Multidisciplinary study: the value and benefits

MSS_1

Multidisciplinary study: the value

and benefits

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This publication forms part of the Open University module MSS_1 -

Multidisciplinary study: the value and benefits. Details of this and other
Open University modules can be obtained from Student Recruitment, The
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+44 (0)300 303 5303; email general-enquiries@open.ac.uk).

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where you can learn more about the wide range of modules and packs offered
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The Open University,

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First published 2018.

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Contents
 Introduction
 Introduction
 Learning outcomes
 How to get your badge
 1 Definitions
 2 Which definition should I use?
 3 The evolution of interdisciplinary approaches
 4 Why study multiple subjects?
 5 The benefits of studying a multidisciplinary
qualification
 6 Skills developed through multidisciplinary
study
 7 Introducing ‘multipotentiality’
 8 Choosing which subjects to study
 9 What are my career options with a
multidisciplinary qualification?
 10 End-of-course quiz
 11 Conclusion
 Tell us what you think
 References
 Images

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 Solutions
 Descriptions

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Introduction
Introduction
You might be studying, or considering learning about, more than
one subject as part of your studies. Combining different subjects
provides an exciting opportunity to find ways in which those
subjects intersect and influence each other, across different
subject boundaries. ‘Multidisciplinary’ study at The Open University
includes our ‘Open’ qualifications (BA/BSc (Hons) Open
degree, Diploma of Higher Education Open and Certificate
of Higher Education Open), as well as our BSc (Combined
STEM) and our MA/MSc Open (F81) Open masters which
provide you with an opportunity to choose from a range of different
subjects, allowing you to learn in different ways. At other
universities, multidisciplinary qualifications may include combined
honours and interdisciplinary degrees.

Watch the following video, featuring Peter Taylor and Helen Cooke
from The Open University, and Open University students Cherry
Day, Kathleen Bruce and Claire Davey, introducing what it’s like to
study a multidisciplinary degree with the OU and what the benefits
might be as a learner.

Video content is not available in this format.

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Studying a multidisciplinary qualification at The Open University.

View transcript - Studying a multidisciplinary qualification

at The Open ...

The Open University would really appreciate a few minutes of your

time to tell us about yourself and your expectations for the course
before you begin, in our optional start-of-course survey.
Participation will be completely confidential and we will not pass on
your details to others.

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Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, you should be able to:

 identify and explain the difference between

multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary study
 recognise the benefits of applying different subject
approaches or views to different contexts
 explain the skills gained from studying multi-subject
qualifications to employers
 recognise the concept of ‘multipotentiality’ and reflect
on how it might apply to you
 identify potential career pathways from studying a
multi-subject qualification.

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How to get your badge

While studying this course you have the option to work towards
gaining a digital badge.

Badged courses are a key part of The Open University’s mission

to promote the educational well-being of the community.
The courses also provide another way of helping you to progress
from informal to formal learning.

To complete a course you need to be able to find about 5 hours of

study time, over a period of about 2 weeks. However, it is possible
to study them at any time, and at a pace to suit you.

Badged courses are all available on The Open University’s

OpenLearn website and do not cost anything to study. They differ
from Open University courses because you do not receive support
from a tutor. But you do get useful feedback from the interactive
quizzes.

What is a badge?
Digital badges are a new way of demonstrating online that you
have gained a skill. Schools, colleges and universities are working
with employers and other organisations to develop open badges

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that help learners gain recognition for their skills, and support
employers to identify the right candidate for a job.

Badges demonstrate your work and achievement on the course.

You can share your achievement with friends, family and
employers, and on social media. Badges are a great motivation,
helping you to reach the end of the course. Gaining a badge often
boosts confidence in the skills and abilities that underpin
successful study. So, completing this course should encourage
you to think about taking other courses.

How to get a badge

Getting a badge is straightforward! Here’s what you have to do:

 read each section of the course

 score 50% or more in the badge quiz at the end.

For the quiz, you can have three attempts at most of the questions
(for true or false type questions you usually only get one attempt).
If you get the answer right first time you will get more marks than
for a correct answer the second or third time. If one of your
answers is incorrect you will often receive helpful feedback and
suggestions about how to work out the correct answer.

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For the badge quiz, if you’re not successful in getting 50% the first
time, after 24 hours you can attempt the whole quiz, and come
back as many times as you like.

We hope that as many people as possible will gain an Open

University badge – so you should see getting a badge as an
opportunity to reflect on what you have learned rather than as a
test.

If you need more guidance on getting a badge and what you can
do with it, take a look at the OpenLearn FAQs. When you gain
your badge you will receive an email to notify you and you will be
able to view and manage all your badges in My OpenLearn within
24 hours of completing the criteria to gain a badge.

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1 Definitions
Understanding the terminology used to describe studying in more
than one subject and the differences between them is important,
as you will often come across these terms used interchangeably.
For example, the word ‘discipline’ itself used to be related to the
specific rules and processes that had to be followed in order to
become an expert in a particular subject. Now, however, the terms
‘subject’ and ‘discipline’ are used interchangeably, as you will learn
throughout this course.

Firstly, let’s explore meanings of, and differences between, the

terms ‘multidisciplinarity’ and ‘interdisciplinarity’.

Multidisciplinarity is where two or more academic disciplines

collaborate for a specific purpose, for instance, when computer
scientists, psychologists and sociologists cooperate in the design
of human/computer interfaces. Although a multidisciplinary
approach uses the skills and knowledge from more than one
academic discipline, the use of knowledge from different
disciplines remains distinct, even though the differences between
the disciplines can be quite subtle. For example, architects,
engineers and quantity surveyors commonly work together on
construction projects, each applying their specialist knowledge to

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their own area of expertise. When a project is completed, each of

the specialists return to their own area of expertise to start other
projects.

A multidisciplinary approach is also often used in healthcare and

social work, where patients’ clinical and healthcare needs are met
by a multidisciplinary team; for example, nurses, social workers,
general practitioners and psychotherapists may work together in
multidisciplinary teams to address such problems as the
rehabilitation of stroke patients (SIGN, 2002).

