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News & Events
Spring 2013 Capstone Videos Posted
Videos from this semester's capstone presentations are now online! Go to http://www.umbc.edu/inds/students/capstones and click on each presentation title in red to get to the YouTube video.
Summer Internship Opportunities!
Now Hiring Agents of Change and Social Entrepreneurs
greeNEWit’s Agents of Change Program recruits high school and college students with an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for social change to assist with social media, marketing and development needs. Students can get hands on experience as social entrepreneurs by means of two of greeNEWit’s social projects: Cleats for Bare Feet and the OUR Schools program.
Through the program, greeNEWit provides students with important career skills and instills a passion in them for entrepreneurship and sustainable living. The goal is to create a collaborative working environment that fosters the generation and sharing of ideas.
Go to http://www.greenewit.com/home/careers/apply-now-summer-interns to read more about the various opportunities!
Congratulations Asif Majid - Class of 2013 Valedictorian!
INDS is proud to announce that Asif Majid is UMBC's Class of 2013 Valedictorian! He is the first INDS student to be named valedictorian of a graduating class! We hope you join us in celebrating his awesome achievement!
Here is what the selection committee presented to Dr. Hrabowski:
Here is what the selection committee presented to Dr. Hrabowski:
Asif Majidis a wonderful example of UMBC’s commitment to “produce socially engaged
citizens who graduate with the commitment and experience to serve responsibly in their communities, state, and nation.”
An interdisciplinary studies major inGlobal Peace Building and Conflict Management,Asif’s
ongoing inquiry into the nature of human conflict and his search for
creative solutions have been a consistent driving force for him both in
and out of the classroom. His search to understand and make a difference
led him to such diverse experiences as: leading an international summer
peace camp for Arab, American and Israeli teenagers in Maine, teaching
history and script-writing to middle school students in Minneapolis,
leading UMBC students on a an Alternative Spring Break trip focused on
homelessness services in Baltimore City, participating in the Model UN
Conference at Johns Hopkins, and a year-long study abroad in Morocco.
A gifted scholar, member of the Honor’s College and a Sondheim Scholar,
Asif is described by INDS faculty asthe “ideal interdisciplinary
student.” His studies encompass a vast array of disciplines including
Arabic, Anthropology, Modern Languages and Linguistics, Political
Science, Geography and Environmental Systems, History, Sociology, and
Music. He speaks Arabic and French and has knowledge of Gujarati, Urdu
and Spanish. According to Dr. Michael Richards, Professor and Chair of
the Department of Music, Asif is also a talented percussionist, whose
ability to synthesize diverse information from a variety of disciplines,
enables him to think about music on a deep level and develop carefully
thought out musical interpretations and technical decisions. Asif’s
independent research, which has resulted in two Undergraduate Research
Awards and a Boren National Security Scholarship, investigates how the
performing arts can be used to facilitate empathy and transform
conflict. His capstone projects focuses on transgenerational migration
and identity in North Africa and will yield a scholarly paper as well as
a Brechtian play confronting the social justice implications of issues
related to migration, transnational identity, human rights, sexual
harassment, and the Arab Spring, which will be performed at UMBC at
URCAD and on May 12th.
Asif is described by INDS faculty asthe “ideal interdisciplinary
student.” His studies encompass a vast array of disciplines including
Arabic, Anthropology, Modern Languages and Linguistics, Political
Science, Geography and Environmental Systems, History, Sociology, and
Music. He speaks Arabic and French and has knowledge of Gujarati, Urdu
and Spanish. According to Dr. Michael Richards, Professor and Chair of
the Department of Music, Asif is also a talented percussionist, whose
ability to synthesize diverse information from a variety of disciplines,
enables him to think about music on a deep level and develop carefully
thought out musical interpretations and technical decisions. Asif’s
independent research, which has resulted in two Undergraduate Research
Awards and a Boren National Security Scholarship, investigates how the
performing arts can be used to facilitate empathy and transform
conflict. His capstone projects focuses on transgenerational migration
and identity in North Africa and will yield a scholarly paper as well as
a Brechtian play confronting the social justice implications of issues
related to migration, transnational identity, human rights, sexual
harassment, and the Arab Spring, which will be performed at UMBC at
URCAD and on May 12th.
