Summaries & Reports

Throughout the years, the Center has reflected on its programs and projects, striving to constantly update and improve our practices and our offerings in whatever relevant ways possible. They have allowed us to examine our work closely, reflect, launch new measures and procedures, and look into the future.

These internal reviews synthesized work done across particular programs and provided glimpses into the growth and current status of the ongoing ventures. These reports were also useful in providing a panoramic portrait of the concrete work done within the interdisciplinary realm. They allowed us to take stock of the academic possibilities, to share with various stakeholders, and to also present some of this work to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) accreditation team during their 2024 visit.

The following are reports and reviews of various programs and initiatives related to interdisciplinarity at Pratt. If you would like to receive any given report, please write to Renae Calderon Ramirez at rcalde98@pratt.edu with a brief explanation regarding your interest.

A formal document titled "Pratt Integrative Courses Assessment Report." It includes a list of contributors, such as Maria Baker and Kim Bobier, along with their roles in the PIC Assessment Committee. The report outlines the assessment semester as Fall 2022, with data collection and analysis slated for 2023/2024 and report narrative finalization for 2024/2025. A soft, gradient circle in shades of orange and pink is featured prominently on the page.

A cream-colored document titled "Interdisciplinarity @Pratt" in large black font. Below, "A summary overview" and "Fall 2025" are written in smaller font. At the bottom, it states, "Compiled and presented by The Center for Interdisciplinary Studies." The overall layout is minimalist with a clean and professional appearance.

A colorful pamphlet titled "FUSE: A Nexus for Interdisciplinary and Individualized Learning" contains sections on curricular innovations, offerings, and programs. The design features a gradient background with phrases like "A Framework," "A Laboratory," "A Space," and "A Commitment." Details include information about independent studies, customized minors, and various initiatives that encourage interdisciplinary exploration and provide opportunities for student engagement and research. Contact information for the director and social media links are also present.

This report was conducted, compiled, and written by the PIC Assessment Committee: Maria Baker, Kim Bobier, Alexandra Goldberg, Alexis Karl, Chelsea Limbird, Birgit Rathsmann, with assistance from: Amir Parsa and Renae Calderon Ramirez. Assessment semester. Fall 2022. Data collection: 2023/2024. Report Narrative/Finalized: 2024/2025.

Launched in the Fall 2018 semester, the Pratt Integrative Courses (PICs) were designed as
interdisciplinary explorations of a wide range of possible content, putting into practice
multiple ways of thinking and ways of making. Students acquire and integrate skills and
competencies from both studio and general education classes, recombining them in novel
and unexpected ways that test, challenge, and expand their creative and critical capacities.
The PIC constitutes a punctuation mark–an integrative opportunity–in students’ overall
undergraduate learning experience, an engagement in a cross-disciplinary and collaborative
environment that can also nourish their future work in their majors and the capstone
projects related to their disciplines.

This report was compiled and written by Amir Parsa, Associate Provost for Interdisciplinary and Integrative Learning, with assistance from Renae Calderon Ramirez, Program Manager, and Sydney Haas, Program Assistant, of The Center for Interdisciplinary Studies.

In Spring 2022 and AY 2022-23, focus groups were held to examine and analyze the development–and the current state–of the Customized Minors (CM) at Pratt. The goal was to dive deep into various matters pertaining to the Customized Minor across the board: from student experiences in developing their minors to logistical matters, courses, and clarity around guidelines and protocols, along with various systems and mechanisms that affect the coordination of the CM. This report constitutes the most definitive review up to Fall 2023.

This document was created to share data and some analyses around Independent Study. Independent Study provides opportunities for students to explore academic topics that are not covered in the established curriculum. An Independent Study is a for-credit course carried out under the supervision and mentorship of a faculty member. Independent Study projects take place outside of the students’ scheduled class hours and outside of the supervising faculty’s scheduled teaching load. Data was collected from 2015 through Fall 2023. The current document provides a consolidation of useful and relevant material and analyses around Independent Study, and can inform future recommendations around this student-driven opportunity.

This document provides a deep dive into various matters pertaining to Minors across the board at Pratt Institute–from student experiences to logistical matters, from clarity around guidelines and protocols to various systems and mechanisms that affect the coordination of minors. The Minors Review/Assessment Group identified questions they deemed important, divided a number of tasks, collected data, examined existing documents pertaining to various dimensions of Minors, and conducted focus groups with students. The report provides some guiding recommendations for the future as well.

This pamphlet chronicles the early days of what is now The Center for Interdisciplinary Study including: Curricular Offerings and Programs and Initiatives.

The FUSE Nexus was a framework that highlighted Pratt’s commitment to interdisciplinary and integrative study. Courses, programs, and initiatives (all in continued existence) provided students opportunities to engage outside their departments and to customize their learning experience. FUSE highlighted connectivities across disciplines and divisions, elucidated potential learning networks, and facilitated the curation of the overall interdisciplinary experience at Pratt. A perpetually evolving nexus, FUSE developed a nimble ecosystem of integrative/neodisciplinary offerings at the vanguard of higher education. FUSE evolved into The Center for Interdisciplinary Studies.

Summaries & Reports

Pratt Integrative Courses Assessment Report

Interdisciplinarity @Pratt booklet

Information, Data, and Documents: Pratt Integrative Courses at Pratt

Internal Review/Assessment: Customized Minors at Pratt Report

Data and Analysis: Independent Study at Pratt Report

Internal Review/Assessment: Minors at Pratt Report

FUSE: A Nexus for Interdisciplinary and Individualized Learning pamphlet