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Figure 1 An example of a multidisciplinary approach in healthcare

View description - Figure 1 An example of a

multidisciplinary approach in healthcare

In the context of The Open University, our ‘Open’ qualifications are

considered to be multidisciplinary, as you study individual
courses independently of each other. There is no formal
requirement for students to bring together the knowledge and skills

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gained from each course, but they can all contribute to their overall
qualification).

Interdisciplinarity differs from multidisciplinarity because the

different disciplines work together to produce new knowledge
and understanding. This can yield new understandings that would
not have been possible if different experts had worked only in their
own discipline area. For example, sociologists may work with
psychologists and economists to examine issues affecting women
returning to work after having children and the impact of this on
society. Researchers from different disciplines therefore bring their
own methods and insights to a particular project, or to solve a
particular problem.

Studying in this way offers a unique opportunity to understand how

this knowledge could be brought together in an interdisciplinary
way and applied in different contexts, and the importance of this to
real-life scenarios. It is therefore important for you to be able to
make these connections, even if you are not technically studying in
an interdisciplinary way.

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2 Which definition should I use?

Figure 2 shows that there is an even wider range of definitions that
are used to describe studying more than one subject, and each of
these has their own place in different circumstances. However, it is
important not to worry too much about the detail of these
definitions at this stage; the most important thing to remember is
that there are benefits (and challenges) in applying the knowledge
and skills gained from more than one subject. You’ll cover these in
more detail in the following sections.

Figure 2 Knowledge creation in relation to studying more than one subject.

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View description - Figure 2 Knowledge creation in relation

to studying more than one subject.

Now complete Activity 1 to consolidate your understanding.

Activity 1 Defining multidisciplinary and

interdisciplinary learning
Allow about 5 minutes

In your own words, write down what you have understood by the
terms ‘multidisciplinary’ and ‘interdisciplinary’ learning.

Provide your answer...

View discussion - Activity 1 Defining multidisciplinary and

interdisciplinary learning

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3 The evolution of interdisciplinary

approaches
It can be helpful to understand the long-standing place in history
that interdisciplinary studies has. Throughout history, there have
been a number of well-known individuals who have applied a multi-
subject approach to their work. For example, the following
animation features a number of famous people throughout history
who have been involved with interdisciplinary study, from Greek
philosophers, Beatrix Potter (author of the well-known children’s
book series about Peter Rabbit and friends) to Einstein.

Video content is not available in this format.

Interdisciplinarity through history

View transcript - Interdisciplinarity through history

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Historically, some argue that the term ‘interdisciplinary’ dates right

back to the ideas of Greek philosophers, such as Plato and
Aristotle, who have been associated with the term ‘interdisciplinary
thinkers’. Others say that it is from the twentieth century, borne
from educational reforms, research and the transfer of knowledge
across subject boundaries.

Interdisciplinarity in the twentieth century is thought to have

emerged from the social sciences and the many problems
following the end of the First World War. It is argued that
understanding post-war problems, such as population shifts,
housing, social welfare, war, labour and crime, needed to be
addressed by a range of different disciplines, rather than through
the lens of just one, to work towards the ‘unity of knowledge’.

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In 1959, the celebrated novelist C. P. Snow delivered an influential

lecture titled The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution
at the University of Cambridge. Snow argued that ‘the intellectual
life of the whole of western society’ was split into two cultures – the
sciences and the humanities – and that this was a major hindrance
to solving the world’s problems. Snow argued that practitioners in
both areas should instead build bridges to further the progress of
human knowledge and to benefit society.

At a similar time, the mid-twentieth century saw the introduction of

‘general education’, which shaped the way interdisciplinarity is
viewed today (Klein, 1990). However, in the UK, it is sometimes
argued that children are required to specialise from a relatively
early age. In contrast, some countries allow students to continue
studying in an interdisciplinary way throughout their compulsory
education. For example, schools in Finland have moved away from
teaching lessons focusing on classic school subjects like
mathematics or English, towards teaching these subjects in the
context of broader, cross-cutting topics, such as food safety and
climate change.

In the following section, you will begin to explore why it can be

important to apply multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary learning to a
variety of topics.

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4 Why study multiple subjects?

We should encourage arts and science to meet. I studied ancient
history not technology, but you can get a long way just by being
curious and asking questions.

Martha Lane-Fox, Chancellor of The Open University

(Gale, 2016)

It is important to remember that the traditional academic subjects

that are referred to today, such as chemistry, music and
geography, are simply artificial boxes used to understand the
growing awareness of our lives and universe. People have always
tried to make sense of our world by trying to organise our
knowledge into compartments. Over time, these compartments
have changed and multiplied, and as a result, we have ended up
with distinct subjects such as history, mathematics and business.

Some subjects have developed so much that they have now been
divided up into new areas of knowledge. History, for example, can
be broken down into fields such as archaeology, European history
and Roman history. Sometimes, new areas of knowledge develop
at the boundaries of more than one subject. For example,
biochemistry, which applies elements of both chemistry and
biology.

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When a new subject is created, groups of ‘experts’ form around

one particular area of knowledge, which can lead to a different
style of language and specific notations that are unique to that
area. These are used by experts in the field, as well as by teachers
and students, as a shorthand for discussing a particular subject
efficiently. However, this also creates barriers that prevent others
from easily understanding the subject and its discussion. Learning
the different languages and notations of more than one subject and
bringing them together is therefore a key challenge when adopting
a multidisciplinary approach to study.

Most study undertaken in an undergraduate degree is within a

single subject area, for example chemistry or history. There are
sound reasons for this. Any subject becomes more complex as the
body of knowledge accrues over time, therefore to gain an in-depth
understanding, it is necessary to study within the confines of that
subject and build up your knowledge of it. However, to get the
most out of the different ways each subject looks at an issue, it can
often be useful to combine two or more academic subjects, taking
elements from each to create a new understanding or insight.

Studying different subjects can therefore bring a different

perspective to many different issues. For example, climate change
can be examined through a range of different subject ‘lenses’, as
shown in Figure 3.

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Figure 3 The problem of climate change demands an interdisciplinary

approach.

View description - Figure 3 The problem of climate change

demands an interdisciplinary approach.

