A world of opportunities

No student needs to ever complain about a lack of interesting classes on campus again; they themselves can make their dream class a reality. The comparative history of ideas department (CHID), a department unique to the UW offers an array of courses - many as a result of student demand.

When students first arrive at the UW, they are not always familiar with the CHID program because no other school offers a program of its kind.

"[The CHID program is] an interdisciplinary, intellectual history program," said Amy Peloff, CHID assistant director. the assistant director of the program. "It is a comparative across disciplines and across cultures."

John Toews, director of the program,explains that while programs that try to bring together different disciplines in the humanities exist, CHID also includes the social and natural sciences.

"Its academic content is about using the different disciplines to answer questions about human identity, human difference, cultural identity, cultural differences [and] communication among humans," he said.

CHID major Morgan Bell said she chose the CHID program to help her find her focus in her degree.

"I was really interested in studying art history, history and religion," she said. "Because CHID is an open major it allows you to define your own course of study." As a result, Bell can study all of these fields.

Peloff explained that not only is its interdisciplinary approach unique, but so is the amount of flexibility it gives students.

"I think what makes it unique is the emphasis that is given by the program to the idea of the students as scholars," Peloff said. "A lot of our curriculum is driven by student interest and by the interactions that students have with the faculty and staff."

"We want to work with the students so that they can define what they're interested in so that we can find the best way to help them to learn what they're interested in," said CHID and history professor Phillip Thurtle..

Peloff explained that one way this is done is through focus groups. These groups are 2-credit, credit/no credit classes on a variety of topics decided by student demand. If a student wants to see a class offered, they can make it happen through the focus groups.

"[The groups] tend to come together when there is a group of students that have identified a topic or idea that they want to explore that isn't really being addressed in any of the other classesown course of study." As a result, Bell can study all of these fields.

Peloff explained that not only is its interdisciplinary approach unique, but so is the amount of flexibility it gives students.

"I think what makes it unique is the emphasis that is given by the program to the idea of the students as scholars," Peloff said. "A lot of our curriculum is driven by student interest and by the interactions that students have with the faculty and staff."

"We want to work with the students so that they can define what they're interested in so that we can find the best way to help them to learn what they're interested in," said Dr. Phillip Thurtle, a CHID and history professor.

Peloff explained that one way this is done is through focus groups. These groups are 2-credit, credit/no credit classes on a variety of topics decided by student demand. If a student wants to see a class offered, they can make it happen through the focus groups.

"[The groups] tend to come together when there is a group of students that have identified a topic or idea that they want to explore that isn't really being addressed in any of the other classes at the UW," Peloff said.

"[Then] the discussion with the advisor comes in and they have to help the student create a unified trajectory," Thurtle said.

If the proposal is successful, the focus group is offered as a CHID course, and the proposing students themselves lead the focus group under the supervision of the advisor.

If the class is very successful, it may even later become taught as a five-credit class. Toews explains that many of CHID's major classes such as CHID 110 and CHID 210 once started out as focus groups.

Peloff identifies some of the more famous focus groups in the past, which include a class on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Tupac Shakur.

Both classes, especially the Tupac class, were very successful.

Peloff said that Tupac class was so popular, it has been taught as a five-credit class and will be offered again in the spring. The class is taught Georgia Roberts.

"She looked at the works that Tupac Shakur identified as being really influential to him," said Peloff. "She had the students read that alongside his lyrics and watch the movie that was made about his life."

Roberts took the topic to the Seattle Public Library where she led a discussion group on Tupac and has gained national recognition for the class.

Also, for students looking to explore new places and a different type of study abroad experience, CHID is the home to the UW's largest foreign study program.

Toews describes CHID foreign study programs as "a little more gritty than most foreign study programs."

"They're not just a place to go to study someplace," said Thuttle. "A lot of our programs aren't in 'pretty places.'"

"Our international programs tend to be in places where there has been severe cultural conflict," said Toews. He explains that this way they lend to the curriculum of studying conflicting ideas and philosophies. Past locations include Vietnam, South Africa, Berlin, and Ireland.

To apply into the CHID major, students must submit one essay. Additionally, all CHID classes are open to non-majors.

CHID major and senior Cynthia Anderson identifies CHID 110 as her favorite class and said she would recommend any CHID class to another student.

"It's a different format," said Anderson. "Classes are open and inviting."