Department of Interdisciplinary Studies

Explore the colab program.

Colabs allow a select group of College of Liberal Arts students a unique opportunity to pair with faculty and work closely on a research-based project. These colab projects are designed to model and teach a variety of skills relevant to the execution of a larger research endeavor. Each colab will have a faculty director responsible for the initial design and oversight of the project and will allow you to do the following:

• Conduct research, either according to disciplinary practices or by integrating multiple disciplines in ways that encourage explicit reflection on interdisciplinarity
• Refine your critical-thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Organize/manage a large project, utilizing effective time management and task prioritization
• Practice collaboration, including improving communication skills necessary for effective interpersonal relationships and cooperative efforts
• Cultivate flexibility, adaptability, creativity, and effective decision-making skills
• Consider ethical standards and practices in research
• Practice communicating research to the public