Although knowledge is often organised into clearly defined,

subject-specific ‘boxes’, there is still a lot of knowledge that falls
between these discrete categories. It is within these gaps that
multidisciplinary experts work as it is clear that many of the world’s
greatest challenges cannot be solved by a single subject alone.
This is one of the great strengths of studying in this way, because
people who have a breadth of knowledge across more than one

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subject can provide the glue to bring together those subjects and
address these challenges.

Activity 2 Applying interdisciplinary learning to

different contexts
Allow about 10 minutes

What other examples can you think of where studying different

subjects could help to answer a global issue? Write down one
problem and the subjects that could contribute to investigating this
issue further.

Provide your answer...

View discussion - Activity 2 Applying interdisciplinary

learning to different contexts

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5 The benefits of studying a

multidisciplinary qualification
Moving on from looking at how key issues can be addressed by
more than one subject, you will now go on and explore the benefits
of studying a single, multidisciplinary qualification, like The Open
University’s Open qualifications. A multidisciplinary
qualification provides you with a unique opportunity to gain a
knowledge and understanding of a range of different subjects and
their approaches. You can then apply the skills that you gain from
a multidisciplinary qualification to help you to understand
connections between different subjects and how to transfer that
knowledge across subject boundaries.

This approach leads to a deeper learning and understanding, and

ultimately interdisciplinary thought and understanding, which can
be beneficial in many areas of life, including the workplace. It is
that building of knowledge that can allow for deeper understanding
and highlight the patterns that are common between different
subjects.

Part of the reason some people choose to study single-subject

qualifications is to become an ‘expert’ in that particular subject and
they believe that this will be more valued by employers because

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many jobs require specific expertise. However, the disadvantage of

this is that they join a group of similarly trained experts who are
also competing for those roles.

One of the strengths of multidisciplinary study is that you choose

the subjects that you want to study and therefore you become a
particular type of expert in your own right. For example, at The
Open University, there are very few students studying towards an
Open qualification who do the same combinations of courses and
therefore each student is unique, with their own set of specialities.
You will meet some of these students later in the course. So,
rather than being a ‘generalist’, you become an ‘individual
specialist’. The challenge of this is to be able to explain your
unique expertise to potential employers so that you stand out from
the crowd. Again, you will explore this in more detail later on.

For now, here are some of the wider benefits of choosing to study
more than one subject that apply to a range of personal and
career-related contexts:

 Motivation – learners are highly motivated as they

have a vested interest as they are usually pursuing
topics that are of personal interest to them. As a
result, the content is often rooted in life experiences,
giving an authentic purpose for the learning and

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connecting it to a real world context. Consequently,

this can lead to more meaningful, purposeful and
deeper learning experiences.
 Breadth of knowledge – students are able to
consider the many and varied perspectives across
different subjects from which a topic can be explored.
 Acquiring new knowledge – exploring topics
across a range of subject boundaries motivates
students to pursue new knowledge in different subject
areas.
 Creativity – knowledge and application of different
subjects can lead to greater creativity.
 Making connections – worthwhile topics of
research can fall in the ‘spaces’ between the
traditional academic subject areas.
Activity 3 Identifying the benefits that are
important to you
Allow about 10 minutes

In the following space, note down which of these benefits are most
important or relevant to your own situation, and why. You may wish
to revisit and add to these notes after you have completed the
course.

Provide your answer...

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View discussion - Activity 3 Identifying the benefits that

are important to you

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6 Skills developed through

multidisciplinary study
What makes multidisciplinary students stand out to employers is
the rich view of the world that they develop, the wide range of
perspectives they will have encountered during their studies, and
the combination of subject areas they have studied that could offer
more flexible career choices. In fact, many vacancies don’t specify
the subject knowledge required for the role; it’s the skills you have
developed in your studies as well as your other life experiences
that employers are interested in. Studying more than one subject,
therefore, helps you to develop important transferable skills, which
are continually developing at all stages of life (Table 1).

Table 1 Some examples of the transferable skills gained through

multidisciplinary study

Skill Explanation
Critical thinking Critical thinking skills are used and
developed as students look across
disciplinary boundaries to consider other
viewpoints and also begin to compare
and contrast concepts across subject
areas.
Self-management Choosing which subjects to study – and
why – can be challenging, and requires
students to think carefully about how to
identify their priorities and manage their
study choices.

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Adaptability Different subjects may need to be

viewed through different lenses which
means an individual needs to be able to
switch to the appropriate lens at the
appropriate time for whichever subject
they are looking at. It requires careful
self-management to be able to do this.
Analysis and problem By studying across different subject
solving boundaries and by studying a wider
range of subjects, students develop
deeper skills of evaluation as they learn a
number of different logical and
methodical approaches and are able to
select the best one to use for particular
circumstances. For example, students
can draw on their range of academic or
subject knowledge to identify solutions
of a practical or technical nature.
Communication and literacy Students’ written and verbal
communication skills are well developed
amongst multi-subject students as they
learn to revert to the appropriate
communication style for a particular
subject area. For example, multi-subject
students might encounter a range of
different assessment methods, including
essays, laboratory reports, written and
oral examinations, as appropriate to
different subject areas.
Application of information Using technology across a range of
technology subjects means that students can be more
practised in displaying and presenting
information in a range of ways.
Flexibility The ability to adapt to different contexts
and environments is a strong skill gained
from multi-subject study as you will be
switching from one subject to another.
Synthesis of ideas Students begin to consolidate learning
by combining ideas from many

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perspectives and consider an alternative

way of acquiring knowledge.

Building your own multidisciplinary approach to learning and

developing these important skills will enable you to study in a way
that suits your own style of learning, motivations for study and
personal interests.

Having a portfolio of different subjects within your degree profile

can therefore be marketed to employers in a very positive light and
help you to ‘stand out’ against other applicants. Your adaptability
and versatility in being able to follow very different disciplines
successfully, and developing a full range of skills, can be
particularly attractive to employers. However, it can seem
challenging to work out how to explain these skills to a potential
employer. If you are studying for career reasons, you need to
consider how you articulate the skills developed and experiences
gained in your CV, job application forms and interviews.

