This course is about cross-disciplinarity beyond the buzzword. It provides an introduction to cross-disciplinary strategies against the backdrop of cross-disciplinarity as a critique of the prevailing academic knowledge culture.

The following learning outcomes are targeted:
* knowing the differences between disciplinary and cross-disciplinary approaches to knowledge
* knowing basic assumptions, major concepts and epistemological stances of cross-disciplinary approaches to knowledge
* knowing cross-disciplinary research process models
* knowing how to assess the quality of cross-disciplinary work
* ability to communicate one’s own cross-disciplinary education

The course draws on research on inter- and transdisciplinarity and, in particular, on the body of knowledge from interdisciplinary studies for teaching cross-disciplinary research strategies in higher education. It is based on principles of active learning and includes individual/group work, short reading/writing assignments, discussions, joint problem-solving, peer-feedback, quizzes, etc.

The course is designed as a collaborative exploration and critical engagement with selected themes from cross-disciplinarity. It consists of eight thematic units. Except for the first unit, all other units consist of two parts: (1) prep work to be completed in advance and (2) a corresponding session in class to explore the unit’s topic together.

To pass the course it is required that
* you are successfully registered and accepted for this course
* you are present at the first “Welcome and introduction” session (otherwise the place for this course is lost)
* you do not miss more than 2 session in class
* you acquire at least 60 (of 100) points by the end of the course

Course unit | Associated points
Unit 1: Welcome and introduction | 2
Unit 2: Background and theory | 14
Unit 3: Academically oriented cross-disciplinary strategies | 14
Unit 4: Problem-focused cross-disciplinary strategies | 14
Unit 5: Cross-disciplinary epistemologies | 14
Unit 6: Cross-disciplinary integration!? | 14
Unit 7: Quality assessment | 14
Unit 8: Round-up, reflection and feedback | 14

For units 2-8 you can acquire 14 points per unit:
* 7 points for doing the prep work before the corresponding session in class (criterion: completeness, good faith) +
* 3 points for meeting the deadline(s) for delivering the prep work (criterion: in time) +
* 4 points for actively participating in class based on the prep work (criterion: participation based on prep work, good faith) [-2 points if you are missing the prep work]

Points | Grade
93-100 | very good (1)
83-92 | good (2)
73-82 | satisfying (3)
60-72 | sufficient (4)
0-59 | failed (5)

All relevant course material will be provided by the course instructor.