Department of Professional Interdisciplinary Studies
Introduction/Mission
The Department of Professional Interdisciplinary Studies offers two unique degree completion programs with an emphasis on cross-disciplinary knowledge that connects different disciplines. Our mission is to prepare nontraditional students to be future global leaders through the development of critical thinking, communication, theoretical inquiry, and technological skills in response to a diverse society and changing workforce. Students participate in service-learning activities to foster civic responsibility and lead to competence in personal and organizational development. Students also achieve success through the flexible design of the program curriculum which can be tailored to student's academic, personal, and professional needs.
The Bachelor of Science Degree in Professional Interdisciplinary Studies (PRIS) Program is a flexible program designed for mature adults who seek a nontraditional method for obtaining a bachelor’s degree. The curriculum has rigor, coherence, and logical progressions and is aligned with the current and anticipated market demands of students and the workforce. PRIS allows students to tailor coursework to meet their personal and professional needs. Specific program benefits include the opportunity for students to:
- achieve their educational and personal goals,
- expand their knowledge base by completing a comprehensive, individually paced plan of study, and
- take advantage of college studies as they balance their family life and employment while working toward achieving their long-term career goals.
This program is offered in a traditional and fully online format.
Program Options
In the Bachelor of Science in Professional Interdisciplinary Studies Degree Program, participants may choose from one of two program options:
Option 1: Professional Interdisciplinary Studies with a Concentration in General Interdisciplinary Studies
- General Interdisciplinary Studies
This option prepares students for a broad spectrum of employment opportunities in such career fields as communications, humanities and fine arts, natural science, education, behavioral and social science, entry-level international relations, and social and economic affairs. Additionally, the program is flexible enough for students to customize studies for today’s and tomorrow’s emerging positions and organizations.
Option 2: Professional Interdisciplinary Studies with a Concentration in Human Resource Development
- Human Resource Development
This specialization prepares students for careers as professional training directors, training/development managers, human resource directors, etc. Students will develop skills in communication, conflict resolution, training and development, team leadership, workplace learning, career planning, succession planning, organizational development, and performance improvement.
Objectives
The educational objectives of the Bachelor of Science in Professional Interdisciplinary Studies Degree Program are to:
- Prepare adult learners for leadership positions in business, education, government, community, and professional organizations.
- Decreasing time to degree for adult and nontraditional students by providing alternative degree options, modes of delivery, and adequate student services.
- Expand students’ interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of the relationships among the areas of humanities and fine arts, natural sciences, and social and behavioral science.
- Developing students’ ability to read, interpret and evaluate the work of scholars in their chosen career field and design and apply research skills in the study of career-related problems.
- Provide adult learners with a high-quality education that allows them to communicate effectively and reason critically when confronted with workforce and societal issues.
Other Requirements/Offerings
- Must complete 30 semester hours at the 300-400 level.
- Must complete 30 hours in residence at Jackson State University.
Course Descriptions
This course provides an overview of the discipline and field of human resource development. The course will focus on how individuals and groups learn and interact within organizations. Topics will include strategic planning for human resource development, needs assessment, program development, application of workplace learning theories, career development theories and methods, and application of organizational learning theories.
This course provides theoretical and applied introduction to the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation of training for adults in organizations. Students will create a learning community to safely explore the theoretical and practical issues of adult learning research and theory.
This course is designed to teach perspective trainers the importance of effective communcation skills at every level of the training process. From assessing the audiences needs to developing and marking the training session, students will hone their communcation skills and apply those skills to produce the types of documents required in an effective training program.
This course addresses the principles and processes necessary to effectively manage and coordinate the training function in business and industry. Topics include strategic planning of the training function, responsibilities and tasks of managing training, analyzing training problems, managing training projects, facilities planning, legal and ethical considerations in training, budget and trends in the training and development field.
Students will learn conflict resolution skills for managing and resolving conflict in the workplace. Emphasis will be placed on alternate dispute resolution methodologies, including mediation and negotiation strategies. An extensive use of case studies as they relate to conflict resolution among peers, subordinates, and superiors will be examined. A special project will include the design and implementation of an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program for an organization.
This course will address the linkage between outcomes and instruction both in theory and in practice. Students will be given hands-on experience of designing micro-learning systems involving the synthesis of systematic thinking and design actions. The course will also discuss technology integration research, and effective planning and selecting appropriate technologies to improve instruction and learning design.
This course will examine methods for establishing a productive continuing education/lifelong learning program. The principles and procedures involved in designing, organizing, operating and evaluating comprehensive continuing education and training programs will be explored. An emphasis will be placed upon the role and responsibilities of the program manager or director.
This course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to effectively plan, develop, and implement training for organizations. The course will allow students to determine the training needs of an organization, develop the training design, implement, and evaluate training material.
This seminar is designed for students to examine critical issues in the area of human resource development using various research methodologies. Students will be able to evaluate how research has been used to study those critical issues.
This course provides students with an introductory approach to planning special events and conferences for various occasions. The course provides students with information on every aspect of organizing and managing special events, such as preparing and managing the budget, scheduling, coordinating food and beverages, selecting décor and themes, entertainment, promotions, marketing, and staffing.