Remember too that many employers will also be interested in other

life experiences outside of your studies and these can be just as
helpful in demonstrating your skills or competencies for a particular
job.

Activity 4 Explaining skills to an employer

Allow about 5 minutes

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Write down three reasons why an employer might value the skills
of a multidisciplinary learner.

Provide your answer...

View discussion - Activity 4 Explaining skills to an

employer

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7 Introducing ‘multipotentiality’
By choosing to study this course, you have already demonstrated
an interest in learning about multi-subject study. You are not alone!
In fact, many people choose to have a range of different careers
over their lifetime (or at any one time) and may also be interested
in a wide variety of leisure activities.

As you have already explored earlier in this course, multi-subject

study has very much been part of society for a long time, and the
way this is described and demonstrated keeps evolving. There are
many ways in which this type of approach can be defined and in
the following sections we will look at one example of this.

The term ‘multipotentialite’, coined by Emilie Wapnick, the founder

and Creative Director of Puttylike, is one way to describe someone
with many interests and creative pursuits. Emilie and her
organisation support multipotentialites to integrate their many
interests into all aspects of their life and to recognise that this is a
strength, not a weakness.

Multipotentialites tend to need variety in their lives, but how much

variety depends on the individual. Knowing how much variety you
need can really help you to avoid feeling too overwhelmed by
taking on too much, or feeling bored because you don’t have

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enough projects on the go. Multi-subject study can help satisfy the
need for variety which multipotentialites tend to have.

A multipotentialite is someone with many interests and creative

pursuits, rather than someone who is only focused on a particular
subject or hobby. How much does this sound like you?

Video content is not available in this format.

Multipotentiality

View transcript - Multipotentiality

Activity 5 How much of a multipotentialite are

you?
Allow about 10 minutes

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Now take a few minutes to think about the extent to which this
description of a multipotentialite sounds like you. You may feel that
it does sound just like you, but remember to reflect on why this
might be. Conversely, you may feel like it doesn’t sound like you at
all, but do still take some time to think about why this might be.
Regardless, this activity will hopefully help you to understand the
different way in which you, and others, may choose to approach
your study-life and work-life balance.

View discussion - Activity 5 How much of a

multipotentialite are you?

Recognising and embracing the fact that you may be a

multipotentialite can be an incredibly positive experience because
it can give you the confidence to explore other areas that you may
not have considered previously. By applying some elements of
multipotentiality to your learning, you are exposing yourself to
diverse subjects and allowing yourself the opportunity to study, and
potentially work, in a truly multidisciplinary way. This can be
incredibly exciting and rewarding.

Even if you don’t define yourself as a multipotentialite, studying a

variety of subjects can still help you to demonstrate an even wider
range of transferable skills than you looked at earlier in the course.

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Before you start to think about which specific subjects you might
be interested in studying as part of your inter/multidisciplinary
qualification, it is important to reflect on why studying in a
multidisciplinary way might be the right decision for you and how
you might be able to use this to your advantage when making
academic or important life decisions, such as choosing your
career.

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8 Choosing which subjects to study

So far in this course, you have learned about the terms
‘interdisciplinarity’ and ‘multidisciplinarity’, explored the historical
context of these terms, and examined both the differences and
many benefits of studying this way. You have also considered a
range of skills that multidisciplinary students can develop through
the study of different subjects, from critical thinking to adaptability
and flexibility. What does this mean to you in terms of the subjects
you might choose to study and your personal or career-related
interests? In the following video, students who have studied The
Open University’s BA/BSc (Hons) Open degree explain which
subjects they have chosen to study and why.

Video content is not available in this format.

Why do Open University students choose to study in a multidisciplinary way?

View transcript - Why do Open University students choose

to study in a multidisciplinary way?

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Choose and read through at least one of the following OpenLearn

articles to explore how different combinations of subjects can be
applied to specific, interdisciplinary contexts:

 Should economics and the environment work

together?
 Brexiteers and Broflakes: how language frames
political debate
 Can science make you a better leader?

You can also explore a wide range of other subjects on

OpenLearn using audio, videos and interactive content. All of this
may help inform the subjects you decide to choose.

Activity 6 Choosing which subjects to study

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Allow about 5 minutes

Which subjects have you already chosen, or might choose to

study, as part of a multi-subject qualification, and why? For
example, are you choosing to study each of these for personal
interest and/or career reasons? Write your preferred subjects in
the left-hand column below and then add Yes or No in the other
two columns.

Subject Personal Career

Provide your answer... Provide your answer... Provide your answer...
Provide your answer... Provide your answer... Provide your answer...
Provide your answer... Provide your answer... Provide your answer...

View discussion - Activity 6 Choosing which subjects to

study

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9 What are my career options with a

multidisciplinary qualification?
Not all students pursue a multidisciplinary qualification for career
reasons; many choose this option as a way to build on personal
interests and expand their knowledge in a range of different areas.
However, multidisciplinary students that are studying for career
reasons have the opportunity to pursue a wide range of careers, as
a result of their varied personal and professional interests and the
wide choice of subjects available to study.

If you are undecided about whether to study courses in science or

arts subjects in a career context, it will depend very much on the
type of role that you are interested in pursuing. For example, if you
want to work in a science-based industry, you may find that
employers are more familiar with the content and format of
science-related qualifications. It is therefore important that you
carry out your research as early as possible to ensure that you are
taking the most appropriate subjects.

However, even if you are not currently studying for career reasons,
it is important to realise that a multidisciplinary qualification does
not limit your career choices in the future. Quite the opposite in
fact, as it can prepare you for a range of different careers at any

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one time, or during your working life. Research reveals that around
a third of employers surveyed have no preferred degree subject
when recruiting graduates (CBI/Pearson, 2017). This means that
multidisciplinary students have the opportunity to consider a wide
variety of different careers and are able to choose an approach to
work that specifically addresses their interests in a wide range of
subject and career options.

Next, you will explore career coach Emilie Wapnick’s four work
models. In order to appreciate how one or more of these might
apply to you, you first need to understand the importance of
money, meaning and variety to a multipotentialite, as they can be
important factors to consider when thinking about potential
careers.

