Learning Communities

What is an Interdisciplinary Learning Community?

An Interdisciplinary Learning Community is self-selecting interest group of students who explore a subject area from a variety of angles, with the support of likeminded faculty and staff members. Students enroll in “pathways,” sequences of linked general education courses, and participate in related activities and events designed to enhance their learning. Many of Emerson’s pathways include themed housing, creating genuine living-learning experiences for first-year students.

Why enroll in an Interdisciplinary Learning Community?

All students at Emerson are required to complete general education courses. Most students enroll in these courses without regard to sequence, pattern, or integration. Students jump through individual “hoops” but the hoops may not be linked in a meaningful way. The New Pathways Program links general education courses with the liberal arts ideal in mind: students make connections among courses and across disciplines, explore new territory, and give voice to complex ideas. Interdisciplinary Learning Communities are about challenge, growth, and collaboration. It should come as no surprise that learning communities also ease the transition from high school to college, create helpful interpersonal networks when students need them most, and foster a sense of engagement and inquiry beyond the traditional classroom.

For more information about learning communities, visit The National Learning Commons at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.