combines individual areas of study and brings them together. Multidisciplinary has contributions from different areas however they still stay there own individual area never coming together as one. As of yet I don’t think that I have integrated my areas of study while in my current line of work as an Insurance Agent. However one day I believe that I will be able to use these skills while working in the management of running a hospital. It will be important to be able to integrate all my areas and minor to do the job. My two areas are Public Affairs and Behavioral and Social Science, my minor is health. I don’t believe that being able to explain interdisciplinary in the future will be imperative to my career; however I believe that it a good practice too. Having this degree could give me an advantage from a problem solving point of view. I will be able to research areas, whereas another degree may be biased to one area. I recently read an article about Marion county schools going to a 4 day school week; however they have decided not to. This school board is solving this issue through interdisciplinary ways because they are combining, education, psychology and public administration just to name a few. These areas helped determine what would be best for the school district, children, teachers and parents.
ReplyDeletePatricia Alise Priest
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120214/ARTICLES/120219827/1412?Title=4-day-school-week-killed&tc=ar
DeleteThe link to my article.
You did a nice job in defining interdisciplinary and what it means to you. Also, I don’t think it is as important right now to understand how to relate your disciplines in the field that you are working. It is more important to have an idea as to how you can use your disciplines in your future career path, which it sounds like you do know how it will work. Your article about the schools was a good example of how an issue was solved using an interdisciplinary method.
DeleteAngela Boyd
Hello Patricia,
DeleteI think you have a good grasp of the idea of integration and how it works. While you may not be currently using your areas of study together, it seems that you have a good idea of a future possibility with the hospital management that would certainly give you a chance to use your skills to their full potential. Good choice on the article as well. It's certainly a good example of an interdisciplinary solution.
Chanel Mosby
Patricia,
DeleteYour areas will definitely help you in your future career. I'm glad to hear that you are looking at it from a problem solving perspective. This is a core concept in interdisciplinary studies. You're already thinking like an interdisciplinarian! Also, good job on the article and pointing out the different disciplines. These skills are good for everyone to learn, but especially those who are going into management. I'm glad to have you in this major!
Michelle Puikis
Hi everyone! When I think of integration, I think of all parts of something working together to create a new product. When I think of multidisciplinary, I do not think that the parts all come together to make something new; I think they still remain separate. At first I was having trouble integrating my disciplines, but I think I found a real life situation that somewhat combines health, social sciences, and criminal justice. The article I found is about how emergency room physicians deal with drug seeking patients, and I work in the emergency room so I see these people often.
ReplyDelete(Here is the link: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-01-18/health/os-hospitals-change-er-pain-20120118_1_pain-patients-pain-clinics-prescription-drug)
I still do not know that I want to do in the future, but the interdisciplinary studies major is helpful to my situation. I chose each of my three disciplines based off of my interests, not based off of what I want to integrate them into as far as a future profession. I could go in a number of different directions from these three disciplines, but I really would like to integrate them. I am in my very first criminal justice class, and I am finding it very interesting. I love learning about people and they way they think, so I would really like to combine criminal justice and social sciences and study crime/criminals. This is only my second year of school, so I still have a lot of classes to take that will hopefully help me make up my mind!
Have a good week!
Bri Darby
Hi Bri,
DeleteLike you, I chose my disciplines based on areas of interest to me. I wasn't at all concerned about integration at the time, because quite honestly I didn't even realize that it was something I was going to have to do.
It has been a tough concept for me to grasp, but I am getting there and it helps that my disciples are closely related.
~Ann Ross
Hello Bri,
DeleteIt's perfectly alright to not have a solid idea at this stage of how you want to try to integrate your areas of study, it is something that you will have a chance to explore and develop the ideas as you progress through your degree. The fact that you found an article that combines things and that you even have first person experience seeing in the hospital is helpful I think. Whenever I see something that even slightly combines my fields in away that I think is interesting, i get a little excited because it gives me hope that I can end up doing something like that myself later on. So far for me, I've seen mostly research projects and not so many non-research careers but I'm still keeping my eyes open. Keep an open mind as you go through the rest of your university career and who knows what you'll find.
Chanel Mosby
It is great that you have found something so early on that you are so interested in. Some people do not find this until much later on and then they end up having to re-take many classes. This will enable you to focus on the areas that you find to be most interesting and then gear your studies in that direction. Great job with integrating your studies!
DeleteLeanne Sless
I am honestly still a little up in the air with what I want to do with my degree. I also choose my areas of study based on my personal interests and they integrate together very well so I know I have a great body of knowledge that I am going to be able to do something that I love with it. It definitely sounds like you are on the right path!
ReplyDeleteMelissa Castorino
Hello everyone,
ReplyDeleteI agree bri's comments above. Perhaps the best way I understand the concept of interdisciplinary vs multidisciplinary is when I think of the smoothie vs fruit salad metaphor. Multidisciplinary is like a fruit salad in which different perspectives exist in the same "bowl" but retain individual identity and differences. Whereas interdisciplinary is like the smoothie, you take different fruits and blend them into one. By the end of the "integration" you have a different and new product/perspective. With multidisciplinary you do not get a new product, just a collection of already existing products/perspectives.
The article I found which is a prime example of the integration of health services administration and business administration comes from the Harris Interactive Press Release. It discusses Blue Cross Blue Shields success as the nation's top private health care insurance provider and how this can be attributed to the marketing strategies of the company. In doing so, this integrates the concepts of health services which health care insurance companies function on, with the marketing concepts that are taught to business administration students. To summarize, by integrating marketing techniques such as viewing insurance holders as consumers who have the choice of choosing providers as you do choosing a brand of bread in the grocery store, health services companies are paying more attention to how people view their company and sell the insurance as a "brand" instead of a service.
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/NewsRoom/PressReleases/tabid/446/mid/1506/articleId/428/ctl/ReadCustom%20Default/Default.aspx
I love that fruit smoothie/fruit salad analogy...I use it all the time:-)
DeleteYour article does definitely touch on each of your disciplines and very effectively integrates them.
way to go!
~Ann Ross
Hello,
DeleteThe fruit salad and smoothie analogy is by far the one that I find easiest to understand clearly and I think that it really works when describing interdisciplinary versus multidisciplinary. The article you selected does a great job of showing how your areas can be integrated in the real world to solve problems and you did a great job at explaining how the different disciplines came together in this situation.
Just remember to please sign your name at the bottom of your posts so you can be sure to get proper credit. :)
Chanel Mosby
Thank you for spotting that Chanel, I definitely forgot. I will re-post it to get credit.
Delete- Nicholas Spivey
RE-POST (I FORGOT TO SIGN MY NAME AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ORIGINAL POST:
DeleteHello everyone,
I agree bri's comments above. Perhaps the best way I understand the concept of interdisciplinary vs multidisciplinary is when I think of the smoothie vs fruit salad metaphor. Multidisciplinary is like a fruit salad in which different perspectives exist in the same "bowl" but retain individual identity and differences. Whereas interdisciplinary is like the smoothie, you take different fruits and blend them into one. By the end of the "integration" you have a different and new product/perspective. With multidisciplinary you do not get a new product, just a collection of already existing products/perspectives.
The article I found which is a prime example of the integration of health services administration and business administration comes from the Harris Interactive Press Release. It discusses Blue Cross Blue Shields success as the nation's top private health care insurance provider and how this can be attributed to the marketing strategies of the company. In doing so, this integrates the concepts of health services which health care insurance companies function on, with the marketing concepts that are taught to business administration students. To summarize, by integrating marketing techniques such as viewing insurance holders as consumers who have the choice of choosing providers as you do choosing a brand of bread in the grocery store, health services companies are paying more attention to how people view their company and sell the insurance as a "brand" instead of a service.
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/NewsRoom/PressReleases/tabid/446/mid/1506/articleId/428/ctl/ReadCustom%20Default/Default.aspx
-Nicholas Spivey
Hi guys,
ReplyDeleteWhen I started this course I mistakenly assumed that multidisciplinary was essentially the same as interdisciplinary. I went into this major as a multi-disciplinarian and am slowly but surely becoming and inter-disciplinarian. The concept of integration is getting a bit easier for me to grasp, although I have to honestly admit I have not yet been able to apply it to a real-world phenomenon. I am attempting to with my research project, but have had to change my thesis and topic because of lack of resources on my initial topic. Apparently my thesis is still not well developed so I am theoretically still at the starting line.
My disciplines of Health, life and biomedical sciences and social and psychological sciences are about as closely related as any three interests can be, so I am thinking that when I finally do get around to trying to figure out my future and the perfect job for me, it should be easy to integrate these three.
I stated in one of my earlier posts that I would love to work in a lab somewhere, working on research...perhaps clinical trials would be interesting. I love science and the study of disease as well as health care. Although, I don't think that working in a patient care environment would necessarily be a good fit for me because I become emotionally vested very easily.
I think I need some magic job guru to come along and tell me what would be a good fit for me;-) Until then, I will just keep plugging along and hope that the solution will present itself at some point in time.
