{"id":212977,"date":"2025-08-21T11:46:29","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T15:46:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/chss\/?p=212977"},"modified":"2025-10-30T13:30:01","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T17:30:01","slug":"montclair-launches-interdisciplinary-school-for-social-transformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/chss\/2025\/08\/21\/montclair-launches-interdisciplinary-school-for-social-transformation\/","title":{"rendered":"Montclair Launches Interdisciplinary School for Social Transformation"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you want to create real change in any industry, organization or community, Montclair\u2019s new Interdisciplinary School for Social Transformation<\/a> may be your perfect fit.<\/p>\n

The University announced today the launch of the School, which will be housed in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and connect all disciplines across the University.<\/p>\n

The School will place students at the heart of solving society\u2019s biggest challenges through interdisciplinary educational programs, collaborative research and scholarship and partnership with the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cReal problems are never one-dimensional,\u201d says Laura Nicosia, interim director of the Interdisciplinary School for Social Transformation. \u201cOur students learn to approach challenges from multiple angles, developing the adaptability and innovation that today\u2019s world demands.\u201d<\/p>\n

What Does \u2018Interdisciplinary\u2019 Mean?<\/h2>\n

The School\u2019s inception was motivated by the fact that the biggest problems we face \u2013 and the most transformational innovations \u2013 defy the boundaries of traditional academic disciplines.<\/p>\n

Coursework in the new School will prepare students to thrive and succeed in a rapidly changing world, drawing on mental models, perspectives and methods from more than one discipline \u2013 or \u201cinterdisciplinary curriculum\u201d \u2013 at the institution.<\/p>\n

The Interdisciplinary School for Social Transformation is for students who are curious, creative and eager to explore big questions and complex challenges while tapping into a variety of disciplinary areas. \u201cThe new school will further stimulate existing interdisciplinary programs and initiatives and inspire new ones across the university,\u201d states Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Fatma Mili.<\/p>\n

The goal is to educate students who will graduate with a well-rounded, adaptable skill set designed to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving workforce and who are ready to make an impact in fields including public policy, healthcare administration, nonprofit leadership, digital communications, wellness advocacy, education and user experience design.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur students will graduate ready to lead with purpose, empathy and vision,\u201d says Nicosia. \u201cBy learning to address societal challenges at their roots, they gain the adaptability and problem-solving skills that prepare them for success in careers wherever innovation and leadership are needed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Building a Better Future Through Academic Programs<\/h2>\n

The School unveiled an updated Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies program in the spring of 2025, which is designed to prepare students for a lifetime of professional and intellectual flexibility.<\/p>\n

Faculty from disciplines across Montclair will collaborate to create and deliver coursework in one of three concentrations:<\/p>\n