Study Plan 

Degree	Campus or Office	Beginning year
PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies in Thought, Culture, and Society from the University of  Valparaíso	Performance-Based Agreement for Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CDHACS-Convenio de Desempeño para las Humanidades, Artes y Ciencias Sociales, Blanco 1215 Off. 101, Valparaíso)	2015
Duration	Class Hours	Slots
Eight academic semesters	Daytime	05 – 10

Among existing interdisciplinary programs committed to preparing researchers in Chile and Latin America, the DEI-UV offers an original Study Plan. From a broad perspective, we understand interdisciplinarity as an approach that combines and integrates different fields of knowledge in which various methodological perspectives are applied to objects of research. Furthermore, we realize that products of interdisciplinary research must be clear and precise, but nevertheless convey a general and explicative character.

These aspects define the DEI-UV pedagogical approach as unconventional: With a flexible structure that favors collective and practical learning over traditional lecture systems, the program focuses on collaborative, reflexive, critical, communicable, methodical, systematic, and open knowledge production.

Prior to writing the dissertation, the fundamental activity in the program’s First Cycle is an “Interdisciplinary Workshop,” where students and professors meet to read, discuss, and exchange research experiences, enriching the analysis of common research problems. Parallel to this activity, students take “Introduction to Research Seminars,” which integrate them into affiliated study teams already conducting projects so as to gain concrete research experience.

Interdisciplinarity is verified in at least the following three ways: a) sources of reference; b) collective preparation process; and c) results or products applicable to various fields and disciplines.

 

Curricular Map

The curricular map is divided into two cycles. In each cycle there are creditable activities or “achievements” that verify the student’s progress. During the First year the creditable activities correspond to the Interdisciplinary Workshop 1 (semesters I and II) and the Introduction to Research Seminars 1 and 2 (semester I and II, respectively). Upon completing the First year, students must take a Comprehensive Exam in which they submit a portfolio containing information on activities carried out thus far. This documentation must specify the progress of an individual work plan (determined under academic council), information regarding presentations or congresses attended, articles or other published material (if applicable), progress on defining a dissertation proposal, etc. The student may apply for financial aid for some of these activities.

During the First cycle (semesters III and IV), students begin the process of developing their Dissertation Proposals, which involves choosing an advisor. All the while, students continue activities in the Interdisciplinary Workshops (semesters III and IV). Upon completing the First cycle, students must register and defend their Dissertation Proposals. 

During the Second cycle, corresponding to the third and fourth years, students are primarily involved in developing their dissertations under the guidance of their advisors. The dissertation process includes collective activities (stipulated in the Dissertation Regulations) in which students present their progress to fellow doctoral students and professors, who discuss the project and provide feedback. These activities are complemented by targeted seminars, in addition to the regular interdisciplinary workshops. The DEI-UV program ends with the dissertation defense, which must be completed during the fourth year.