Arts and Sciences: Interdisciplinary Problems and Methods

At LIS, we're rewriting the rules of education to align with the dynamic challenges of today's world. Traditional degrees no longer cut it; the future demands a blend of skills, knowledge, and experience. At LIS, we break down silos, addressing real-world problems like AI, climate change, inequality, and urban futures, using a range of subjects and methods from the arts, sciences and humanities, allowing you to explore all of your passions and interest.

Our innovative curriculum spans disciplines from art to neuroscience, from anthropology to economics, data science to politics and law, underpinned by a range of methods that create well-rounded problem solvers.

With a world-class faculty, three exceptional founding cohorts and close links with global organisations, such as McKinsey, KPMG and Innocent, LIS is building a new type of education for those who want to shape the world, not just fit in.

During your time at LIS, you will:

• Develop your interdisciplinary problem-solving skills by integrating knowledge from various disciplines to address real-world challenges effectively.

• Gain practical experience in coding, videography, machine learning, project management, and public speaking and more valuable skills needed across fields in the modern working world.

• Apply both qualitative and quantitative methods to put your knowledge into practice. These methods serve as tools and techniques, enhancing your learning through practical application and empowering you to take meaningful action.

• Engage in hands-on experiences and continuous support to enhance your employability and make a difference in the world.

• Create projects using interdisciplinary perspectives and methods on the problem areas that you are most passionate about, and use it as a calling card for future career opportunities.

Year One:
During Year 1, you’ll develop a wide range of foundational methods and skills, learn to analyse and refine problem statements, explore concepts from diverse academic disciplines, and consider how to integrate your knowledge to answer the questions that matter:
- Problems 1a: Social Issues
- Problems 1b: Global Environmental Change
- Problems 1c: Independent Project

Compulsory Qualitative and Quantitative Methods:
- Qualitative Methods 1a: Language and Communication
- Quantitative Methods 1a: Thinking like a Scientist
- Qualitative Methods 1b: Images and Systems
- Quantitative Methods 1b: Thinking Through Data

Year Two:
In year 2, you’ll work on a new problem statement each term, build up your expertise in particular methods, and gain new conceptual frameworks to help you think across disciplines, in the form of ‘superconcepts’ and mental models.

Please note that the optional methods modules listed for year 2 are indicative, to give you a sense of what you might study during your time at LIS.

Compulsory Problems and Superconcepts Modules:
- Problems 2a: AI and Ethics
- Problems 2b: Urban Futures
- Problems 2c: Individual Project
- Mental Models and Superconcepts: Interdisciplinary Ways to View the World

Plus a Choice of Three Qualitative and Quantitative Electives:
- Intermediate Quantitative Modelling
- Data Science and Machine Learning in Practice
- Materials and Making
- Design Thinking
- Visual and Creative Methods
- Networks and Games
- Natural Language Processing
- Thinking Through Writing
- Telling the Story of a Wicked Problem

Year Three:
You’ll choose 5 options from a selection of modules, with at least 1x quantitative and 1x qualitative method included in your curriculum. You’ll also explore mixed methods in more depth. These final modules will help shape your Capstone Project.

Capstone Project:
The Capstone Project is an opportunity for you to work on a complex problem of your choice. You’ll apply a combination of methods to understand a problem of interest to you and develop a plan of action.

Mixed Methods and Interdisciplinarity:
Building on your work in Years 1 and 2, this module solidifies your skillset for combining different methods and disciplines critically and ethically. The topics prepare you for the level of many master’s or research degree programmes, as well as knowledge-rich roles in business and the public sector.

Quantitative Methods
You’ll choose at least one and up to four quantitative methods modules:
- Data Science and Machine Learning in Practice
- Intermediate Quantitative Modelling
- Advanced Case Studies in Data Science and Machine Learning
- Advanced Quantitative Modelling
- Simplifying Complexity
- Network and Games

Qualitative Methods
You’ll choose at least one and up to four quantitative methods modules:
- Design thinking
- Global thinking
- Thinking Through Writing
- Applied Ethnography, Practical Ethics
- Communities & Campaigning

Mixed Methods:
- The Matter of Thought: Speculative Sense-making and Sensory Data
- Encountering Ecosystems Through Mixed Methods Research and Practice

At LIS, our students don’t spend their summer terms writing lengthy examination essays. Instead, our interdisciplinary programme will make use of a variety of assessment methods throughout the year, like presenting group pitches to a real audience, conducting individual research projects, writing a group consultancy report, creating videos and podcasts, designing a publicity campaign or completing short, interactive quizzes.

These assessments will be challenging but also fair, engaging, and varied — reflecting the kinds of outputs you’d be expected to produce throughout a professional career.