Interdisciplinary Studies (IS)

This course is a comprehensive first-year experience course for new students. This course takes a place-based approach, in which students are encouraged to explore connections between their personal and cultural identity, their community, and the college. Students will learn about college resources, study skills, and psycho-social skills that contribute to college success.

The course provides opportunities and resources for students to seek career information related to academic and occupational interest patterns, which form the foundation for sound career decision-making. Students are guided through individual and group exercises that assist in identifying needs, values, wants, interests, and abilities. The purpose of the course is to help students develop a strong foundation for major and career decision planning through career inventories, research on careers, and personal reflections.

Framework: This course uses the Pyramid of Information-Processing (Knowing about myself & knowing about my options→Knowing how I make decisions→Thinking about my decision making) and the CASVE Cycle (→Communication→Analysis→ Synthesis→Valuing→Execution→) as a framework for career and major exploration.

This course is designed to assist students in the transition to college. In this course you will learn proven strategies for creating greater academic, professional, and personal success. Major topics include study techniques, campus resources, and the development of attitudes, values, and beliefs that foster success.

This course will introduce students to the process of career exploration and enhance students' knowledge and skills regarding personal finance to increase financial literacy. Students will assess their own abilities, interests, and values, and then apply this self-knowledge in their choice of major and career. Students will learn the financial planning process and evaluate their money management attitudes and behaviors.

This course is a place holder course for students who study abroad on an exchange program for a semester or for an entire academic year. Students going on the exchange program will register for this course (1-15 credits) and pay only their home campus' tuition. Upon returning to Kaua‘i CC, students are responsible for submitting the course syllabi and transcripts from the host institution to the admissions office for the courses taken abroad to be articulated with courses offered by UH. After the courses are articulated, students will receive equivalent UH credit for the courses taken abroad while this course will remain on the transcript but will show zero credit.

Students will explore traditional Hawaiian land management and food production systems through hands-on fieldwork, applying traditional knowledge to modern environmental challenges, developing leadership skills, and connecting with the land.

This course offers students an in-depth exploration of intermediate-level practices and principles related to ʻāina (land) field research, focusing on environmental and cultural dimensions, project management, leadership, and historical context. Building on foundational knowledge, students will engage in hands-on fieldwork and community-based projects that emphasize the application of traditional and contemporary Hawaiian land and water management systems.