Interdisciplinary Studies-the study of knowledge combination and integration into new knowledge bases, involving examinations that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries.

Discipline- a singular field of study or body of knowledge, governed by socially and academically accepted principles, standards, and laws.

Disciplinarity- the act of working within a given disciplinary structure; researching and applying its principles directly to a problem.

Interdisciplinary research- a scientific process in which researchers integrate existing disciplines into a new discipline, for the purposes of examining and solving a research problem.

Interdisciplinary Learning- bringing together different disciplinary knowledge bases to better understand a problem, or create a new knowledge base from their integration.

Multidisciplinary- an approach that includes multiple disciplinary perspectives, but that does not work to integrate them into a new whole. Multidisciplinary work integrates different perspectives, but maintains their separation as distinct identities.

Crossdisciplinary- an approach that blends different disciplinary perspectives, but does not work to integrate them into a new whole. Crossdisciplinary work may transcend disciplinary boundaries.

Intradisciplinary-working within the confines of a specific discipline

Metaphor-a figure of speech used to represent a thought, idea, or concept

Bloom’s Taxonomy-a classification of learning objectives, created by a committee led by Benjamin Bloom from 1949-1953.

Integration-the process of combining multiple objects or concepts into a single, cohesive whole

Epistemology-a theory of knowledge that differentiates justified belief from opinion.

Concept- an abstract idea or notion that allows for study.

Method- an organization of thought or action.

Methodology-a system of methods used in a particular area of study

Theory- principles that govern a practice.

Curriculum- a set of courses or educational concepts that are taught to students.

Perspective- the view an individual takes of a concept, idea or solution, influenced by their knowledge base and biases.

Insight- the knowledge base an individual brings to address a potential problem.

Ideas- a thought or concept, created from a mental activity.

Philosophy- the study of knowledge, values, and ethics.

Association for Integrative Studies- the professional organization dedicated to the advancement of interdisciplinary studies as a research field and curriculum.

Knowledge- information and skills acquired through experience or education.

Heuristic-the process of individual learning or discovery

Ethnocentrism-belief in the superiority of one's own ethnic group.

Boundary crossing-the process of exchanging ideas and information across a set of constraints.

Domains- an area dominated by a people or those sharing a set of values or beliefs.

Models of thinking- a method of organizing thoughts

Critical Thinking- the act of analysis and examination of a work or idea.

Hegemony-leadership or dominance by one country or social group.

Dogmatic-beholden to a principle, value, or idea and its near-infallibility.

Holistic-an examination based on analysis of all parts of a subject or thought, instead of those specifically related to a given problem.

Dichotomy- a division occurring as the result of combining two opposed ideas or disciplines.

Dialectic- the art of investigating the origin of the truth.

Iterative-a process of applying disciplinary knowledge repetitively until a desired result is obtained.

Heuristic-enabling a person to discover or learn something for themselves.

Recursive-the process of applying disciplinary knowledge repetitively to obtain the same result repetitively

Communication- the exchange of ideas, information, or news.

Polemical-a resulting dispute between ideas or disciplines.

Idea dominance-the overshadowing of a single concept or idea to the detriment or subordination of others.

Scope-the extent of a study that research seeks to expand upon.