Interdisciplinary Learning
Interdisciplinary education at MSU is characterized by strong disciplines that work together in positive ways.
MSU’s philosophy is that bringing together the best tools and approaches from multiple disciplines and encouraging disciplines to interact, rather than dilutes, bolsters each area’s inherent strengths.
As MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon noted in her 2007 State of the University Address, “There is no problem or issue, domestic or global, that does not require an interdisciplinary definition and an interdisciplinary solution. We will cut across boundaries—disciplinary, geographic, and political—to tackle the real problems society faces.”
Example of Interdisciplinary Learning at MSU
MSU’s Science, Technology, Environment, and Public Policy Specialization (STEPPS) is a cross-college program that brings together James Madison College, Lyman Briggs College, and the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Students learn about public policy related to science, technological change, and environmental science to help them promote change, become leaders, and formulate effective public policy. STEPPS offers experiential learning opportunities through study abroad and internships with agencies such as the Sierra Club, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Defense, and the Environmental Law Institute.
