Interdisciplinary Studies
Collaborative approaches to research
Interdisciplinary studies is one of the four disciplines that house many fields in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Interdisciplinary fields blend the perspectives of two or more academic disciplines to form a new approach to exploring an area of interest that may be too difficult or complex to study from a single disciplinary perspective.
Learn more about interdisciplinary studies and the unique ways each field approaches research and contributes to our understanding of the surrounding world.
Interdisciplinary studies research characteristics
Interdisciplinary fields explore study topics by relying on shared knowledge and connecting ideas across disciplinary boundaries. Scholars can better explore and understand different research interests by combining disciplinary perspectives, leading to increased knowledge.
Since interdisciplinary fields work across disciplines, research studies reflect this in theoretical frameworks, study designs, and methods. Scholars may use qualitative, quantitative, historical, critical/rhetorical, or creative approaches.
Review the Natural Science, Social Science, and Humanities sites to learn more about these methods.
Fields of study in LAS
Below are the fields in LAS that belong to the interdisciplinary studies. Select fields of interest to learn more and review the subfields or areas of specialization within a field. As you explore research areas, note themes or topics of interest and affiliated faculty to become familiar with their contributions to the field.
Biochem
What is biochemistry:
According to the American Chemical Society, Biochemistry “explores chemical processes related to living organisms. It is a laboratory-based science combining biology and chemistry.”
Read more: Biological/Biochemistry – American Chemical Society (acs.org) and Major in Biochemistry | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
What do biochemists study:
Research areas/subfields and faculty specialties: Research | Chemistry | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
For additional information on biochemistry and what biochemists do, visit the American Chemical Society:
Biological/Biochemistry – American Chemical Society (acs.org)
Areas of Study
What is Black studies:
According to the LAS Black Studies Department, Black Studies is “an interdisciplinary field of study that examines the history, politics, and cultural production of persons of African descent both locally and globally.” Black Studies “focus[es] on the history, culture and politics of African-descended people in the Americas and around the globe in the quest for a more just and equitable world.” Read more: Black Studies | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu) and About | Black Studies | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
What do Black studies scholars study:
Faculty and research areas/subfields*: Core Faculty | Black Studies | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
*Browse faculty profiles to learn about their research areas.
Computer science and linguistics
What is computer science and linguistics?
According to the LAS Department of Computer Science and Linguistics, computer science and linguistics is a “collaboration between the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering prepares students for technical or professional careers in humanities and sciences areas requiring a sound grounding in computer science. It is designed to meet an increasing demand for programming skills in various disciplines that include an aspect of language. This may include:
- speech recognition
- speech synthesis
- human-machine interaction
- narrative science/natural language generation
It is also geared towards traditional work in language analysis using computational tools, such as
- documentation of indigenous languages
- language learning
- communication
- digital humanities
- textual analysis”
What do computer science and linguistics scholars study?
Faculty research examples: Faculty Research | Department of Linguistics | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
Research areas/subfields and faculty specialties*: Faculty | Department of Linguistics | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
*Select “Filter by” to view the subfields. Select the subfield of interest. The faculty specializing in that area will be listed.
Undergraduate research examples*: BS in Computer Science and Linguistics | Department of Linguistics | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
*Scroll to the bottom of the page.
gender and womens studies
What is gender and women’s studies:
According to the LAS Gender and Women’s Studies Department, “The Gender and Women’s Studies Program at University of Illinois Chicago is an interdisciplinary unit dedicated to investigating the relationships between gender (including transgender), sexuality, feminism, and social justice. The program starts from the assumption that gender matters and insists that gender and sexuality must be understood through their intersections with race, class, age, nation, citizenship, and ability. We conceptualize how these interconnected categories inform and structure social life, culture, politics, social movements, and knowledge production. In a world where women’s and men’s roles have been changing rapidly, studying the impact of gender both on everyday experience and society’s institutions will help students make more informed choices about their own lives. Through a sustained engagement with local, national, and transnational communities, faculty equip students to meet the challenges of contemporary society.” Read more: About | Gender and Women’s Studies | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
What do gender and women’s studies scholars study:
Research areas/subfields and faculty specialties*: Core Faculty | Gender and Women’s Studies | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
*Select “Filter by” to view the subfields. Select the subfield of interest. The faculty specializing in that area will be listed.
global asian studies
What is global Asian studies:
According to the LAS Global Asian Studies Department, “Global Asian Studies (GLAS) engages in an interdisciplinary study of Asia, as well as transoceanic and transnational Asian diasporas. While emphasizing the study of Asian and Asian American geographies, histories, languages, cultures, and politics, GLAS scrutinizes the frames of area studies and ethnic studies within which such analyses have traditionally been located. With its emphasis on diasporas, transnationalism, and comparative ethnic/racial studies, Global Asian Studies aims to better understand the globalized world we live in, and redress some of the shortcomings of a limited focus on either area studies (Asian studies) or ethnic studies (Asian American Studies) alone.
