Mar 28, 2024  
2016-2017 University Catalog 
    
2016-2017 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Transdisciplinary Studies in Technology


Follow your passions and discover new ones in a Bachelor of Science program at Purdue University. You will design a personalized plan of study in our new transdisciplinary studies in technology major, blending fields like humanities and business with these technology-focused disciplines:

  • Computing and graphics
  • Construction management
  • Engineering technologies
  • Leadership and innovation
  • Aviation technologies

Featuring hands-on team-based projects, transdisciplinary studies in technology will help you become a lifelong learner. It’s a program especially for the trailblazers, the challenge-seekers, the pioneers - the students who are independent minded, ambitious, creative, passionate, reflective, and inventive.

A new major which made national headlines, transdisciplinary studies in technology is an educational experience unlike any other because it combines individualized learning with close mentoring by faculty experts and a competency based curriculum which clearly defines each ability, skill, behavior, and body of knowledge that you’ll master.

Employers today have many positions with job titles that didn’t exist only a few years ago. Want to forge your own path? Transdisciplinary studies in technology will provide you with broad technical competence and the abilities to think critically, to communicate effectively, and to adapt and thrive in our ever-changing world.

This unique competency-based degree is offered only by the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, one of the 10 academic colleges at Purdue University’s main campus.

Special features

  • In each semester’s unique Design Lab and Seminar learning environments, you will learn discipline-specific theory and how to apply it to real-world problems.
  • It’s a student-centered culture called “” which focuses more on “show us what you can do with what you know” and less on memorization.
  • You will create an electronic portfolio which documents your abilities and mastery of subjects - which you may choose to share with potential employers.
  • Your peers might be studying different disciplines, so each of you will learn about different topics and contribute unique skills to make projects successful - a parallel of work environments common in industry.

Degree Requirements and Supplemental Information

The full Program Requirements for 2016-17 Transdiciplinary Studies in Technology  include all Supplemental Information and selective lists of those categories which a student must fulfill in order to earn their degree. These are intended to be printer-friendly, but include less descriptive course detail.

Please see below for program requirements and the necessary degree fulfillments.

TRST

120 Credits for Graduation

Departmental/Program Major Courses (120 credits)


Other Departmental /Program Course Requirements (84 credits)


  • UCC WR (satisfies Written Communication for core) - Credit Hours: 4.00
  • UCC OC (satisfies Oral Communication for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • UCC IL (satisfies Information Literacy Selective for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • UCC QR (satisfies Quantitative Reasoning Selective for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • UCC Science (satisfies Science Selective for core) - Credit Hours: 7.00
  • UCC STS (satisfies Science, Technology and Society for the core) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • UCC HUM (satisfies Human Cultures Humanities for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • UCC BSS (satisfies Human Culture Behavioral/Social Science for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Advanced MA (>15999) or STAT (>19999) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • >20000  Humanities - Credit Hours: 3.00

  • >30000 level OC or WR - Credit Hours: 3.00

  • >09999 Technology Selective (Any AT, BCM, CGT, CNIT, ECET, ENGT, IET, IT, MET, MFET, OLS, TECH, TLI 10000 level or higher) - Credit Hours: 3.00

  • >10000 Disciplinary Knowledge - Credit Hours: 9.00

  • >20000 Disciplinary Knowledge - Credit Hours: 13.00

  • >30000 Disciplinary Knowledge - Credit Hours: 12.00

  • >40000 Disciplinary Knowledge - Credit Hours: 9.00

University Core Requirements


  • Human Cultures Humanities
  • Human Cultures Behavioral/Social Science
  • Information Literacy
  • Science #1
  • Science #2
  • Science, Technology, and Society
  • Written Communication
  • Oral Communication
  • Quantitative Reasoning
  • For a complete listing of course selectives, visit the Provost’s Website or click here .

Program Requirements


Suggested Arrangement of Required Courses.

Fall 1st Year


16.5 Credits


Spring 1st Year


15.5 Credits


Fall 2nd Year


13.5 Credits


Spring 2nd Year


16.5 Credits


Fall 3rd Year


14.5 Credits


Spring 3rd Year


16.5 Credits


Fall 4th Year


13.5 Credits


Spring 4th Year


13.5 Credits


Note


* Fulfills University Core

1.  Non-course degree requirement: Student demonstration of expertise in eight broad competencies. Monitored and reviewed continuously in Transdisciplinary Learning Experiences (PTEC 10800, 20800, …). ePortfolio is formally assessed 4 times during the plan of study to satisfy this requirement. 

2. These are courses specifically designed for this degree. ePortfolio (PTEC 20700, 40700) are pass/no pass. Transdisciplinary Learning Experiences (PTEC 10800-40800) are variable credit.

3.  Any courses from the Undergraduate Curriculum Council (UCC) Approved Course List to satisfy the appropriate foundational core requirement. Acronyms are as follows: BSS - Behavioral/Social Sciences, HUM - Humanities, IL - Information Literacy, OC - Oral Communication, QR - Quantitative  Reasoning, STS - Science, Technology and Society, WC - Written Communication.  It is preferred that students take one course from physical sciences and one from life sciences.

4.  Any course for which the student meets the prerequisites and meets their personal and professional goals as determined by the student in consultation with their faculty mentor.

5.  By the end of the Semester 3, students identify their mission and, with the help of their faculty mentor, develop a detailed plan of learning. At this time, they identify one or more technology disciplines and at least one humanities discipline. For example, Computing (CIT, CGT or ECET), Engineering Technology.

Degree Requirement


The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements.

The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.

Foreign Language Courses


Foreign Language proficiency requirements vary by program.  For acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor:

American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, (ancient) Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish

Critical Course


The ♦ course is considered critical. A Critical Course is one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major.