I have yet to find an article that integrates my disciplines but I will continue to look for one and post it when I do.
~Ann Ross
Hello Ann,
DeleteI think that alot of us here started off from a more multidisciplinary slant than an interdisciplinary one. One thing that I feel I have learned from the cornerstone course, and now the capstone one, is what it means to be interdisciplinary and how things that sometimes seem to be complete opposites can actually be integrated together. While I too wish there was a magic job guru that would immediately point me to the best job for me, I think looking further into your idea of clinical trials is also a good bet. Like i mentioned to someone else, sometimes talking to people in the fields that you are interested in is a good idea and they may be able to give you more insight on things such as the research, or they may be able to open your eyes to something completely new that you hadn't thought about before. Either way, it doesn't hurt to ask. Good luck!
Chanel Mosby
Hi Ann, When you find the magic guru let me know because we need to have a talk too! I also started this degree as a multidisciplinarian. I didn't even realize until I took the cornerstone class that there was a difference between interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary. Now that I am at the end of my degree it makes much more sense. As I took more and more classes in the different disciplines I can see how they tie together and I really think it takes a little time taking classes in the different disciplines to really understand it.
DeleteMelissa Castorino
I agree about coming into this major as a multi-disciplinarian and coming out as an inter-disciplinarian. I also had the same assumptions. I thought I would learn a lot in different fields but I never thought of putting them all together to help me in my future.
DeleteGregory Eisenberg
Hi there Ann!
DeleteSo I found myself in a similar predicament when I first started my journey as an interdisciplinarian. I knew that there was a way for them to combined in a sufficiently "scientific" way, but I just didn't know the path. Also, I didn't really know where the degree would take me in pursuit of a career. At first, I kind of used one particular focus as my "fall back" choice. I knew that I could always get an administrative job with a government agency or nonprofit organization even though it may not incorporate my other focus, International Studies. I knew there was something out there that sufficiently integrated my disciplines, I just had no clue what it was!
What really helped me the most was to go onto different university and college websites to look at graduate school programs. When I started doing this, I honestly had no intentions of going to graduate school. I was just looking for some kind of clue or sign. It was probably the one of the smartest things I did because it opened the world of International Development to me.
Even if you don't have the desire or intent to pursue graduate work, just looking at different programs might give you some ideal or spark of what kind of career you would like to pursue. It certainly made all the difference for me, as I just got through applying to graduate school in January!
Hope that helps give you some direction of a place you can start looking for guidance! Good luck and thanks for your honesty!
Julia Elrod!:)
This week's topic is also a difficult one for me, as I am having a little difficulty with how different my areas of study are. To me, integration is taking two or more different concepts or ideas and using them, including incorporating different aspects of each, to develop something further. This definition makes it easy to distinguish interdisciplinary from multidisciplinary, as multidisciplinary does not involve the concept of integration. This actually makes it easier already for me to describe my major to people, as before I basically told them I had 3 minors.
ReplyDeleteI have integrated my areas of social psychology, mass media communications, and film by basically combining the mass media and film aspects. For example, a lot of the same advertising and social issues that exist in film also exist in the mass media (television, etc). It then makes it easier for me to look at these industries from a psychological perspective, and determine why things are done in the ways they are.
As I have explained in the first blog, I am truly not sure what my ideal future career would be. It would definitely be something that makes me happy and is profitable, but isn't that everyone's dream? Not knowing what my future career will be, it's hard to know how my interdisciplinary studies degree will give me an advantage over those with traditional degrees. It is also difficult for me to find an article with these disciplines in mind, but I will post one when I do!
Tanya Hunt
Hello Tanya,
DeleteI also agree that using the concept of integration to describe your major is a good idea and in my personal opinion, I think saying that you are integrating the different areas of study in order to solve complex issues is more impressive sounding than saying you have 3 minors. I like the way that you are integrating your areas of study, it sounds like a very interesting way to look at mass media and film though I admit I am not entirely sure off the top of my head about careers but I am still figuring out my own even as a senior. I am sure that as you continue your studies, you'll get a better idea of possibilities and maybe even find something that you absolutely love from the start.
Chanel Mosby
Hi Tanya,
DeleteI agree that making that connection between choosing disciplines to study while you are in school with what job you want to pursue once you finish school can be tough. UCF has several helpful service that used when I was deciding what jobs I want to pursue when looking at different degree programs offered.
UCF career services is a good place to start. They have an online website where you can select most of the university's majors and it tells you what job titles match that degree. Since we are IDS students you may be able to look at the job titles of all of your disciplines and find the one that fits you.
