About
The Achieve Scholars Program is unique amongst undergraduate research programs in the country. Through its focused combination of transdisciplinary analysis and research methodology, Achieve Scholars learn how to go to the very foundations of skills-based thinking that functions between, across, and beyond all disciplines of study. In doing so, Achieve Scholars explore ways of knowing, and ways of being, that unite all fields of knowledge so that they may approach the complex problems of society in more meaningful, impactful, and ethical ways.
Curriculum Overview
The Achieve Scholars Program is an 18-credit hour, 4-year curriculum in which students participate throughout their undergraduate studies. It is intended to be flexible and responsive to students’ needs wherever, and whenever, possible.The curriculum overview below details the academic experiences of The Achieve Scholars Program.
Freshman Year
In this year, Achieve Scholars explore the foundations of transdisciplinary conceptual framework design. In doing so, they learn:
- What conceptual frameworks are and how to begin utilizing them in their research
- How transdisciplinary conceptual frameworks differ from, and can complement, traditional conceptual frameworks
- The limitations of discipline-based thinking and the need for systems-based thinking in utilizing transdisciplinary conceptual frameworks
- The differences between research, research methods, and research methodology
- How to contextualize social issues as wicked problems
Sophomore Year
In this year, Achieve Scholars explore the foundations of conducting a transdisciplinary literature review. In doing so, they learn:
- What are the characteristics of a successful literature review
- What are the varying types and purposes of a literature review
- How a transdisciplinary literature review differs from, and can complement, traditional literature review frameworks
- The limitations of systems-based thinking and the need for individual-level thinking in conducting transdisciplinary research on multiple levels of reality
- How to simultaneously interpret information at both the individual-level, and the systems-level, during the literature review process in meaningful and ethical ways
Junior Year
In this year, Achieve Scholars learn the foundations of dialogical and ethical data collection. In doing so, they learn:
- What are the different types of data collection and interpretation
- Why transdisciplinary data collection/interpretation, whether it is lab-based, field-based or library-based, or whether it is quantitative or qualitative in nature, must always be informed by frameworks of understanding that are dialogical
- How systems-level thinking can be coupled with individual-level thinking in conducting transdisciplinary data collection/interpretation
- Why processes such as IRB approval are important, necessary, and ethical and how to do them
- How to design, and propose, a dialogical transdisciplinary research project
Senior Year
In this year, Achieve Scholars learn the foundations of transdisciplinary writing, dissemination, and publishing. In doing so they learn:
- What successful transdisciplinary writing looks like
- Why transdisciplinary writing must speak effectively between, across and beyond the disciplines
- How to disseminate transdisciplinary knowledge in ways that speak to academic, and non-academic audiences alike
- How to disseminate transdisciplinary knowledge to specialists within, as well as specialists outside of, their primary academic discipline
- How to prepare and submit manuscripts for academic and non-academic publications
Benefits
Each student who is selected to participate in the Achieve Scholars Program will benefit from the in-depth, transdisciplinary, theoretical and skills-based approaches of how to unite fields of study; thus, becoming more creative and effective scholars and/or professionals within their field. They will have opportunities to collaborate with, and learn from, some of the most recognized scholars of transdisciplinary studies across the nation. Upon completion of the Achieve Scholars program of study, each student will have, at a minimum, three public presentations of their research at the annual Undergraduate Research at Creative Activity Conference at UA, and two manuscripts that can be submitted for publication.
Contact Information
For more information, please contact: Dr. Darren Surman / dsurman@ua.edu / 205-348-5551