Hey everyone! This week we are going to focus our conversation towards integration. When I started UCF I began as an Education major with Social Science being the subject and then the following year I changed it to General Business. I felt that neither one of those were the right choice for me. When I decided to change it to IDS, I got to use both, and then also integrate my social science into humanities, and therefore changed it from a BA to a BS, the one I preferred. As I learned the better ways to integrate my areas, I found that it helped me to discover more ways to advance in my educational and career path. -Cydney
To integrate means “to unite or blend into a functioning whole.” When doing this as an interdisciplinarian, we have to combine different areas of knowledge and form a new whole. As an IDS student, we all have a reason for choosing our specific areas of study. This week please post your thoughts on the following questions. Remember to reply using the comments so everyone’s thoughts will stay grouped together in this topic.
What is integration? What are examples?
How have or haven't you integrated your areas and minor?
Why is integration of areas/minor important in terms of professional, academic, and/or personal developing?
How can your areas/minor be better integrated?
1. I believe integration is the act of combining or adding parts to make a unified whole.
ReplyDelete2. My areas of study are Behavioral and Social Sciences and Communications with a minor in Marketing. I believe that these areas of study and this minor are so much more involved with one another than most may assume at first glance. Marketing is tremendously benefited by the knowledge of Behavioral and Social Sciences. In all my classes I am taking this semester I use different concepts from my other subjects and use it to benefit the other subject at hand. The main objective of Marketing is knowing who you are marketing to, and what is a better way of understanding various marketing groups than by the knowledge of human thoughts/actions. Being able to communicate is extremely important in Marketing. I am able to express what I am trying to market and express it in the proper manor to the appropriate marketing group. Honestly, I will have such an upper hand in the marketing field because of my integration of subjects!
3. Integration of areas/minor is beneficial to professional, academic, and/or personal development. Professionally I will be able to market myself as a knowledge-balance individual who has more to offer a corporation/company than someone who only studied a single aspect. Academically I get to actually learn ideas/concepts I am actually interested in! Personally, my growth has been tremendous. I feel like a well rounded, knowledgeable person that has a desire to keep growing.
4. To better integrate my areas/minor I can write down and organize the various aspects that each area/minor is depicted and list how they can benefit one another. Research is another great way I can integrate my areas/ minor. All of my subjects rely heavily on research, so if I use researching I can determine their effectiveness towards each other and not just for the individual subject matters.
-Mercedes Beaudoin
Integration is combining one thing or phenomena INTO the other (or several things). The examples of that are going to be Applied Chemistry in the Genetics Studies, doughnuts(integrating creme into the bun), combining math into Computer Science, etc.
ReplyDeleteI think my integration of majors (Commerce and Computational Science) and minor(Helth care Administration) are almost perfect. I am studying to be an administrator in Helthcare, and I think every administrator should know math and have computer skills(with the help of Computational Science), and also be a good manager and businessman(Commerce).
Integration of areas is really important, because in the time we live, a person must be a multi-task oriented individual to succeed in one's life.
I actually do not know how to better integrate my areas with minor, I think if the integration is not perfect, it is close to be.
1.Integration is the act of combining into an integral whole.
ReplyDelete2.Examples could be a recipe with different ingredients to create a dish, a triathlon where is combining 3 sports or a milkshake. Also any scientific project where they need to integrate different disciplines like engineering, math and physics.
3.I believe my areas of study and minor will integrate very smoothly because Psychology is very important in communication skills and in understanding people in any area of study or job. Marketing will open me the door in how to integrate any product into the market especially me when I will be ready to go out and find a job and sell myself. In pursuing the expansion of my husbands legal office I will be applying the knowledge in Public affairs.
4.Like I said before my areas of study are very easy to integrate to one another in my case I will be in the area of sales either selling myself, my photos or legal services so marketing is a great minor to teach me in create a product, how to place my products into the market how to price them, and how to promote it. Public affairs is all what I need for a legal office and Psychology is the key of having to know people better.