According to Wapnick, some amount of money is necessary to live,

whatever your beliefs or issues might be about it. Money can be
seen as one ingredient to a happy life, however, on its own money
isn’t enough. Money can help multitpotentialites to pursue their
passions after essential survival needs have been met. Often
multipotentialites like to feel like they are doing something that
matters. Working out what motivates us, and why it motivates us,
can help us to identify what activities are those which matter and
give us a sense of meaning. And variety, which can be an
essential requirement for multipotentialites when choosing a

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career. Having enough variety at the right level – not too much and
not too little – is really important, however, this can, of course, be
different for everyone.

Many multipotentialites use one of the four work models:

 The Group Hug Approach

 The Slash Approach
 The Einstein Approach
 The Phoenix Approach

Figure 4 Four multipotentialite work models

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View description - Figure 4 Four multipotentialite work

models

Money, meaning and variety needs can be met in a single career

with the Group Hug Approach. It is a multifaceted job or business
where you do many things. Working in an interdisciplinary field,
working for forward-thinking organisations or starting your own
business are all ways of creating or finding a group hug career.
Buzz words include: ‘creative’, ‘cross-disciplinary’, ‘adaptable’. If
running your own business, choose one where multiple subjects
can be combined. A trained architect is a good example of this
approach as architecture is an interdisciplinary field by nature as it
brings together art and science.

The Slash Approach is a great option for multipotentialites who like

to juggle lots of projects all at the same time (e.g.
Actor/Director/Tutor/Manager/Pianist). This approach is all about
having more than one part-time job and/or businesses that you
move between fluidly and frequently. Each ‘slash’ is one that you
love doing but you wouldn’t want to do any one of them full-time.
Boredom and burn-out are avoided with this approach as you work
across a range of different specialised fields. Buzz words include:
self-directed, independent and entrepreneurial.

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If you prefer stability and routine, or involve yourself in your

interests for amusement only, then the Einstein Approach might be
for you. This is where you have a single job or business that meets
your need for money, but also leaves you with enough time to
follow your other interests, in your own time. It’s about finding a
‘good enough’ job or business which gives you enough spare time
to do the other things you want to. A multipotentialite adopting this
approach may find themselves in a career or business for many
years, while also following meaningful and unrelated hobbies on
the side. An example here might be a multipotentialite who has
been a computer programmer all their life while living on a farm
where they were able to pursue their personal interests in their
own time.

Finally, the Phoenix Approach is ideal for a multipotentialite who

can balance variety with the need to submerge themselves in a job
or business. This approach may seem like someone has chosen to
have a career in one field for a long time and then switches to a
different one a few months, or years, later. This model works well
for individuals who prefer doing one thing at a time. Quite often the
different career paths share a common meaning, even though this
may not appear to be obvious. Someone may start out teaching
yoga for many years until they change career to work in the
sciences and then finally set up their own craft business.

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Activity 7 Which is your preferred work

model and why?
Allow about 10 minutes

Based on the descriptions provided above, how much do you

associate with any one (or more) of these multipotentialite work
models, and why? How might you apply this to possible careers?

Provide your answer...

View discussion - Activity 7 Which is your preferred work

model and why?

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10 End-of-course quiz
Now it’s time to complete the compulsory badged quiz.

End-of-course quiz

Remember, this quiz counts towards your badge. If you’re not

successful the first time, you can attempt the quiz again in 24
hours.

Open the quiz in a new tab or window then come back here when
you’ve finished.

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11 Conclusion
By now, you should be in a good position to articulate the skills and
benefits of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary study, and
become your very own Beatrix Potter or modern day Aristotle!

In this course you have explored the different terminology used to

describe studying more than one subject and how this can be a
strength when examining issues through a range of different
subject ‘lenses’. You have also considered the different skills that
can be gained from multi-subject study and had the opportunity to
reflect on how you might explain these skills to a potential
employer. You have also been introduced to the concept of
multipotentiality and multipotentialites and their particular work
approaches (Wapnick, 2017) as well as having identified potential
career pathways.

You should now be able to:

 identify and explain the difference between

multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary study
 recognise the benefits of applying different subject
approaches or views to different contexts
 explain the skills gained from studying an
inter/multidisciplinary qualification to employers

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 reflect on the benefits of studying a multidisciplinary or

interdisciplinary qualification.
 recognise the concept of ‘multipotentiality’ and reflect
on how it might apply to you
 examine a range of interdisciplinary and
multidisciplinary subjects.

We hope you feel encouraged to think more deeply about why, and
how, studying a multidisciplinary qualification is a good option for
you to develop academically, personally and professionally.

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Tell us what you think

Now you've come to the end of the course, we would appreciate a
few minutes of your time to complete this short end-of-course
survey. We’d like to find out a bit about your experience of
studying the course and what you plan to do next. We will use this
information to provide better online experiences for all our learners
and to share our findings with others. Participation will be
completely confidential and we will not pass on your details to
others.

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References
Appleby, M. (2015) What are the Benefits of Interdisciplinary
Study? [online]. Available at
http://www.open.edu/openlearn/education/what-are-the-
benefits-interdisciplinary-study (Accessed 6 December 2017).

BBC (2017) Monkman and Seagull’s Polymathic Adventure,

BBC Radio 4, Wednesday 23 August 2017 [online]. Available at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b091szlz (Accessed 6
December 2017).

CBI/Pearson (2017) Helping the UK Thrive, CBI/Pearson

Education and Skills Survey 2017 [online]. Available at
http://www.cbi.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/helping-the-uk-
thrive/ (Accessed 1 December 2017).

Cooke, H. J., Lane, A. and Taylor, P. G. (2018, forthcoming) ‘Open

by degrees: a case of flexibility or personalization?’, in Enhancing
Education through Open Degree Programs and Prior
Learning Assessment, IGI Global.

Gale (2016) ‘Martha Lane Fox: “When I joined the M&S board I
was still pretty broken”’, Management Today [online]. Available
at https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/martha-lane-fox-

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when-i-joined-m-s-board-i-pretty-broken/article/1388661
(Accessed 6 December 2017).