Asif is an enthusiastic champion of UMBC and an active contributor to the
UMBC community. He has been a tour guide since 2010, a member of the
INDS council of majors, a student representative to the Patapsco Hall
Addition design team, a member of the UMBC orchestra and leader of the
percussion section, and an active volunteer in the INDS Department (for
which he will receive this year’s Mary Jo Kleiner Award for Outstanding
Service to Interdisciplinary Studies). As Dr. Brigid Starkey from
Political Science stated in her letter of support, Asif “has loved his
time at UMBC and will be aninternational ambassador for this campus for
the rest of his life.” Asif will pursue a Masters degree in Conflict
Resolution at Georgetown University in the fall.
Get Published in the UMBC Review!
The UMBC Review will be accepting new submissions for the 2014 edition of the journal during early September. This is an excellent way to get published, whether is it your Capstone Project or another significant piece of research.
Complete the form at the following site: http://bit.ly/umbcREV to receive updated information on submission to this campus journal.
Complete the form at the following site: http://bit.ly/umbcREV to receive updated information on submission to this campus journal.
Apply for an Undergraduate Research Award!
Undergraduate Research Awards provide up to $1,500 to undergraduate students to support their research or creative work with a UMBC faculty mentor on an original project. This is ideal for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who might need assistance with travel funding, participation in a special training program, or equipment needed to complete the project.
The Office of Undergraduate Education provides several workshops to students who want to submit a successful application!
http://www.umbc.edu/undergrad_ed/research/workshops.html
The deadline to apply is Monday, March 4. Don't delay in putting together this important piece of your undergraduate research experience!
The Office of Undergraduate Education provides several workshops to students who want to submit a successful application!
http://www.umbc.edu/undergrad_ed/research/workshops.html
The deadline to apply is Monday, March 4. Don't delay in putting together this important piece of your undergraduate research experience!
Helpful myUMBC Groups to Join
myUMBC contains a lot of information, and it can be an overload of information at times. One of the most helpful ways to receive specific information is to join a group, like this Interdisciplinary Studies group, where you get emails delivered to your inbox. You can add yourself to any group listed, and did you know there are over 300 groups to join?
So how do you sort through them all? On http://my.umbc.edu/groups, you will see that each group is categorized, a great starting point. We wanted to highlight a few groups we strongly recommend based on the kind of information they provide.
UMBC Extra Credit - http://my.umbc.edu/groups/credit
This group talks about internships, research, post-graduation plans, etc. You can't go wrong signing up for this one.
Undergraduate Research - http://my.umbc.edu/groups/undergradresearch
Helps you get involved in doing some kind of research experience.
Off-Campus Student Services - http://my.umbc.edu/groups/ocss
Perfect for commuters to stay connected to campus.
Student Events Board - http://my.umbc.edu/groups/seb
What's happening on campus?
Career Services - http://my.umbc.edu/groups/careers
Land that job you've always wanted.
Shriver Center - http://my.umbc.edu/groups/shriver
Step outside the classroom with an internship, service-learning, or co-op.
So how do you sort through them all? On http://my.umbc.edu/groups, you will see that each group is categorized, a great starting point. We wanted to highlight a few groups we strongly recommend based on the kind of information they provide.
UMBC Extra Credit - http://my.umbc.edu/groups/credit
This group talks about internships, research, post-graduation plans, etc. You can't go wrong signing up for this one.
Undergraduate Research - http://my.umbc.edu/groups/undergradresearch
Helps you get involved in doing some kind of research experience.
Off-Campus Student Services - http://my.umbc.edu/groups/ocss
Perfect for commuters to stay connected to campus.
Student Events Board - http://my.umbc.edu/groups/seb
What's happening on campus?
Career Services - http://my.umbc.edu/groups/careers
Land that job you've always wanted.
Shriver Center - http://my.umbc.edu/groups/shriver
Step outside the classroom with an internship, service-learning, or co-op.
Spring 2013 INDS Courses
A few seats remain in INDS 330 Ways of Knowing and INDS 430 Interdisciplinary Studies Seminar for Spring 2013!
INDS 330 is a writing intensive course ideal for students who have completed ENGL 100 and have at least 45 credits. It is required of all INDS students but can also be taken by non-INDS students to fulfill their WI graduation requirement, so notify your friends! The section of INDS 330 with seats is on MWF 9-9:50 a.m.
