Blog Post #7

List the articles that will be of use to you in your research (Author, (YOP) Title, Source) and a sentence about each (or you may copy the table for STEP 4 discussed in class into your blog post).

How has this literature search changed the list of disciplines from potentially useful to actually useful to your research?

Blog Post #6

Formatting the step by step details of the research project are giving me grief right now. I suppose that is to be expected when learning a new process.

I have located 3 solid articles to make my points. They are based on science, statistics, sociology, education and communication.

Most of my research articles involve government provided information as well as an article on the subject from a professional website focused on doctors and pharmacies.

Blog Post #5

My final chosen topic is “How does Accessibility of Healthcare affect the population?”. The topic of access to healthcare has three distinct areas of need that will also lend to the who/what/where/why questions. The first need is the ability to obtain medical and dental insurance. It also includes the availability of medical facilities, physicians, dentists and specialists in reasonable proximity to all populations.  The third crucial piece involves developing a personal relationship with a physician whom the patient trusts with open, honest communication. By addressing all of these issues, all areas of interdisciplinarity are covered with aspects of sociology, geography, economics, anthropology, psychology, etc. 

I had one response to my topic post showing interest in the subject matter. I think I will be surprised at how prevalent this issue is for people who are not necessarily low income. When we think about lack of healthcare, we think about it as being a result of poor unemployed patients, but there are other factors that contribute to the overall lack of accessibility.

Blog Post #4

The Broad Model encourages researchers to draw on the knowledge across all disciplines. It provides a playbook in step-like decision points where the research stops to reflect on each step throughout the process while still keeping the end result or big picture in mind. The steps are as follows:

• Step 1: Define the problem or state the research question.
• Step 2: Justify using an interdisciplinary approach.
• Step 3: Identify relevant disciplines.
• Step 4: Conduct a literature search.
• Step 5: Critically analyze the disciplinary insights into the problem and locate their sources of conflict.
• Step 6: Reflect on how the interdisciplinary process has enlarged your understanding of the problem.

The two complex topics I am interested in investigating are Ease of Healthcare Access and Antibiotic Resistance. Both of these topics interest me and have been part of my other classes.

The article I am choosing for the Analysis Presentation is “The Problem with Problem Solving” by Brian McCormack. 

Blog Post #3

Speaking with Dr. Spencer, he gave me options about my first concentration to replace ACC222 (Intro. to Managerial Accounting). I am thrilled about it because I wasn’t looking forward to taking a Farmer’s School of Business course in Oxford. He mentioned replacing it was an upper level communication course. I have already looked at APC428 (Communications in Conflict Management) and realized today that Dr. Spencer teaches this course online in the summer. I don’t know that I will take it this summer, since I already have vacation planned to Alaska for the last part of summer term when the class is offered. However, it will likely be offered in winter and summer term again.

Since I am unable to use any of the commerce classes I’ve already taken, there are only a few options available to take in my first concentration, Healthcare Administration. One of them is ECO201 (Microeconomics). I already planned on taking CMR211 (Economics for Business), so these two classes seem redundant. However, if I petition for two classes to be changed (ACC201 and ECO201), will it disqualify it as a pre-designed concentration?

I’m excited about my second concentration. I will need to be creative with my rationale and explain how these classes work across the disciplines. It should be relatively easy to explain how they will work together to compliment each other, as well as my minor in Commerce.

With these two concentrations and my minor in Commerce, I believe I am setting myself up to obtain a position in different realms. My current position with the University involves quite a bit of Human Resources work already. This experience will be useful for any position. I have also listed a grant writing course in my concentration which is a sought after skill for any employer. This week I looked at employment opportunities on LinkedIn and Indeed and found many opportunities. My ideal position would be at a hospital or medical facility, but I’m not opposed to a company such as MedPace which recruits medical personnel.

I still have nine courses to take in order to complete my concentrations, 21st century literacy, BIS seminars and my minor. In addition, I only need a few courses to complete my Miami Global Plan. This feels really exciting to have a definitive plan completed.

Blog Post #2

What is Integrative Studies?

The definition for Integrative Studies is “a cognitive process by which individuals or groups draw on disciplinary perspectives and integrate them to advance their understanding of a complex problem and apply the understanding to a real world problem.a interdisciplinary approach to education across”.

Instead of concentrating on one specific discipline such as science or business, integrative studies draws from different areas to help the student achieve a well-rounded education. This approach allows for varied perspectives with a broader view on the intended subject matter.

As part of this program, we are to create an SEO which stands for Statement of Educational Objectives. This is basically a plan or list of classes to complete for the degree. We are to pick two concentrations that are either already determined or self-determined. The classes should be a mix of 100-400 level courses across different disciplines. The course letters must not repeat from one concentration to the other or with the thematic sequence/minor.

I have chosen an SEO with one predetermined concentration, Healthcare Administration, and a self-designed second concentration. Since I have almost completed my minor in Commerce, I will not need to take a Thematic Sequence. These courses all interest me and seem to fit nicely together for a career in Healthcare. Plus, since I am a non-traditional student, many of these can be taken online to better fit my schedule.

SEO
Concentration 1: Healthcare Administration
ACC222	Intro to Managerial Accounting
APC201	Health Communications	Fall 2018
NSG321	US Healthcare System and Culture	Reg Summer 20
ECO201	Micro Economics
NSG435	Challenges in Healthcare Delivery
Concentration 2: Health Science and Wellness (Self-Designed)
MBI111	Microorganisms and Human Disease	Fall 2019
MBI361	Epidemiology	Spring 2020
KNH245	Health Issues for Children
BIO325	Pathophysiology
ENG413	Grant and Proposal Writing

Since this course began, I discovered I couldn’t use all of my Commerce classes across each discipline. I thought I was almost done with my concentrations but soon realized those courses would not work. I originally thought I wanted to add the Staffing and Recruitment concentration, but several of the courses listed are Commerce courses or are courses that are not offered regularly or online.

Overall, I think as long as I can write a convincing rationale describing how these courses are similar but different, I should be okay.

About me…

My name is Melissa Allen. I am a non-traditional student toggling between Hamilton and Oxford campuses. I work full-time in Administration on the Oxford Campus, so it is much easier for me to attend face to face classes in Oxford. I have almost completed a Commerce minor and switched from Health Communications to BIS. I chose the BIS major because of the flexibility it offers in my career path and also because there is an option for Healthcare Administration.

I decided to return to college for a few reasons. I have always regretted not completing my degree. I have started and stopped a few times throughout my life, but the timing has never been quite right. It has been difficult to work on a college campus with so many brilliant goal-oriented students and not feel the urge to complete my own goals. Living with the “no time like the present” mentality, I decided to transfer my previous credits and jump in. While at times it has been a daunting experience, it has also been energizing to engage in the class structure again.

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