Kemp, I. (2016) Interdisciplinary Learning – Getting the Most

out of Multi-subject Degrees [online]. Available at
http://www.open.edu/openlearn/education/interdisciplinary
-learning-getting-the-most-out-multi-subject-degrees
(Accessed 6 December 2017).

Klein, J. (1990) Interdisciplinarity: History, Theory and

Practice, Wayne State University Press.

Lear, L. (2007) Natural History: A Scientist’s Eye [online].

Available at http://www.bpotter.com/article1.aspx (Accessed
31 November 2017).

Marr, L. (2015) Interdisciplinary Study: Disciples of

Disciplines? [online]. Available at
http://www.open.edu/openlearn/education/interdisciplinary
-study-disciples-disciplines (Accessed 6 December 2017).

Open University (2017) ‘Learning to learn: Planning for personal

change’ [online]. Available at
http://www.open.edu/openlearn/education/learning-learn-
planning-personal-change/content-section-2 (Accessed 7
December 2017).

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and-benefits/content-section-0
Multidisciplinary study: the value and benefits

Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) (2002)

Management of Patients with Stroke. Guideline 64,
November, Edinburgh, SIGN.

Smith, M. K. (2003, 2009) ‘Jean Lave, Etienne Wenger and

communities of practice’, The Encyclopedia of Informal
Education [online]. Available at
www.infed.org/biblio/communities_of_practice.htm
(Accessed 6 December 2017).

Vgotsky, L. (1978) ‘Interaction between learning and development’,

From Mind and Society, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University
Press, pp. 79–91.

Wapnick, E. (2015) Why Some of us Don’t Have One True

Calling, Recorded April 2015 at TEDxBend [online]. Available at
https://www.ted.com/talks/emilie_wapnick_why_some_of_u
s_don_t_have_one_true_calling (Accessed 1 December 2017).

Wapnick, E. (2017) How to Be Everything: A Guide for Those

Who (Still) Don’t Know What They Want to Be When They
Grow Up, HarperOne.

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Images
This course was written by Helen Cooke and Rehana Awan.

Except for third party materials and otherwise stated (see terms
and conditions), this content is made available under a Creative
Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0
Licence.

The material acknowledged below is Proprietary and used under

licence (not subject to Creative Commons Licence).

Course image: © DrAfter123/iStockphoto.com.

Every effort has been made to contact copyright owners. If any

have been inadvertently overlooked, the publishers will be pleased
to make the necessary arrangements at the first opportunity.

Don't miss out

If reading this text has inspired you to learn more, you may be
interested in joining the millions of people who discover our free
learning resources and qualifications by visiting The Open
University – www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses.

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Solutions
Activity 1 Defining multidisciplinary
and interdisciplinary learning
Discussion
You might have thought of something along these lines:

Multidisciplinarity is where two or more academic disciplines

collaborate for a specific purpose, for instance, when computer
scientists, psychologists and sociologists cooperate in the design
of human/computer interfaces.

Interdisciplinarity differs from multidisciplinarity because the

different disciplines work together to produce new knowledge and
understanding.

Back to - Activity 1 Defining multidisciplinary and

interdisciplinary learning

Activity 2 Applying interdisciplinary

learning to different contexts
Discussion

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Here are some of the global issues that you may have listed in
your answer. This list is not exhaustive and there are lots of other
global issues that you may have considered that aren’t detailed
here.

Issue Subjects may include

Withdrawal of the UK from the Politics, history, economics, finance,
European Union (Brexit) geography, business, sociology, modern
languages
Nuclear armament International relations, history, politics
Natural disasters Physical geography, physics, history,
anthropology
Over population Human geography, healthcare, history of
medicine, sociology
Poverty Psychology, childhood studies,
sociology, economics, history
Sustainable agriculture Biology, chemistry, earth Sciences,
technology, economics, politics,
geography, business studies
Future pandemics Chemistry, Biology, medicine, politics,
economics, logistics, business studies
Refugee crises Politics, economics, geography, history,
business studies, logistics, law,
education

Back to - Activity 2 Applying interdisciplinary learning to

different contexts

Activity 3 Identifying the benefits that

are important to you

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Discussion
As is often the case when reflecting on our own situation, there
isn’t a right or wrong answer but hopefully you have identified what
is important to you in terms of the benefits of studying different
subjects.

Back to - Activity 3 Identifying the benefits that are

important to you

Activity 4 Explaining skills to an

employer
Discussion
You may have included any of the following in your answer:

1. They can show that they are more flexible and are
able to adapt to a variety of different situations with
ease. This can be particularly helpful in an
organisation where there may be lots of change taking
place.
2. They are used to managing different deadlines and
categorising what ideas belong where, and therefore
are good at managing themselves and their time.
3. They are able to bring together a number of ideas and
perspectives from across different subjects, and

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therefore may be able to offer alternative ways of

looking at issues or problems. This can help identify
new, innovative solutions to particular situations.
4. They have well-developed communication and literacy
skills, having been exposed to different terminology
across a number of subjects.
5. They are able to consider and understand different
viewpoints and different approaches to tackling a
particular problem.

Back to - Activity 4 Explaining skills to an employer

Activity 5 How much of a

multipotentialite are you?
Discussion
Even if you don’t define yourself as a multipotentialite, studying a
variety of subjects can still help you to demonstrate an even wider
range of transferable skills than you looked at earlier in this course.

Back to - Activity 5 How much of a multipotentialite are

you?

Activity 6 Choosing which subjects to

study
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Discussion
Remember, there are no right or wrong answers here. Reflecting
on the reasons you might like to study a subject or the reasons for
having chosen a subject can help you to identify your motivation
for studying particular subjects and/or may help if/when you might
seek employment opportunities in the future.

Back to - Activity 6 Choosing which subjects to study

Activity 7 Which is your preferred work

model and why?
Discussion
Remember that these work models simply provide a starting place
to help you make sense of your preferences, and to help you
develop your personal and/or professional interests.

Back to - Activity 7 Which is your preferred work model

and why?

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Descriptions
Figure 1 An example of a multidisciplinary
approach in healthcare
This illustration shows a number of figures represented. At the centre is the patient,
and around the patient are physiotherapists, social workers, psychotherapists, nurses
and general practitioners.