Hi, I think that integration is something thats mixed together to form something better. Like take a Mcflurry for example, if you don't mix them together you just have ice cream and candy. When you mix them together you get a name.The same goes for my degree I mixed all my subjects together to form a name for my self. I am taking commerce,communications and humanities, when you mix them all together you have a rounded degree.Its important to integrate all professional, academic, and personal needs and wants. It will help better shape you in the real world because we are all different. We all choice are own path and from that we develop are self as a person, making us an individual. My area can be better integrated by letting myself believe I took the right choices, and on an academic standpoint maybe allowing the students to choose any class they want that they feel will help better integrate themselves in life. I feel the suggestions can only help us integrate are self better as people!
ReplyDelete@MercedesBeaudoin: I agree with you that research plays a key role in your studies. Marketing without constant everyday research will not be effective at all. Organizing,in my opinion, is very important part of all our lives, without it the life would be a huge chaos.
ReplyDelete@ Sammy Barakat: Our individual difference is empowered with an ability to study IDS. I'm so happy that we had this opportunity to enter IDS, regular majors sound boring for me now. I think it is we are all different as you said, some people like simplicity, some like complicated matters.
ReplyDeleteEveryone seems to have a nice consensus about integration. Namely that it is : empowering, important, better, a whole. Just looking at the word choice, we seem to have a positive connotation to the term "integration" and the core idea behind Interdisciplinary Studies!
ReplyDelete1. I look at integration as adding something to something else without upsetting the original. For example....it is kind of like merging into traffic on the highway. As you drive up the on ramp, you speed up to the same rate as the traffic on the highway and then you merge in without causing anyone else to slow down or move over. If you accomplish this, then you have become integrated into the highway traffic.
ReplyDelete2. I haven't really integrated my areas yet, as I have just started in the IDS program this semester.
3. Integration is important, because if you can combine and integrate your areas of study, you will be more well rounded when you complete your degree.
4. My areas can be better integrated by utilizing what I learn from the social sciences area in the business area, to better understand people and to better control my interactions with them.
1. When we talk about integrate we refer to the verb of merging to become one. For instance, when we study about the cells and their functions, we are studying the biological aspect of the cell as well as the chemical and how different elements can have a different effect on any given cell.
ReplyDelete2, 3. I have integrated my areas because they are all correlated and in order to obtain a better picture or better understanding of the physiology in the human body it is important to understand how everything works. My minor seems a little bit off in regards to my main areas because is not oriented to the biomedical field; however, this minor can be integrated to any major and any field because as a person and a future job applicant or business owner I will need to market a product, or service, and I will need to understand what is needed and how can I enhace the value of what I am offering in order to maintain a competitive advantage with another job applicant, coworker, or competitor. This kind of answers question 3 because all these areas of study are helping me to become an integral person on a professional and personal level because I have a broad educational background and a peripheral view of the market.
4. In order to better integrate these areas I will need to effectively utilize all the tools provided in school and apply them into the path I choose or a path that could open up for me. When I graduate I will have so much valuable information and I will need to be able to apply them in my career and personal life.
@Sammy Barakat
ReplyDeleteSammy, I like how you used the example of a mcflurry! It is so true! You see your degree the same way I see mine, it has it's own personal well-rounded sense to it.
-Mercedes Beaudoin
@Wayne Bannatyne
ReplyDeleteThe ways in which you can integrate your areas is exactly what I am doing. I think people heavily underestimate the power of understanding towards other people. I definitely think if you integrate this area with your others you will be the best person in your field! Keep up the good work!
-Mercedes Beaudoin
1. I believe that integration is the bringing together of two or more parts, to make one entity. An example that I think represents integration would be making a smoothie. Taking ingredients such as strawberries, blueberries, and milk, and combining them to make a blended smoothie represents integration.
ReplyDelete2. I have integrated my different areas and minors in my job. I use information I am learning from business classes, but also social sciences when I sell memberships, and help people set up programs here at the gym.
3. I feel that integration of areas and minors is important because learning all of this information is not useful unless you can use some of each together. It does not help to have knowledge in business classes, if one cannot communicate with others.
4. I believe by making a conscious effort to focus on both. Also choosing a career path that allows you to use skill from all of your areas and minors can help integrate them.
What is integration? What are examples?