- Nicholas Spivey
I also was having difficulties figuring out what my future career would be. If you pick disciplines in areas that you are passionate about and learn as much as you can in those disciplines, than the right career will form itself out of it, I believe.
DeleteHi Tanya!
DeleteI think sometimes not knowing what your ideal career would be leaves you open to some amazing opportunities that you might not notice if you had made up you mind already. Honestly, I have worked for some great companies and found those jobs at the times when I was completely unsure of what I wanted to do.
Nicholas mentioned some good resources for you. Just keep an open mind when looking through the possibilities.
Gabriella DiSpada
Like some of the posts above, I also thought of my major as multi disciplinary and not as much interdisciplinary. Now that I am figuring out the differences, its helping me more in what I want to do. I want to own my own business' and I have a ton of ideas. My disciplines are Business, Psychology, and Communications. I hope that with using all three to help me, I will be able to successfully run my business, but by using communications and psychology, I will better know how to market my products better.
ReplyDeleteGregory Eisenberg
Great ideas! What kind of business do you want to own? Yes, your business area of study will definitely help you in creating a business plan and hopefully running a very successful business. Communications and Psychology will give you the skills to express your product or service to your potential clients/customers. I also want to be an entrepreneur and am completing almost the same areas of study. Good Luck!
DeleteGreat ideas! What kind of business do you want to own? Yes, your business area of study will definitely help you in creating a business plan and hopefully running a very successful business. Communications and Psychology will give you the skills to express your product or service to your potential clients/customers. I also want to be an entrepreneur and am completing almost the same areas of study. Good Luck!
DeleteLeanne Sless
Communications and Psychology will give you great insights on how to market your product. Marketing companies use techniques involving those disciplines on focus groups and test markets all the time.
DeleteWhat area of business do you want to get into?
Best of luck to you!
Hi Everyone!
ReplyDeleteMy areas of study are Health Services Administration, Public Administration and Interpersonal/Organizational Communication. For me, I already integrate the communication and public administration aspects in my current job as an executive assistant. I had considered going into radiography as one point because medicine fascinates me, but the timing wasn't right for it and I ended up choosing Interdisciplinary Studies. Actually, I think this might work out better for me since it takes some of the areas I am interested in and will hopefully show me new ways to mesh them together.
I think, especially now, employers are looking for people with interdisciplinary skills without knowing what term to really use. They always say they want people to think "outside the box" (so overused!) but what they really mean is they want someone who can integrate knowledge from different fields and experiences to solve the problem at hand. I worked for a temp agency for a while and can't tell you how many interviews I have been on where this discussion takes place. In my experience the interviewers were not so impressed with the candidates that could talk the talk but more so with examples of how they integrated different skills. One example I have used came from my time with a national marketing company. I used to handle the payroll issues for the demo agents in the Eastern region, New York to Florida and over to Tennessee. I had to use accounting, business and communication disciplines to try to solve these issues to the satisfaction of my bosses, field managers and demo agents.
That being said, I thoroughly enjoy my current job so for now I am satisfied with my career.
Gabriella DiSpada
Gabriella,
DeleteI'm so glad you have found a job that you enjoy and that you are able to feel as though your education is being used on a daily basis. I find that when we can make those connections, we don't dread those daily courses. We actually feel useful!
Also, I'm glad you pointed out employers seeking out interdisciplinary skills and how they look for those things during an interview. I have found this to be true as well. I have spoken with a number of schools regarding the shift in the role of a pharmacist from being behind the counter to actually advising patients. There is a shift occurring in the health care industry that is interdisciplinary. Pharmacy schools are looking for students who want to be a health care professional, holistically. It's important to identify with our skills now, so that we can effectively give examples in the future! Good post!
-Michelle Puikis
Hi Gabriella.
DeleteIt is good to hear that you are already putting those interdisciplinary skills to work! I hold a mind set that many things in this life are interdisciplinary in that so many aspects of life overlap with one another. It seems, in my experience, the "soft skills" that employers are so often looking for, like "being a team player" can be found as a result of the process of integration.
While "thinking outside the box" is really overused and cliche, it certainly fits the kind of efforts interdisciplinarians attempt to make in their life's work. It is all about seeing the connections and finding the unique solution to a problem. And integration is specifically about solving a particular problem.
It certainly seems like you are gaining a pretty good handle on what it means to integrate, and it really interesting that you mention how employers want to see specific examples of your personal work process. This blog will cover this in more detail later, but employers will straight out ask you for examples of how you deal with different work-based situations, and knowing more about integration will certainly boost your confidence in answering!
Glad to see it is coming together for you!
Thanks for your post,
Julia Elrod!:)