Back to - Figure 1 An example of a multidisciplinary

approach in healthcare

Figure 2 Knowledge creation in relation to

studying more than one subject.
This image is made up of a number of boxes with text. At the top is ‘single
discipline’, with a box labelled ‘discipline 1’. Next to this is the text
‘multidisciplinary’ with two boxes labelled ‘discipline 1’ and ‘discipline 2’.
Underneath this is the text ‘interdisciplinary’ with two boxes labelled ‘discipline 1’
and ‘discipline 2’. Underneath this is the text ‘crossdisciplinary’ with two boxes
labelled ‘discipline 1’ and ‘discipline 2’, in between which is a double-ended arrow.
Underneath this is the text ‘transdisciplinary’ with two boxes labelled ‘discipline 1’
and ‘discipline 2’. There is a dotted line going around these two boxes.

Back to - Figure 2 Knowledge creation in relation to

studying more than one subject.

Figure 3 The problem of climate change

demands an interdisciplinary approach.

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In the centre of this image is a globe, having its temperature taken. Around this are a
number of circles. In these outer circles are the following: physics, ecosystems,
chemistry, economics, politics, psychology, sociology and meteorology.

Back to - Figure 3 The problem of climate change

demands an interdisciplinary approach.

Figure 4 Four multipotentialite work

models
This shows a mindmap of Emily Wapnick’s four work approaches:
the Group Hug approach, the Phoenix approach, the Slash
approach and Einstein approach. It shows how money, meaning
and variety all feed into the different approaches and each model
is illustrated further. The Group

Hug approach shows a group of people hugging and an architect

along with a person at a computer. It also has the buzz words of
creative and adaptable included in the image. The Phoenix
approach shows a signpost with arrows pointing in different
directions and the careers of a yogi, scientist an chef. All different
but connected. The Slash approach shows a teacher, yogi,
computer programmer and person at a sewing machine
representing the different jobs one multipotentialite might have
along with the buzz words of self-directed and independent.
Finally, the Einstein approach shows a farm and a computer

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representing how this type of multipotentialite may have a career

for years with an unrelated hobby or interest on the side.

Back to - Figure 4 Four multipotentialite work models

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Studying a multidisciplinary
qualification at The Open University.
Transcript
SPEAKER 1
The first year was Design Essentials. Last year was
Working with Children and Young People. And this year
is Teaching Young People and Children.
SPEAKER 2
So students studying more than one subject have the
benefit of being able to develop a qualification that's
unique to them so they can choose modules that are of
interest to them, or are relevant to them in terms of their
personal interests, but also their career ambitions. So they
get flexibility in terms of what they choose.
SPEAKER 3
Nowadays, people tend to change jobs and their careers
throughout their lives. And so having a range of different
subjects that will actually could be used in a number of
different career settings will be important. And also,
people actually change their career while they are
studying. So to have that flexibility to be able to move into
a different subject is quite unique.
SPEAKER 4
It gives you wonderful choices to adapt you're studying to
your interests, to your career, that doesn't demand you get
a doctorate or a PhD or study law. You can switch around
between courses that interest you.
SPEAKER 2
Multi subject students have the benefit of being able to
apply knowledge from a range of different subjects to a
particular job. So a student, for example, might be
interested in working in a recording studio. So they might
choose to study modules in music and a bit of business
management and technology, which they can do within an
Open degree.
SPEAKER 1

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When people ask me what I do at the Open University, I

go design technology, and childcare. And it's a look on
their face, and they go, really? My end goal is to be a
design technology teacher, so to me it flows and it works
quite well.
SPEAKER 4
I started with the Introduction Foundation Arts and
Humanities module.
SPEAKER 5
I've done the S103 and SXR. I've attempted a couple
modules where I wasn't successful with, but a couple of
them were kind of more leisure, something that I wanted
to have a go at.
SPEAKER 4
But it gives you a taste every month with a TMA-- Tutor
Marked Assignment. And a lot of students think they want
to do maybe sociology or psychology, and they will switch
from the idea of having done that first foundation module.
So that can lead you into areas you never thought you'd be
interested in.
SPEAKER 5
I think I like having that flexibility. I mean, that's what the
Open degree is all about.
SPEAKER 3
So students can pretty much study any modules they like,
because they're all online so they can all be studied
consecutively without too many problems. There are a few
little rules, like having to do stage one first, stage two, and
then stage three. And also there may be some prerequisites
for particular modules. But apart from that, students can
pretty much study any subjects they want.
SPEAKER 4
It can be challenging. I'll be quite honest-- I chose the
social sciences module, and realised about a month into it
I've made a huge mistake. It didn't make me want to read
on and do it, so that personal excitement I wanted wasn't
there. So I dropped it, and re-registered with something
else.
SPEAKER 3
Multi subject study is really something that students like
doing. The most popular degree across the university.

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Almost 20% of our students are studying the Open

Programme.
SPEAKER 2
So we have a website specifically dedicated to Open
degree students, which includes information about
modules that work well together within a particular subject
area. So that's to help students navigate our curriculum,
which can seem quite overwhelming at times.
SPEAKER 4
I think it all depends what you want it for. Be quite clear
about that. Is just like me, for purely selfish personal
development reasons? Or will it help your career, if you
are in a job that you want to progress in or do you want to
change career? Do your research. Go to the OU, go to the
library, look at the prospectus. But get clear in your mind
what you want it for.
SPEAKER 1
Doesn't matter what your age is or what your background
history is. If you've got the enthusiasm, do it. End of the
day, if you've got it, you can do it.

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Open University.