ReplyDeleteTo me, integration is the combining together of things and making them coexist whether they want to or not. My examples would be my pets; I have two cats and two dogs. After awhile they stopped chasing each other and learned to live together, but that was after a month or two of constantly watching them.
Another example would be having a debate about the co-relatedness of different religions. I actually had that discussion for a few hours today with my friend who is a pure christian, while I am accepting of all religions. Eventually the result was that there really is no winner and that we all really just need to learn to live together or to just live with one another and not bother to care about what religion everyone else is.
How have or haven't you integrated your areas and minor?
The way that I am planning on integrating my majors, Applied Mathmatics and Political Science, would be an eventual career with the military as a scientist or soldier. The political science part is being able to be an officer if i enlist and being able to deal with all the politics that would come with the job. I could also be a civilian contractor with the same responcibilities, and the only difference would be that I am not being told what to do nearly as much by the military.
Why is integration of areas/minor important in terms of professional, academic, and/or personal developing?
I would think that the integration of my areas of study is importent because in the real world, it is the ability to combine and co-op ideas that gets jobs done in the end. Being an engineer is not Just math or Just physics, and the same goes for the plumber; not Just unclogging pipes or Just installing them. The other reason that it is personally a good thing to be able to integrate ideas is that Employers like people that are able to do more than what they are simply being hired to do; they want people that are able to go the extra yard.
How can your areas/minor be better integrated?
They can be better integrated by making me the boss of the things that I am working on. Bosses need to deal with jobsite politics, and if my job is contracting or building, then I would be all set in the politics mixed with the applied mathmatics.
Always a pleasure blogging with you guys. See you Later...
Integration is defined as the act or instance of combining into an integral whole. Some examples include integrating students, ESOL and general students in one classroom. Another example would be to integrate students with various areas of study into one degree program, i.e. Interdisciplinary Studies.
ReplyDeleteI have integrated my areas of study and my minor. I was previously an elementary education major. Once I decided to change my major I integrated the classes I have already taken and applied them to my new minor, general education. My two areas of study are communication and sociology. I plan on integrating all of these courses I am taking to develop a career in human resources or working at a community center.
I think the integration of areas/minor are important in terms of professional, academic, and/or personal developing because it provides the student with a well-rounded education. It also allows the student to select courses that are geared towards their particular career choice rather than taking unnecessary classes that they have no interest in. This will allow them to excel in their future profession.
I think my areas/minor can be better integrated by making more classes available. I find it difficult to register for many of the classes that I am interested in taking. Many of these classes are filled with students majoring in the particular subject. I think it would be great to have classes specifically dedicated to IDS majors.
@Wayne, Yes its like merging onto a highway! Everyone has different cars and different places to go. Great way to explain IDS!
ReplyDelete@Ivonne Interesting way to look at it thru chemicals, like h2o you need all those chemicals to create water. As is you need 2 major and one minor to get form IDS!
ReplyDelete1. What is integration? What are examples?
ReplyDeleteIntegration is the act of combining or unifying two or more parts of things.
2.How have or haven't you integrated your areas and minor?
Well, i would say that i have integrated my areas and minors. My areas are communication and social sciences and minors are business and real estate. I want to do political business and having communications helps that out extreme amounts. Everything i am learning will help each other out.
3.Why is integration of areas/minor important in terms of professional, academic, and/or personal developing?
This is important because the more you know, the better you will do. I will be able to not just know about business, but know about communcation which is extremely important in business.
4.How can your areas/minor be better integrated?
My areas and minors can be integrated just by learning all of them and putting them all to use. When i learn about business, i can think about what i learned in real estate, politics, and communications to help me. And vise versa with any other area or minor
@Amanda Barbato. I like how you used the gym example. very specific.
ReplyDelete@ jlobo305
ReplyDeleteI like what you said about bosses and office politics. I am taking a management class right now and in that class, we learned that managers, on average, are interrupted every 7 minutes with some kind of problem. IDS will be a great tool in dealing with those problems from all angles.
@ Ivonne Morales
If I may expand on what you were saying about cells and integration. I like the idea that you bring about the cells. As the cells split and expand and create new cells that have different functions they become integrated. GREAT way to think of it. I like it!
Cheers!
