Project on Disciplinary Innovation: Course Threads

The Project on Disciplinary Innovation, commonly known as “Course Threads,” invites new ways of thinking about interdisciplinary faculty research and the relationship among undergraduate courses across departments in the humanities and related fields at UC Berkeley. Rather than generate new programs, interdisciplinary majors, or official requirements, the aim of this project is to establish a flexible model for cross-disciplinary education by bringing to light some of the hidden conceptual "threads" that connect courses across departments and disciplines. Threads are identified by a group of faculty and are comprised anywhere from 15-50 courses in different departments as well as by an annual symposium. Each thread is driven by faculty interested in some innovative research field not otherwise reflected in the formal program options available to undergraduates. The Project on Disciplinary Innovation is made possible by a generous grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Current Course Threads Topics:
Cultural Forms in Transit
The Historical & Modern City
Human-Centered Design
Human Rights
Humanities & Environment
Old Things
Sciences and Society
Visible Language

Undergraduate students interested in finding out more information or in participating in a course thread, please visit the Course Threads website.

Eligibility

Faculty who are interested in participating in the formulation of a new Course Thread are asked to identify a topic pertinent to a range of disciplines. The proposal should include a brief description and intellectual justification for the proposed Thread topic, as well as an identified range of faculty whom they intend to recruit for a research group on the Thread (see application guidelines below).

The faculty group will meet at least four times during the spring semester to compile a working bibliography of the topic, to examine existing course offerings and materials that fall within the intellectual parameters of the topic for suitability, to establish contact with colleagues who are teaching related topics, and to identify digital and other materials that they and their colleagues are using in courses that could be posted on a Thread web site. Each group will be assigned an undergraduate apprentice to help with logistics and with compiling the required materials.

Grant Provision

Awards total up to $30,000 for each successful proposal. Funds may be distributed to individual faculty in the group for research related to work on the topic or may be used for such things as course development and enhancement, technology and office assistance, or for activities such as lectures, symposia, etc., related to the proposal.

Deadline

May 1, 2012 – received by 5 p.m.

Application Materials

Download the Spring 2012 Project on Disciplinary Innovation application:
PDF
Microsoft Word

For questions about the program, please contact The Townsend Center Fellowships Administrator at townsend_fellowships@berkeley.edu or 510-643-8082.