Project-Based Curriculum

All three majors in the department of Technology, Culture and Society encourage students to apply what they have learned in practical projects as part of their college curriculum. The emphasis on hands-on work prepares students for their careers, but it also helps them develop areas of professional interest that help them stand out in the job market.

Integrated Digital Media

PHOTO BY SHARON SHIN, IDM '13

In IDM, students are required to take studio courses from the moment they begin college. In collaboration with experts in the areas they are studying, students conduct inquiry-based projects where they learn the techniques necessary to complete projects that are appropriate for professional situations. We call these courses "Production Studios," which means that from the first studio that covers fundamentals of sound and moving image design to advanced studios in the senior year, students are gaining experience of solving real-world problems with the support of active professionals in the field. Each student also completes a senior project, and students have the option of taking a course along with an internship.

Science and Technology Studies

Our major in STS also encourages students to learn by doing. Each student chooses a concentration in a scientific or technical field, and so will dedicate part of his or her studies to laboratory work in the sciences or engineering. In addition, many STS electives are run in a seminar format where students conduct research and write papers about their findings. Students have the opportunity to take an internship course that guides them through an experiential learning opportunity, and some students choose to do independent studies courses with their professors. Each senior also completes a capstone project under the guidance of a faculty member.

Students in STS 2323 learn first-hand how fossils are found and used to create theories about the past.

Sustainable Urban Environments

Students in the SUE major also are actively engaged in projects throughout their college careers. Many professors encourage students to engage in social science research as part of their coursework, whether that be documenting the effects of changes in transportation or doing site visits to evaluate New York's urban environment. Students are required to take a course along with an internship that guides them through an experiential learning opportunity. Each senior also completes a capstone project. This year's seniors are engaged in a group of projects to enhance the possibilities of Flushing Meadows Park under the guidance of a professor Richard Wener, architect Henry Grossman, and Future of Cities Global Fellow David Miller.

SUE majors discuss their observations for the Planning the Healthy City course.