Wayne Bannatyne
@ Amanda Barbato: It is great that you are actually using what you are learning in your actual job and seeing results right there on the spot. That happen to me in my job I apply things that I have been learning in my classes for example sales techniques that they actually work pretty good.
ReplyDelete@ mnoahmiller : I agree with you communications is one of the most important fields because we are always interacting with other people it is great that we have the ability and the knowledge to use the perfect words and attitude.
ReplyDelete@Mercedes beaudoin: I think your two main areas and your minor complement each other and they integrate well. In order to understand the market of a specific good or service it is important to have a strong background of communications, behavioral, and social sciences for being able to understand the customers and their behaviors towards what you are offering.
ReplyDelete@AGaas: You are right about the fact that we are living in a society that is characterized as multitasking, as it is important to acquire the skill to integrate different activities in order to get the job done.
ReplyDelete@Wayne, I think your metaphor for integration is exactly right. Like getting on the highway you want it to be a smooth transition.
ReplyDelete@Veronica, it is great that you have such a well thought out plan for how you will use your degree. With IDS there are so many more options available you than if you had one basic degree. You know how to really sell this degree :)
ReplyDelete1. I think intergration is bringing things together to make a whole. An example is our majors.
ReplyDelete2. I have intergrated all of my areas and minors together perfectly except for one. My areas are Commerce and Education with minors in Business, Marketing, and Leadership. I think the one I've had a hard time blending sticks out pretty easily (Eduation).
3. I think integration of them all will help me in my personal development. It will help me find a job that will suit all the areas that interest me.
4. I think my areas/minors can be better integrated by looking more into my Education area to find out where I can apply the rest.
-Samantha Dullard
@Veronica Alonso
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about your Marketing helping you market yourself! Marketing is my main focus and always feel like people need to know about marketing because that's how you get busiess which gives your job. Doctors even need to know about marketing because if they knew all the ways of marketing their office they could get more patients.
-Samantha Dullard
@Wayne Bannatyne
ReplyDeleteIt's my first semester as well as an Interdiciplinary Studies major and I have yet to intergrate my areas/minors. I think it's definitely going to take some time and thinking for me.
-Samantha Dullard
@ Nikim,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with the fact that it would be wonderful if UCF could open more classes up. Alot of the business classes I am trying to take for my minor are already full by people only studying business.
- Amanda Barbato
@ Ivonne Morales,
ReplyDeleteI love your example of the cell. It is a really great way to explain IDS!
- Amanda Barbato
I can relate with most of you in regards to how you can integrate your areas. Sometimes its really difficult because you don't want them to overlap... but merely fit together like a puzzle.
ReplyDeletesometimes, its just important to study the areas that truly interest you and make you willing to engage in furthering your education.
If its your first year, don't fret too much over it. Just be happy you sort of know what you want to do! That's more than what I can say my first semester in UCF.
Also the deal with classes gets easier. UCF runs on a hierarchy when it comes to classes. People closer to graduation and people with higher GPAs and people in specialized programs usually get first pick! SO if you want to have an easier time registering keep your GPA up!
ReplyDeleteAlso research your classes ahead of time, or even go talk to the professor, they may be able to keep an eye out for you if someone drops their class!
Integration is bringing two or more areas/people/items in to work as a whole unit. I’m sticking with my example of concrete. Mixing cement and other minerals with water to make concrete, you can build sidewalks, buildings, roads, etc.
ReplyDeleteI’ve integrated my areas by choosing Radio/Television, Creative Writing, and Marketing. Some courses I will be taking are Broadcast Management, Scriptwriting, and Entertainment Marketing. All of these will help me towards my future career goal of working in the television entertainment industry.
Integration is important in terms of professional use, because learning as many areas of one career field will give you a lead when executing careers. Academically, it helps by learning subjects in one class that will help you in another. Personal development helps you to stay focused and become more knowledgeable in fields that interest you.
I’m really not sure how I could better integrate my areas of study.
@MercedesBeaudoin: You are absolutely right! Behavioral Science will help out a lot in Marketing. They even have an area in marketing called “Behavioral Marketing”.
@Wayne Bannatyne: Your example of highway traffic for integration is very creative and right on. If executed correctly, everything remains smooth and works well, which is definitely integration.