Popular Resources

Interdisciplinary Course Descriptions

NDMU-100 FIRST YEAR SEMINAR
Assists first-year students in making a successful transition to college life. The course has three overlapping themes: becoming an intentional learner, becoming a Notre Dame woman, and acquiring global and intercultural fluency. Each student will examine and reflect upon various aspects of her life, including her relationship to other students, the institution and the community (understanding culture, appreciating diversity). Students will have the opportunity to develop personal, academic, and leadership skills and habits that will enhance their college experiences and promote lifelong learning. Required for first-year traditional age students and transfer students with fewer than 12 credits. [3 credits]

IDS-100L EMERGING LEADERS LAB
Fosters personal awareness and development central to learning to be a leader capable of fostering positive social change in society. Emerging Leaders Lab enables students to articulate their mission, discern their preferred leadership style, practice key interpersonal communication skills, and work effectively with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and in groups. Students focus on developing self-knowledge and skill in time and stress management, conflict resolution, ethical decision making and conduct in professional settings. [1 credit]

IDS-150 INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN'S STUDIES
Helps students examine the differing meanings of feminism based on readings and films from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. Examines how race, ethnicity, class, age, ability and sexual orientation shape women's points of commonality and difference. Includes a service-learning project involving incarcerated women. Fulfills general education requirement in gender studies. [3 credits]

IDS-160: INTRODUCTION TO PEACE AND JUSTICE STUDIES
This is an introduction to peace and justice studies. The course focuses on negative peace (i.e., eliminating direct violence, including war) as well as positive peace building (fostering an equitable economic system and ecological balance). The course analyzes the roots of violence and inequity as well antidotes to these problems. Fulfills general education requirement in cross-cultural studies and history. [3 credits]

IDS-200 FOUNDATIONS OF LEADERSHIP FOR WOMEN
Presents an interdisciplinary approach to developing leadership skills in a world of social change. Students will examine multiple leadership paradigms with a focus on models that are inclusive, empowering, purposeful, ethical and process-oriented. They will critically examine their own perceptions about leadership; identify relevant leadership attitudes, behaviors and skills; and apply leadership knowledge through a variety of experiences including self-assessment, skill development, service-learning and small group team activities. Prerequisite: IDS 100L. [3 credits]

IDS 226 WHY CARE? JUSTICE AND SERVICE
Provides students with an opportunity to study the University's mission of social responsibility through readings and discussion. Students will also develop a hands-on understanding of what it means to be a socially-responsible citizen through a service-learning experience. [3 credits]

IDS-310 SERVICE ABROAD: WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE
Service abroad is an independent, self-sustaining course which enhances all departments and programs. It is another opportunity for Notre Dame women to further expand their knowledge of the world and their self-giving. Service Abroad immerses the participant more deeply into the culture of another country. Prerequisite: Completion of required independent study/lab with a grade of B and Junior/Senior standing. Fulfills general education requirement in cross-cultural studies. [3 credits]

IDS-310L SERVICE ABROAD LAB–WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE
This independent study, prior to the actual service, introduces the student to the history, culture and language of the country where she will give service. The exact content of the course is determined by the instructor and depends on the student's knowledge and level of preparation. Prerequisite: Permission of program director. Fulfills general education requirement in cross-cultural studies. [1 credit]

IDS-340 INTRODUCTION TO CATHOLIC STUDIES
Provides an overview of various dimensions of the Roman Catholic faith, including Catholic practices, histories, cultures and doctrines. Topics to be considered are: Catholic spirituality and institutions, Catholic ecumenism and interreligious dialogue, Catholicism and the arts, sciences and social action; the history of the Catholic Church, global Catholicism, contemporary Catholic theology, and the future of the Catholic Church. Prerequisite: RST-201. Fulfills general education requirement for 300/400-level religious studies. [3 credits]

IDS-361 CAREER INTERNSHIP (SEMINAR REQUIRED)
Combines the experiential component of an on-site professional work placement with an interdisciplinary consideration of work-related issues. Focus of the course is on integrating the academic component with work experience through reflection, class discussion and assignments. Prerequisites: Completed 30 credits, attended an Academic Career and Enrichment Center internship orientation workshop, minimum sophomore status, and academic advisor's permission. [2, 3 or 4 credits]

IDS-3XX RESEARCH APPRENTICE
Introduces an academically-based dialectic experience in which the student is trained in the methods of research at the college level for a specific discipline. The student serves as a research apprentice to a faculty mentor within the student’s academic discipline. There is an interdisciplinary monthly seminar for all apprentices, an experimental student research component, weekly office hours and weekly supervision with the faculty member. Permission of instructor and research mentor required. [1, 2, or 3 credits: 10 semester hours for one credit; 20 semester hours for two credits; or 30 semester hours for 3 credits.]

