CS111-4-AU-CO:
Interdisciplinary Research and Problem-Solving: An Introduction
PLEASE NOTE: This module is inactive. Visit the Module Directory to view modules and variants offered during the current academic year.
2025/26
Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 4
Inactive
Thursday 02 October 2025
Friday 12 December 2025
15
14 May 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
CS101
(none)
BA T7N2 Latin American Studies with Business Management,
BA T7N4 Latin American studies with Business Management (Including Foundation Year),
BA T7M8 Latin American studies with Human Rights (Including Foundation Year),
BA T7M9 Latin American Studies with Human Rights,
BA R108 European Studies and Language Studies,
BA R109 European Studies and Language Studies (Including Foundation Year),
BA C900 Global Studies with Sustainability,
BA C901 Global Studies with Sustainability (Including Foundation Year),
BA C902 Global Studies with Sustainability (including Placement Year),
BA C903 Global Studies with Sustainability (including Year Abroad),
BA K44E Urban Sustainability Studies
The world does not have disciplines; it has problems. What’s more, the most important problems we face – problems like climate change, migration, sustainable economic production, democratic governance, and so on – cannot be solved with the tools of any single discipline. Such problems require collaborative, creative, and interdisciplinary approaches, and yet Higher Education remains largely structured around narrow, disciplinary degrees. This module introduces students to an alternative interdisciplinary problem-solving approach.
Students will learn how to approach complex problems by drawing on theories and methods from multiple disciplines, learning how to think flexibly and work with others to find creative solutions to real-world problems. With the help of experienced teachers, they will work on projects that bring together knowledge from different areas, helping them see the big picture and work well with others. By the end, they will have the skills and mindset they need to tackle tough challenges and make a real difference.
The aims of this module are:
- To demonstrate to students the power of creative, collaborative, and interdisciplinary problem-solving.
- To provide students with a framework for approaching complex problems not only during their studies but also in their future careers after graduation.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Understand the concept of interdisciplinary problem-solving and its significance in addressing complex real-world challenges.
- Identify and analyse connections between different disciplines to recognize opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Demonstrate cognitive flexibility, allowing for the exploration of multiple perspectives and approaches to problem-solving.
- Apply a broad problem-solving model to a particular real-world challenge
- Cultivate effective communication and collaboration skills necessary for interdisciplinary teamwork.
- Demonstrate proficiency in integrating knowledge and methodologies from multiple disciplines to devise innovative solutions.
- Engage in reflective practices to assess personal growth and learning outcomes in interdisciplinary problem-solving.
No additional information available.
This module will be delivered via:
- One 1-hour lecture per week.
- One 1-hour class/seminar per week.
There will also be a Reading Week when no teaching will take place, exact week to be confirmed.
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Hirsch, F. (1977) Social limits to growth. London: Routledge and Keegan Paul.
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Brighouse, H. and Swift, A. (2006) ‘Equality, Priority, and Positional Goods’,
Ethics, 116(3), pp. 471–497. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1086/500524.
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Foote, K.E. and Azaryahu, M. (2019) ‘Sense of Place’, in International Encyclopedia of Human Geography, pp. 96–100.
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Pink, S. (2007) ‘Walking with video’,
Visual Studies, 22(3), pp. 240–252. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1080/14725860701657142.
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Hardin, G. (1968) ‘The Tragedy of the Commons’,
Science, 162(3859), pp. 1243–1248. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.162.3859.1243.
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Hardin, G. (1998) ‘Extensions of “The Tragedy of the Commons”’,
Science, 280(5364), pp. 682–683. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.280.5364.682.
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‘Ending The Tragedy of The Commons | Elinor Ostrom | Big Think - YouTube’ (no date). Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr5Q3VvpI7w.
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Ostrom, E.
et al. (1999) ‘Revisiting the Commons: Local Lessons, Global Challenges’,
Science, 284(5412), pp. 278–282. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.284.5412.278.
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Lundgren, L.
et al. (1999) ‘The Tragedy of the Commons Revisited’,
Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, 41(2), pp. 4–45. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1080/00139157.1999.10544058.
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‘Innovation in the Collective Brain - YouTube’ (no date). Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNqCxRMjbnw&t=7s.
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Muthukrishna, M. and Henrich, J. (2016) ‘Innovation in the collective brain’,
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 371(1690). Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2015.0192.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Exam |
Main exam: Remote, Open Book, 24hr during January
|
| Exam |
Reassessment Main exam: Remote, Open Book, 24hr during September (Reassessment Period)
|
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Matthew Burch, email: mburch@essex.ac.uk.
PHAIS General Office - 6.130; isugadmin@essex.ac.uk.
Yes
Yes
Yes
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
Of 4 hours, 4 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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