Global Asian Studies also includes a study of new immigration patterns and historical shifts in U.S. and global racial formations, including an emphasis on lslamaphobia, new Orientalisms, and anti-Black, as well as anti-Arab/Muslim, racisms. Anchored by an intersectional, social justice, and community-engaged framework, the pedagogical and intellectual work of Global Asian Studies encourages an examination of racial formations. It also promotes an understanding of Asia and Asian diasporas as complex nexuses of knowledge and power, shaped and reshaped over time and space.” Read more: Global Asian Studies (GLAS) Major and Minor | Global Asian Studies | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
What do global Asian studies scholars study:
Research examples from LAS faculty: Research and Creative Work | Global Asian Studies | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
Faculty and research areas/subfields*: Core Faculty | Global Asian Studies | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
*Browse faculty profiles to learn about their research areas.
Integrated Health Studies
What is integrated health studies?
According to the LAS Integrated Health Studies Department, Integrated Health Studies is “an alternative and holistic approach for students interested in pursuing a career in the health science field. The IHS major is jointly supported by the LAS Departments of Biological Sciences and Psychology, and housed in the Department of Biological Sciences. This partnership along with the collaboration with various other departments and colleges at UIC make this a comprehensive and truly unique major. The primary goal of the degree program is to offer a diverse, interdisciplinary curriculum that includes relevant core content spanning the life sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, and humanities. The complexity of human health, from the level of gene to society, makes up the framework for this major.” Read more: Integrated Health Studies | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
What do integrated health scientists study?
Biological Sciences
Research areas/subfields and faculty specialties: Research | Biological Sciences | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
Research areas/subfields and faculty specialties: Research by Area | Biological Sciences | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
Psychology
Research areas/subfields: Graduate Studies | Psychology | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
Research areas/subfields and faculty specialties*:Faculty | Psychology | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
*Select “Filter by” to view the subfields. Select the subfield of interest. The faculty specializing in that area will be listed.
latin american and latino studies
What is Latin American and Latino Studies:
According to the LAS Latin American and Latino Studies Department, “Latin American and Latino Studies (LALS) is a vibrant interdisciplinary unit focused on Latina/o and Latin American populations. Our mission is to produce knowledge about the social, political, economic, and cultural processes that shape the Latin American and Latina/o experience; and to promote community and public engagement in order to foster the economic, political, physical, and educational well-being of the Latin American and Latino communities.”
The program in Latin American Studies and Latino Studies seeks to provide students with an understanding of the history, cultures, and contemporary issues of Latin Americans and Latinos in the U.S. using interdisciplinary approaches. Areas of study may include Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America as well as urbanization and social and political processes among Latino groups in Chicago and throughout the United States. The field utilizes comparative and diverse developmental perspectives to illuminate linkages among the countries and peoples of the Americas.” Read more: About | Latin American and Latino Studies | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
What do Latin American and Latino Studies scholars study:
Research conducted by LAS faculty: Research | Latin American and Latino Studies | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
Research areas/subfields and faculty specialties*: Core Faculty | Latin American and Latino Studies | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
*Select “Filter by” to view the subfields. Select the subfield of interest. The faculty specializing in that area will be listed.
Neuroscience
What is Neuroscience?
According to the UIC Laboratory of Integrative Neuroscience, “Neuroscience is an inter-disciplinary field aimed at understanding how the nervous system interacts with the environment and other internal systems to give rise to complex processes that include sensory perception, learning and memory, emotion, cognition and action. It borrows from other disciplines such as Biology, Psychology, Philosophy and Chemistry.
Majoring in Neuroscience presents you with core knowledge from other majors, thus our students graduate with an appreciation for how the nervous system develops, is organized, and communicates in the service of behavior. An understanding of how the nervous system functions is dependent on ever-developing technology. Neuroscience majors will thus have the opportunity to witness innovation through laboratory courses and undergraduate research experiences.” Read more: Neuroscience | Biological Sciences | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu) and Undergraduate Studies | Laboratory of Integrative Neuroscience | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
What do neuroscientists study?
Research areas/subfields and faculty specialties: Research Groups | Laboratory of Integrative Neuroscience | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
Research areas/subfields and faculty specialties: Research Summaries | Laboratory of Integrative Neuroscience | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
All faculty in philosophy, biology, chemistry, and psychology in neuroscience*: Faculty | Laboratory of Integrative Neuroscience | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
Biology faculty in neuroscience*: Biological Sciences | Graduate Program in Neuroscience | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
Chemistry faculty in neuroscience*: Chemistry | Graduate Program in Neuroscience | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
Psychology faculty in neuroscience*: Psychology | Graduate Program in Neuroscience | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
Faculty across campus in neuroscience*: Faculty – by departments | Graduate Program in Neuroscience | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
*Browse faculty profiles to learn about their research areas.
Sources
View the list of sources used to develop this resource.