Clusters in the Humanities and Non-Quantitative Social Sciences
The Interdisciplinary Clusters in the Humanities and Non-Quantitative Social Sciences is well underway. The Mellon Foundation generously supports these cluster programs through the Mellon Interdisciplinary Cluster Fellowship, a wonderful, valuable acknowledgment of the viability of this innovative programming.
Building on interdisciplinary work already being done across the humanities and social sciences in Northwestern’s schools of Arts and Sciences, Communications and Music, the program, with additional funding and university support, has amplified and institutionalized what already made Northwestern special. We encourage all students interested in areas related to the clusters to take part in this new program.
Affiliating with a Cluster
At the time of admission into their respective programs or at some point during a student's first year of study, participants in the Interdisciplinary Cluster Initiative designate an interdisciplinary "cluster" they would like to join. In their first and second years, students take some courses with other cluster members, while also participating in other cluster activities, such as conferences, seminar series, symposia, etc.
A select number of students will also be accepted at the time of admission as Mellon Foundation Interdisciplinary Cluster Fellows. The fellowship offers no additional funding or requirements to the student, but signals the cluster faculty’s belief that the student has the necessary interest and ability to become a leader in the field.
Curriculum
Students are free to take cluster classes at any time during their first two or three years, whether or not they affiliate with a cluster. These classes, specifically designed for cluster students, are intended to cross disciplinary barriers, offering new tools and methodologies. For those students who wish to affiliate with a cluster, a certain number of classes are required, usually three, that can be taken in place of departmental electives. Most clusters also require an original piece of research or some other cluster-specific requirement, though often that requirement can be folded into departmental research projects.
Beyond the first two years, cluster students may choose to have dissertation advisors outside their departments and are encouraged to continue their affiliation through colloquia and seminars. We believe one of the most beneficial aspects of this program is how it can expand a student’s circle of intellectual peers, friends and colleagues who can provide ideas and support as students move to the dissertation phase. As former dean Andrew Wachtel says, “Dissertation-writing can be lonely business, so the more people you have to support your work, the better. With this plan, students will know more people that have similar research interests to their own and the network will be that much stronger and the chances for success that much greater.”
We encourage you to look at the websites for the clusters below to see how they can help you in your academic development.
Programs
