Liberal studies director seeks to inspire students with unique program

By Colleen Campbell, contributing writer

Cynthia Sifonis, associate professor of psychology, has been named the first director of Oakland University's new Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies degree program that will begin accepting students next fall.

“I am very pleased that Cindy brings such excellent credentials and enthusiasm to the task of serving as founding director of this exciting and innovative degree program,” said Ron Sudol, Ph.D and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, in his announcement of Sifonis' new position.

Oakland's liberal studies program will allow students to utilize existing classes in existing programs to build their own unique program of study.

Sifonis is thrilled about her new position, referring to the program as “forward thinking.” When other universities realize how important it is for students to learn how to study a topic across disciplines, OU will be way ahead of the game, she said.

“Students who enroll in this program will take either an interdisciplinary concentration or two existing minors framed by two specially designed introductory courses and a substantial capstone experience,” Dr. Sudol said. The introductory courses are LBS 100: Exploration of the Arts and Sciences and LBS 200: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Liberal Studies. The program is rounded out with a pair of senior thesis courses.

Because there are so many different combinations of minors, the survey classes will be very broad and look at all different types of methodologies, Sifonis said. Students may take a look at one topic, such as her research area, creativity, and analyze how biologists, psychologists, or even historians would explain or rationalize it. Sifonis said interdisciplinary studies is able to apply different perspectives on the same topic to find solutions.

“We will always need specialists in things like biology or chemistry,” Sifonis said, "but there's a growing demand for graduates with knowledge in two or more fields."

For example, a bachelor of liberal studies, with concentrations in chemistry and anthropology can be marketed for a career in forensic science. Other examples of possible minor pairings are communication and political science, international studies and entrepreneurship, Judaic studies and women and gender studies, or biology and psychology.

“Right now we're creating the program,” Sifonis said. With less than a year left until the first survey classes start, she is figuring out all the possible minor pairings. She said she plans on putting together a giant two-by-two chart to see how they could all go together and their possible career applications.

The bachelor of liberal studies is different from the bachelor of integrative studies in that the latter is intended for the nontraditional student who may have taken classes without a particular pairing in mind, Sifonis said. The liberal studies program is ideal for students who are torn between two majors, or somehow want to incorporate two interests into one.

With the two survey classes, two capstone classes, and a highly-customizable program of study, the program seeks to teach students problem-solving, critical thinking, teamwork and collaboration, creative development of original ideas, and oral presentation.

The goal, according to the program's proposal, is “to prepare students for additional post-graduate education and a full range of careers which embrace civic engagement, social responsibility, and leadership.”

The program officially begins fall 2011 with a capacity of 10 students.