Intergrating and you!

Good day, Mentees!

What comes to mind when you read the word integration? As an Interdisciplinary Studies major, you have probably heard this word numerous times.

We would define integration as the combination of elements (in our case, areas and minor) into an integral whole. Integration should be in harmony with our educational, professional, and personal goals. Think of it like a preamble to multitasking. It is a way for you to plan out what it is you want to do, before you are actually doing it.

Rich's studies in physiology and communication relate and complement each other. In the same vein, Andres' is a communications oriented IDS major with a minor in behavioral sciences. Rich's minor in Cinema Studies allows him to put the other two to work, or he can use his knowledge of all three to one whole project or task like his INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES DEGREE!

Andres on the other hand has to figure out ways of how his classes compliment each other. The IDS focus is communications however the minors he has chosen are marketing and sociology(behavioral sciences.) When you combine all these together you start to see how similar and how different they are to each other. IDS allows us the opportunity to 'multi-task' our learning in a way that we incorporate all our areas into a synergistic compound of wisdom!

Choosing similar fields of study is favorable because it will keep you focused and relevant in the field you want to pursue a career in. What processes have you experienced that have allowed you to select your areas of study in IDS?

E-portfolio

Good Evening!

Andres and I (Rich) will answer the following questions below:

How will your e-Portfolio demonstrate your interdisciplinarity?
What is the audience / purpose you're thinking of using?
How would you envision your e-Portfolio looking like? What would you like to stand out?
What things are you thinking could be used as evidence?

Andres:

How will your e-Portfolio demonstrate your interdisciplinarity?

- My e-portfolio encases all the activities I did throughout my semester enrolled in the cornerstone program at my university. Among the elements that compose my portfolio are a list of ideas that aid in my understanding of the IDS program. Comprehensive tools that aid me in my researching and inquisitorial necessities also make up the content in my electronic showcase. This all goes to represent the way that I've grown as an individual in my process as a student in the IDS program.

What is the audience / purpose you're thinking of using?

- My audience is future employers and those who have an interest in what I do. For the time being however it will have to be currently enrolled cornerstone students.

How would you envision your e-Portfolio looking like? What would you like to stand out?

- I envision my e-portfolio being as professional as possible. That being said I would like my individualism and my creativity to shine through as it is that from these, I will form my career.

What things are you thinking could be used as evidence?

- The design of my PowerPoint slides, the content of my entries, the expressionism in my choice of words. All these things will serve to ultimately showcase my e-portfolio as a strong supplement to my future resumes and professional repertoire.

- Andres Felipe Gil

Rich:

How will your e-Portfolio demonstrate your interdisciplinarity?

My e-Portfolio will demonstrate my interdisciplinarity because it will contain a plethora of artifacts that relate to my different areas of study. The portfolio also contains creative peaces that I have made, such as: my thoughts on articles, essays, and Power Point presentations.

What is the audience / purpose you're thinking of using?

The audiences are a future employer, or a graduate school admissions department (its purpose is to showcase some of my best collegiate accomplishments.

How would you envision your e-Portfolio looking like? What would you like to stand out?

I envision it to look ORGANIZED and easy for my audience to navigate! I also want it to look professional, yet somewhat eye catching. I would use some blue colors (if that were an option), and also make my most precious artifacts visible by using large and/ or bold fonts.

What things are you thinking could be used as evidence?

For evidence, I would showcase a couple of essays that I am proud of, a PowerPoint presentation, and maybe some photos to make the whole thing a bit more interesting.

-Rich Chiarantona

Who Am I?

Again, my name is Rich. I have been going to UCF for 5 years, and I will graduate in the Fall of this year!

Why has it taken me 5 years to complete my degree? I worked 40-50 hours a week, supervising a major call center (AutoTrader.com shut down most of its offices, including Orlando).
What are my areas and minor? At one time, I was a Cinema Studies Major, and that is now my minor. My areas are: Communications and Behavioral/ Social Science.
I chose Interdisciplinary Studies because it has given me flexibility with what I have been studying (ADVANTAGE). *With IDS, you can take three different disciplines, and find relationships among them, making your studies relevant to a future career.

A disadvantage is the stigma about IDS and its credibility. Some people think IDS is the ‘easy’ degree, and believe it is less important to employers. That is why it is important to know what it is, why it is advantageous to employment and life, and how to explain it all to whom ever.

Rich Chiarantona

Welcome Messages from Rich Chiarantona and Andres Felipe Gil and About Us

My name is Rich Chiarantona, and I am a senior at UCF. I chose Interdisciplinary Studies as a major after almost completing the Cinema Studies major because I felt it was the right thing to do… I chose UCF because I’ve wanted to go here since I was a kid. I found that I wanted to be well rounded, and study more than just cinema, and have one minor (behavioral/ social science).

In late 2007, I changed my major to IDS, and have been focusing on 3 areas: Film, Communications, and Behavioral/ Social Science.

My short-term goals include: successfully completing my courses this semester, graduating from UCF, revising my resume, and securing a new (upgraded) apartment downtown.

My long-term goals include: landing my dream job in TV or radio broadcasting, making 6 figures, having a great view of the skyline from my living room window, and having a fulfilling, lasting, and loving relationship.

I look forward to working with everyone this semester because I believe we can learn some things and have a good time while doing so!


-Rich Chiarantona (kare-in-toe-nah)



Humbled mentees,

I am Andres Felipe Gil, but for the sake of the language you may call me Andy and I'm unlikely to ignore you. I am now a graduating (*knocks on wood*) senior at UCF. My journey to UCF has been long and arduous, but here I stand. I am the manifestation of being a product of the American opportunity machine.
My choice for IDS came naturally. I wanted to have a 'utility belt' of sorts when it came to the skills I learned in college. IDS allows me to integrate three field of my interest into one college experience. A short term goal is making sure I graduate by the end of the year in the planned time. A long term goal is going to Paris shortly after graduation to become worldly and coming back to establish my position as a campaign manager for a major commercial corporation within two years.

Im here all semester, you can reach me at any time.


- Andres Felipe Gil


Who are you?

I'm a UCF student, born in another country.What are your areas / minors? What year are you?My main focus is on communications but Im also getting minors in marketing and behavioral sciences. This is my last semester I am a senior....according to capstone.... but I dont want to graduate so soon!How do you explain IDS to others?-I say that Im getting education in three areas that'll leave me better prepared for the eclectic ever changing modern work environment.What are the advantages/disadvantages of an interdisciplinary education?
-Well thats a toughie, since my employers will require an indepth explanation of wht it is I actually during my time in college. But once I do and they see how versatile I am due to my involvement in the IDS program I can certainly say I made a sound decision.

-Andres Felipe Gil


Who Am I?

Again, my name is Rich. I have been going to UCF for 5 years, and I will graduate in the Fall of this year!Why has it taken me 5 years to complete my degree? I worked 40-50 hours a week, supervising a major call center (AutoTrader.com shut down most of its offices, including Orlando).
What are my areas and minor? At one time, I was a Cinema Studies Major, and that is now my minor. My areas are: Communications and Behavioral/ Social Science.I chose Interdisciplinary Studies because it has given me flexibility with what I have been studying (ADVANTAGE). *With IDS, you can take three different disciplines, and find relationships among them, making your studies relevant to a future career.A disadvantage is the stigma about IDS and its credibility.
Some people think IDS is the ‘easy’ degree, and believe it is less important to employers. That is why it is important to know what it is, why it is advantageous to employment and life, and how to explain it all to whom ever.

-Rich Chiarantona