Q: How are IDS courses different from other classes offered at BC?
A: There are two basic types of IDS courses offered at BC: 10~12 credit courses (the equivalent of 2 “regular” classes), or 15-17 credit courses (the equivalent of 3 “regular” classes). The courses are designed by a team of two to three instructors from different academic disciplines who have a mutual interest in the topic or theme of the class. For example, instructors from Psychology, Sociology and English developed a course looking into how communities function in contemporary America.
Students meet from 2-4 hours a day with the same community of learners who participate in a variety of activities ranging from book seminars to writing workshops. Students are expected to take responsibility for the tone and direction of the course and to initiate and complete their own successful educational experience.
Q: What are the advantages of an IDS class?
A: Allows all learners, students and instructors, to work together in a supportive, comfortable and inquiring environment to learn about a topic in-depth. Through this process we all improve several abilities. We become better communicators, critical thinkers, reasoners, and appreciators of diverse perspectives. We learn to see connections between ideas, thereby developing new insights and innovative ideas. Our peers in the learning community encourage us to take responsibility for our work and our actions, thereby becoming an active and committed part of a community. Finally, the collaborative skills we develop will transfer to new settings, both academic and in other realms of our lives. Overall, we all learn more about living in a community and solving problems together.
Q: How do the credits transfer?
A: The Interdisciplinary Program at Bellevue College has been structured so that credits are easily transferred to other institutions. Students enrolled in IDS classes receive individual credits for the separate course that compose the interdisciplinary class. Each 10 credit IDS class is composed of two separate five credit courses. Each of these two classes will appear separately on college transcripts. In the IDS class, (In) Decision 2012; Campaigns and Elections in the United States.
Receive 10 credits from the following courses: Communication Studies: CMST& 102 Intro to Mass Media (5 cr) OR CMST& 230 Small Group Communication (5 cr) AND Political Science: POLS& 101 Intro to Political Science (5 cr) OR POLS 160 Intro to American Political Culture 100 (5 cr) OR POLS& 202 American Government (5 cr)
By choosing one course from each of the two categories, a student would receive a total of 10 credits on their transcripts, each course appearing separately.
Credits transfer as they are described in your course syllabus, according to the transfer agreement between BC and your transfer institution. Check the AAS Degree advising sheet for credit options.
Q: What happens to my student status if I have to drop the course?
A: You need to officially drop the course. Then check with the Admissions office so you will receive a registration appointment for the following quarter.
Q: How often are the classes repeated?
A: Specific classes are repeated on an irregular basis. Scheduling individual courses is related to instructor involvement, student enrollment, and space availability–all of which are unpredictable factors. It is generally best to enroll in a course when it is offered rather than wait for it to come ’round again.
Q: Where did the Interdisciplinary Studies Originate?
A: The origin of Interdisciplinary Studies at Bellevue College came from the Washington Center for Improving the Quality of Undergraduate Education established in 1985 at The Evergreen State College as an inter-institutional consortium. The Center focuses on emphasizing utilization and sharing of existing resources through collaboration among member institutions. The Center is supported by the Washington State Legislature.
Last Updated June 2, 2020