IDS-410 SEMINAR: LEADERSHIP AND SOCIAL CHANGE
Helps students integrate previous academic and experiential learning to address a contemporary social issue, and develop workable and innovative solutions to tackle some aspect of that social issue. With coordinator approval, students may take the seminar portion of the course along with a relevant senior-level practicum in their major. [3 credits]

IDS-430 WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: A WASHINGTON SEMINAR
Provides opportunities to learn from women leaders about the development of policy in the fields of science and technology. Speakers are drawn from a variety of agencies and organizations including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, White House Office on Science and Technology and the National Research Council. Field trips to some government agencies. [3 credits]

IDS-440 SEMINAR IN WOMEN'S STUDIES
Explores issues concerning women through research and research methodologies that use and apply multidisciplinary feminist theory. This is the culminating capstone seminar for the community of women's studies scholars. Prerequisites: IDS-150, two women's studies electives or permission of instructor. [3 credits]

IDS-450 SEMINAR EXPERIENCE: PEACE AND JUSTICE
Provides students with a focused seminar experience that allows them to consider the coursework for the minor through the acquired lens of peace and justice studies. Prerequisite: IDS-160. [3 credits]

IDS-455 SEMINAR IN CATHOLIC STUDIES
Serves as the capstone for the Catholic Studies minor. As such, it provides students with a focused seminar experience that encourages substantial guided research on a topic in Catholic Studies mutually agreed upon by student and professor. May include a service-learning component. Prerequisite: IDS-340. [3 credits]

IDS-461 PROFESSIONAL INTERNSHIP (SEMINAR REQUIRED)
Combines an on-site professional work placement with opportunities to reflect on the work experience as it relates to the student's overall academic program. The focus of the course is on development of effective job search and networking skills and strategies, career management and advancement, and professional growth and development. Prerequisites: completion of 30 credits, attendance at an Academic Career and Enrichment Center internship orientation workshop, sophomore status, academic advisor permission, completion of IDS-361 or department practicum. [2, 3 or 4 credits]

IDS-462 ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL INTERNSHIP
Offers a departmentally-monitored, off-campus professional work experience for upper-level students who have completed IDS-461 and do not have a required departmental practicum. Students work with their academic advisor or a designated faculty member to identify objectives for the experience and complete related assignments. Prerequisites: completion of 30 credits, meetings with an Academic Career and Enrichment Center counselor and with one's academic advisor or designated faculty member, sophomore status, academic advisor permission and completion of IDS-461 or department practicum. [2, 3 or 4 credits]

IDS-496 TEACHING APPRENTICE
Introduces an academically-based didactic experience in which the student is trained in the philosophy and methods of teaching at the college level for a specific discipline. The student serves as an educational apprentice to a faculty mentor within the student's academic discipline. There is an interdisciplinary monthly seminar for all apprentices, an experiential student teaching component, weekly office hours and weekly supervision with the faculty mentor. Permission of instructor. [3 credits]

IDS-498 ADVANCED TEACHING APPRENTICE
Expands the academically based didactic experience of IDS-496 in which the student is trained in the philosophy and methods of teaching at the college level while serving as an educational apprentice to a faculty member within the student's academic discipline. In this second course, the apprentice develops skills and techniques to assess student work in the content area. This course provides a unique opportunity for students to train for post-baccalaureate teaching or graduate teaching assistantships through skill development. Prerequisite: IDS-496. [3 credits]

IDS-4XX ADVANCED RESEARCH APPRENTICE
Expands the academically-based didactic experience of IDS-3xx in which the student is trained in the methods of research at the college level while serving as a research apprentice to a faculty member within the student’s academic discipline. In this second course, the apprentice deepens and broadens skills and techniques related to a research project and demonstrates more independence in executing research. This course provides a unique opportunity for students to train for post-baccalaureate research or research teaching assistantships through skill development. Pre-requisite: IDS 3XX. [1, 2 or 3 credits: 10 semester hours for 1 credit; 20 semester hours for 2 credits; or 30 semester hours for 3 credits.]

IDS 4XX-LIBERAL ARTS CAPSTONE
Integrates the individualized learning experiences of each liberal arts major through documentation, reflection, and interaction with faculty. [1 credit]

Note: IDS courses offered as part of the honors program are listed in the Morrissy section of the catalog.

Back to top