Cross-Disciplinary Studies Minors as a New Vehicle to Enhance STEAM Programs

Abstract

This paper describes the motivation and organization of Cal Poly’s new type of academic subprogram: the Cross-Disciplinary Studies Minor (CDSM). CDSMs are an appropriate educational vehicle for providing both depth in one’s own field and breadth in a companion field for students who want to excel in studying topics that straddle the boundaries of traditional BS degrees. The design of CDSMs is illustrated using the example of Cal Poly’s Cross-Disciplinary Studies Minor in Data Science, which has been in place since 2015-2016 academic year.