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Interdisciplinarity through history

Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING]
NARRATOR
Plato was a famous philosopher in classical Greece and
founder of the first institution for higher learning in the
Western world. He laid the foundations for Western
philosophy, science, and maths, along with being one of
the founders of Western religion and spirituality, a very
early adopter of interdisciplinary studies.
His student Aristotle was also a philosopher and scientist.
His writings cover many areas, including physics, biology,
zoology, poetry, theatre, music, psychology, and politics
and government.
Abu Rayhan Al-Biruni, a Persian polymath regarded as
one of the greatest scholars of the mediaeval Islamic era,
and was well versed in physics, mathematics, astronomy,
and a natural scientist, and also distinguished himself as a
historian, chronologist, and linguist.
Leonardo da Vinci, regarded by many historians and
scholars as a universal genius. His areas of interest
spanned a wide range of subjects, from invention,
painting, and sculpting, to architecture, science, music,
mathematics, and engineering. The list goes on.
Beatrix Potter's inspiration was drawn from a range of
different disciplines, from recording observable data, art,
and she was a student of natural history from a young age.
She was also interested in geology, archaeology,
entomology, and mycology. "What was rare was how
Potter used her gifts in diverse areas, from stories for
children and animal husbandry to the preservation of land,
farms, and watersheds in the English Lake District," Lear,
2007.
Albert Einstein, the most famous scientist from the 20th
century, was a theoretical physicist who won the Nobel
Peace Prize in 1921 for his work contributing to the
evolution of quantum theory. He wrote over 150 scientific

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works, including writing about socialism. Einstein was

also a lover of music and a keen violinist.
And now, you.
[MUSIC PLAYING]

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Multipotentiality
Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING]
NARRATOR
A multipotentialite is someone with many interests and
creative pursuits. It's a mouthful to say, and it might help
if you break it up into three parts, multi, potential, and ite.
You can also use one of the other terms that mean
something similar, such as Polymath, the Renaissance
person.
During the Renaissance period, it was considered the ideal
to be well-versed in multiple disciplines. Multi
potentialities have super powers. The first of these super
powers is idea synthesis. That is, combining two or more
fields and creating something new at the intersection. This
means innovation can happen at intersections. That's
where new ideas come from. And multipotentialites, with
all of their backgrounds, are able to access a lot of these
points of intersection.
The second multipotentialite super power is rapid learning.
When multipotentialites become interested in something,
they go hard. They observe everything they can get their
hands on. They're used to being beginners because they've
been beginners so many times in the past. And this means
that they're less afraid of trying new things and stepping
out of comfort zones. What's more, many skills are
transferable across disciplines, and multipotentialites bring
everything they've learned to every new area they pursue,
so they're rarely starting from scratch.
The third multipotentialite super power is adaptability.
That is, the ability to morph into whatever is needed in a
given situation. Idea synthesis, rapid learning, and
adaptability, three skills that multipotentialites are very
adept at, and three skills that they might lose if pressured
to narrow their focus.
As a society, we have a vested interest in encouraging
multipotentialites to be themselves. We have a lot of

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complex, multidimensional problems in the world right

now, and we need creative, out-of-the-box thinkers to
tackle them. Wapnick 2017.

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Why do Open University students

choose to study in a
multidisciplinary way?
Transcript
STUDENT
When I was at my brick University, they chose everything
for me. And I didn't think that was a great idea because I
know I picked the degree name, but I wasn't quite
interested in the modules that they chosen.
STUDENT
Having to take early retirement due to being diagnosed
with cerebellar ataxia, I was housebound and looking for
something that would keep my brain active. And my first
modules came down to what would make me go to the
computer and be interested, like reading an excellent novel
or watching a series on TV. I wanted to feel like I couldn't
wait to get back to it and see it and get into it again. So
you need that incentive. And if you've got a subject that
really interests you, you really can't wait to get the text
book and get into module forums. That excitement for
somebody that had been very busy, has a very full life, and
need that spur again.
STUDENT
I left that university and decided to go with The Open
University because I could feel like I could work my job
and do my university at the same time, and yet, still get the
same outcome.
STUDENT
I've had stuff like health issues as well. And I've had stuff
like issues with stuff like learning, stuff from early
childhood. I really struggled at school, didn't really pass
my GCSEs at school. I'd gone back to college a few years
later and done a GCSE package, and it eventually led me
to applying to the Open University.
STUDENT

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Unlike a lot of OU students who are in work and are

probably tailoring their degree, be opened or named, to
their career, to their job progression, even change of job
even. Mine was purely an indulgent, I want to do it for me,
and enjoy it. So that's why I'm abroad. And the Open
degree let's you do that.
FACULTY
Online, we have a student forum, so all students are able to
connect via that that forum and create a community
themselves where they can seek advice from each other
about which modules work well together, the kind of
careers that they want to go into, why they're choosing to
study in a multi subject way.
STUDENT
When I first started my degree with Open University, it
was to be a design technology teacher. But the more I'm
doing it, the more I'm thinking of doing a master's and
then going on to design technology. But that's the beauty
of Open University. I don't have to decide at this moment
in time.
FACULTY
Like all Open University students, students on the Open
degree have access to a tutor based on the module that
they're studying.
STUDENT
My tutor is quite helpful, yes, especially the one I've got
now. She's really, really good. She knows I don't have the
experience, but she still guides me towards what I need to
do. And I can still do the TMEs without the practical
experience, which is quite good as well.
FACULTY
The student support team is able to help give the students
advice and guidance on which modules they want to study.
If they have any difficulties with their studies, the student
support team can help them address those issues and steer
them in the right direction.
STUDENT
And the last thing about the OU, you can have a little taste
of courses through OpenLearn to access course. Just dip
your toe in the water. Don't rush into it.
STUDENT

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I guess it's given me a wider perspective of what the Open

University can do, like the doors it can open.
STUDENT
Look at the amount of time you can get to it. Now will you
have to be starting at 2 o'clock in the morning because
that's the only time when your children are in bed, your
husband's in bed, and you can have that quiet time on your
own. Because you do have to devote, I think, it's 10 hours
for every credit point. So if you're doing a six credit
module over six months, that is 600 hours of studying
minimum. So you have to carve out that time for your
personal life.
STUDENT
I'd say go and look at the Open Learn site to start with
because that gives you an idea of what the full modules
would be like and see what your personal interests are.
STUDENT
And my own off, honestly, it would just be just do it.
Because my aunt recently just started an Open University
degree, and I think she's 40-ish, and she spent ages going
on going to go do a degree, and she eventually this year
decided she was going to start her degree. And I'm quite
proud of her.
STUDENT
Very best of luck. You'll love it. Once you're in, you'll
love it, absolutely love it.

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