Permission required - contact Carrie Sauter at casuter@umbc.edu
INDS 430 is a special topics course called "Food: An Interdisciplinary Exploration". The Schedule of Classes provides this thorough description:
Permission required - contact Jill Wrigley at wrigleyj@umbc.edu
INDS 330 is a writing intensive course ideal for students who have completed ENGL 100 and have at least 45 credits. It is required of all INDS students but can also be taken by non-INDS students to fulfill their WI graduation requirement, so notify your friends! The section of INDS 330 with seats is on MWF 9-9:50 a.m.
Permission required - contact Carrie Sauter at casuter@umbc.edu
INDS 430 is a special topics course called "Food: An Interdisciplinary Exploration". The Schedule of Classes provides this thorough description:
American farmer and writer Wendell
Berry has written, "How we eat determines, to a considerable extent, how
the world is used." We may similarly assert that how the current food
system is structured determines, to a large extent, how we eat. Almost
all food carries a complex story interwoven with politics, environmental
consequences, human health and human history. One intriguing story is
how the American food system relies heavily on fossil fuel: the average
food item is transported between 1,300 and 2,000 miles from farm to
table. Another story is about how the national school lunch program
grew with multiple purposes: war readiness, commodity price support, and
childhood nutrition. These complexities resulted in nutritionally
deficient foods in many school cafeterias. Through case studies and
other research, students will examine such questions as: Who are the
stakeholders in food system reform? What are the implications for
health care costs of food system reform? What are the
barriers/challenges to change?
Held on Tuesdays from 1-3:45. Ideal for juniors and seniors! INDS 430 is required of all INDS majors but is open to any student who has this interest.Berry has written, "How we eat determines, to a considerable extent, how
the world is used." We may similarly assert that how the current food
system is structured determines, to a large extent, how we eat. Almost
all food carries a complex story interwoven with politics, environmental
consequences, human health and human history. One intriguing story is
how the American food system relies heavily on fossil fuel: the average
food item is transported between 1,300 and 2,000 miles from farm to
table. Another story is about how the national school lunch program
grew with multiple purposes: war readiness, commodity price support, and
childhood nutrition. These complexities resulted in nutritionally
deficient foods in many school cafeterias. Through case studies and
other research, students will examine such questions as: Who are the
stakeholders in food system reform? What are the implications for
health care costs of food system reform? What are the
barriers/challenges to change?
Permission required - contact Jill Wrigley at wrigleyj@umbc.edu
2012-2013 Entrepreneurship Scholarship Winner Announced
INDS student Turrel David has been selected as the winner of the $500 Jospeh and Freida Faiman Eisenberg/VPC Endowed Scholarship Award for 2012-2013. Turrel's INDS major focuses on Biomimicry. He is the CEO and co-founder of a business called Dzxtinkt Originals, LLC, which is an art company that specializes in the creation of officially licensed alternative film and TV art posters.
Congratulations, Turrel!
Congratulations, Turrel!
e2campus Text Alerts
We just want to be sure you are all aware of the e2campus text alerts. This service sends messages directly to your phone and email when there are campus delays, closures, and emergency notices.
It's easy (and free!) to sign up: https://apps-my.umbc.edu/alerts/
Be sure to sign up now before the winter weather season starts!
It's easy (and free!) to sign up: https://apps-my.umbc.edu/alerts/
Be sure to sign up now before the winter weather season starts!
$1,000 Scholarship Available!
A great scholarship opportunity available for all eligible undergraduate students - and you might qualify!
Do you attend a public or private university?
(Your answer should be YES!)
Are you a junior or a senior?
(A junior or a senior is characterized by someone who has earned over 60 credits.)
Do you have at least a 3.0 GPA?
Are you seeking a career in education?
Have you demonstrated skills in leadership, service and courage?
Each year, the Zainab Damji Memorial Scholarship Fund awards students with $1000 in scholarship money, and UMBC students have won this award in the past. Apply by December 7 and read more at http://zainabdamjimemfund.webs.com/
Do you attend a public or private university?
(Your answer should be YES!)
Are you a junior or a senior?
(A junior or a senior is characterized by someone who has earned over 60 credits.)
Do you have at least a 3.0 GPA?
Are you seeking a career in education?
Have you demonstrated skills in leadership, service and courage?
Each year, the Zainab Damji Memorial Scholarship Fund awards students with $1000 in scholarship money, and UMBC students have won this award in the past. Apply by December 7 and read more at http://zainabdamjimemfund.webs.com/