University of Silesia in Katowice

The College of Individual Interdisciplinary Studies is an educational unit, where students are able to create their very own curriculum. Students can choose classes from all degree programmes offered by the University of Silesia by indicating one or more leading degree programme(s), in which they will obtain a diploma, and they can enrich their scientific and professional development with any classes selected from other degree programmes.

The College of Individual Interdisciplinary Studies provides the opportunity to pursue 1st cycle, 2nd cycle and long-cycle studies.

1st cycle studies Interdisciplinarity – Individuality – Tutoring

While pursuing a Bachelor’s, Engineering or long-cycle Master’s degree studies, a student selects one or more leading degree programme(s) in which they will earn their degree, and enhance their academic path with courses from other disciplines. Student also chooses an academic mentor (tutor). A tutor is a student’s guide and first master. It is an authority that advises. The student and their tutor meet regularly to discuss topics of mutual interest. The tutor helps students develop an individual study plan, as well as guides and supports their intellectual growth by encouraging active participation in conferences and the publication of academic articles. The outcome of the cooperation between the student and the tutor is a semester paper that reflects the student’s scientific interests.

The student also has the opportunity to attend classes designed exclusively for the College’s students, delivered by renowned university scholars.

The 1st cycle studies at the College of Individual Interdisciplinary Studies are a good choice for those who aspire to pursue more than a single major.

The 2nd cycle studies. Major – Interdisciplinarity – Cooperation

The 2nd cycle studies at the College of Individual Interdisciplinary Studies offer a threefold opportunity to build on the education already acquired:

1. Specialising within a chosen leading degree programme;
2. Enriching your education with unique modules from other fields;
3. Learning to work in interdisciplinary teams.

In addition to the forms of teaching known from the 1st cycle studies, the core component of the 2nd cycle studies at the College is the work in the Teams for Developing Solutions to Miscellaneous Problems. A miscellaneous problem is one that cannot be solved within a single discipline. Students at the College learn how to form and work in teams made up of specialists from different fields, and then—supervised and mentored by a team tutor—work on solving a specific problem, many times collaborating with different institutions and companies.

In the recent years, the Teams for Developing Solutions to Miscellaneous Problems focused on:

• ‘Nanotechnology: Current Opportunities and Risks Associated with the Use of Nanosilver;’
• ‘Antioxidants in Selected Polish Alcohols. Physico-Chemical and Cultural Approach;’
• ‘Design Concept for a Study and Relaxation Area at the Faculty of Humanities;’
• ‘Women’s Unpaid Work – Issues, Roots, and Future Challenges.’

Similar to the 1st cycle studies, the College student obtains a diploma in the selected leading degree programme.

Graduates of the College are experts equipped with unique experiences and a network of contacts from a variety of disciplines and professions. Able to work independently, they are perfect candidates for doctoral studies. They have the rare skills to work in unconventional expert teams tasked with developing solution to a complex problem within a short timeframe, applying knowledge from diverse fields.

Fun fact

Did you know that the roots of interdisciplinarity go all the way back to antiquity? Hypatia of Alexandria was one of the keenest minds of her era. She was a prominent female philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician.