Chapter 6: Developing Globalized Teacher Education Curriculum Through Interdisciplinarity

Many people contend that the most pressing concerns facing people in our globalized society require a complex synthesis of knowledge stemming from the intersection of multiple disciplines. A growing number of interdisciplinary initiatives in higher education have shed light on the need for (and difficulties of) interdisciplinary program development. Interdisciplinary programs have increased in higher education; however, many have met with difficulties in implementation in the absence of strong foundational theory, adequate curriculum, and well-defined aims (Boix-Mansilla, 2010). This descriptive/analytical paper seeks to bring into focus the oft times tumultuous task of designing and implementing an interdisciplinary studies (IDS) program at a major state university. The university itself is significant due to the fact that it is one of the largest Hispanic serving institutions in the nation. As the demographics of the country continue to show a rise in the Hispanic population, universities that service this growing group will also continue to move to the forefront in higher education.